Worthy of Rental - HBO's "Deadwood"

Dave and I have been enjoying the first season of "Deadwood" on DVD. The show is set in the Dakota territories during 1876. The show is a classic western with good vs. bad. The characters are beautifully developed. Flaws are visible and so are strengths. Many of the characters are based on real folks--Wild Bill Hickock, Seth Bullock, Calamity Jane and Al Swearingen. Actor Ian MacShane plays Swearingen, the owner of the saloon/whorehouse "The Gem". He is menacing and brutal and frightening. As the season progresses, he is more than interesting: he is riveting. Tim Oliphant plays the morally upright, yet conflicted former lawman, Seth Bullock. Hubba, hubba. The character of Calamity Jane is portrayed as a hard-drinkin', foul-mouthed, complicated woman devoted to Wild Bill. The actress who plays her is brilliant. Even the minor characters are allowed enough screen time to reveal who they truly are. The show captures the dusty, lawless feel of the town Deadwood. The language is foul and the show does the usual "look-at-us-we're-HBO-so-we-can-get-away-with-this" take on sex and violence. Still worth a rent and worth the time.