Deadwood

10 Best Episodes of Deadwood

The story of the early days of Deadwood, South Dakota; woven around actual historic events with most of the main characters based on real people. Deadwood starts as a gold mining camp and gradually turns from a lawless wild-west community into an organized wild-west civilized town. The story focuses on the real-life characters Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 02, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Deadwood - S2E10

#15 - Advances, None Miraculous (Season 2 - Episode 10)

The camp waits vigil for Doc Cochran's prognosis of William Bullock. Martha regrets her move to Deadwood after her son is severely injured. Commisioner Jarry returns to Deadwood to discuss possible annexation with Swearengen, who then asks Sol Star to school Silas Adams on Montana policy. Trixie forces Alma to make a decision on Ellsworth's proposal.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 585 votes.

Deadwood - S1E10

#14 - Mister Wu (Season 1 - Episode 10)

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An opium theft leaves Swearengen trying to find common language with his supplier, as well as navigating tricky waters to deal with the mess. Meanwhile, Silas Adams, bagman for the magistrate from Yankton, arrives with bad news for Swearengen; Bullock regrets having raised his hand at the government meeting; Merrick proposes Deadwood's first "club"; and an unwelcome Rev. Smith gravitates to the Gem and its new piano.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 724 votes.

Deadwood - S2E7

#13 - E.B. Was Left Out (Season 2 - Episode 7)

Tolliver wrecked Merrick's newspaper office in retribution for not publishing the county commissioner's notice. Con Stapleton and Leon are having difficulty generating business for Tolliver's new Chinese whores. Utter learns that Wolcott is in possession of Hickok's last letter. Joanie returns to Tolliver to "turn tricks."

The episode was rated 7.84 from 594 votes.

Deadwood - S2E4

#12 - Requiem for a Gleet (Season 2 - Episode 4)

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Doc Cochran contemplates a procedure that could cure Swearengen; Bullock attempts to settle into domesticity; rumors about the camp's future begin to spread.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 639 votes.

Deadwood - S3E12

#11 - Tell Him Something Pretty (Season 3 - Episode 12)

In the third, and last, season finale, the camp turns out to vote--but as Bullock notes, the election may already have been decided. In light of the populace's mood, Langrishe delays the opening of his theater, and ponders his future in Deadwood. After detouring at Nuttall's Number ten, Hawkeye arrives at the Gem with "almost 18" men to complement Wu's contingent. Alma works out a deal for her claim; Utter recieves another body for Hearst; and Harry gets his fire engine. Stubbs reaches out to a frustrated Tolliver, who finds himself with a folded hand as the action heats up. Through Farnum, Hearst issues his conditions for departure, forcing Swearengen to finish what Burns can't.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 554 votes.

Deadwood - S2E2

#10 - A Lie Agreed Upon (2) (Season 2 - Episode 2)

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Alma and Bullock face an abrupt decision about their future; Swearengen prepares for another showdown with Bullock; Calamity Jane returns to camp.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 668 votes.

Deadwood - S2E1

#9 - A Lie Agreed Upon (1) (Season 2 - Episode 1)

Swearengen and Bullock have a violent confrontation; Bullock and Utter discover that mistaken identity led to a fatal shooting at Nuttall's.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 690 votes.

Deadwood - S2E9

#8 - Amalgamation and Capital (Season 2 - Episode 9)

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Eagar for the latest news from Yankton, Swearengen enlists Farnum to keep tabs on Blazanov and his telegrams, and admonishes Merrick for over-hyping the Montana rumors in his paper. Wolcott gets a new moniker; Jane and Joanie continue their unlikely alliance; Sweargengen strikes a departure deal with Miss Isringhausen; and Fields and Hostetler attempt to tame a wild horse for the cavalry with damaging results.

The episode was rated 7.94 from 619 votes.

Deadwood - S3E2

#7 - I Am Not the Man You Take Me for (Season 3 - Episode 2)

Captain Turner tips off Swearengen with a cryptic note to another bloody incident at the Gem; later, Hearst makes his intentions known in a more straightforward way. While Jane finds a captive audience for her oratory skills, the candidates for mayor and sheriff aren't as fortunate. Alma's health raises the issue of Sofia's stewardship and newly reformed Andy Cramed pays a visit to Tolliver, with a different agenda and outcome.

The episode was rated 7.96 from 575 votes.

Deadwood - S3E10

#6 - A Constant Throb (Season 3 - Episode 10)

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With the Sheriff out of camp, Alma is assailed by Hearst's men and as she never would have expected, shelter comes form Swearengen. Barrett is sent to the Gem, but Al resorts to old fashion methods of enquiring to his employers plans. Meanwhile, Langrishe recruits a new actor.

The episode was rated 7.96 from 523 votes.

Deadwood - S1E4

#5 - Here Was a Man (Season 1 - Episode 4)

Swearengen directs Farnum to buy back the Garret claim; Alma prevails on Calamity Jane and Hickok for help; Hickok commissions Bullock in his stead; Charlie Utter leaves the camp; an ailing colleague, Andy Cramed, rejoins the Bella Union; and Hickok's run of luck at poker yields an unexpected return.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 908 votes.

Deadwood - S3E11

#4 - The Catbird Seat (Season 3 - Episode 11)

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Bullock holds an impromptu morning meeting to determine which emergencies warrant wiring him in Sturgis, where he and Harry are delivering campaign pitches. The first summons doesn't take long, as Hearst follows up Alma's close call with one that's decidedly more on-target. In the aftermath, Alma takes refuge at the Gem, again, while Trixie decides to take matters into her own hands. Langrishe has a falling out with Hearst, giving him little time to huddle with his new lineup of actors. Dismissing the likelihood of ever seeing 23 mercenaries promised by Hawkeye, Swearengen turns to Wu to deliver more reliable, if not quite weapons-tested, reinforcements from Custer City.

The episode was rated 8.03 from 515 votes.

Deadwood - S3E5

#3 - A Two-Headed Beast (Season 3 - Episode 5)

As Tolliver tries to find a respectable employee suitable to be his liaison with Hearst, Swearengen tries to understand the reasoning behind Hearst's actions. The conflict becomes more tense as Dority and Captain Turner violently settle their differences. Bullock tries to finally settle the dispute between Steve and Hostetler and another murder brings Bullock once more face to face with Hearst, forcing him to take action. Trixie becomes suspicious of Alma's odd behaviour at the bank. Ellsworth and Alma have a close encounter that alters their relationship. Langrishe welcomes more arrivals from his theater troupe.

The episode was rated 8.08 from 558 votes.

Deadwood - S2E12

#2 - Boy-The-Earth-Talks-To (Season 2 - Episode 12)

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Swearengen's shrewd manipulation of the rumor mill pays off in a Yankton counter-offer that requires only slight amending. Meanwhile, George Hearst's arrival in Deadwood has shaken up the camp's status quo from Wu to Farnum to Wolcott. Tolliver, for his part, seeks to avoid marginalization by offering the tycoon damning nuggets about his engineer's nasty habits.

The episode was rated 8.16 from 588 votes.

Deadwood - S1E12

#1 - Sold Under Sin (Season 1 - Episode 12)

The U.S. Army--under General Crook a.k.a. "Custer's Avengers"--rolls into Deadwood, prompting a parade...and business solicitations from Farnum and Tolliver. Swearengen delivers a tortured soul from suffering; Bullock reacts decisively to Russell's intentions regarding Alma; Con Stapleton's new commission proves short-lived; Adams shows Clagett where his loyalties lie; and Bullock and Alma have a late-night meeting.

The episode was rated 8.18 from 708 votes.

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