Austin Nichols | Deadwood

• Genre: Western, Serial drama, Crime drama
• Created by: David Milch
• Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Jim Beaver, Brad Dourif, John Hawkes, Paula Malcomson, Leon Rippy, William Sanderson, Robin Weigert, W. Earl Brown, Dayton Callie, Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Kim Dickens, Anna Gunn, Jeffrey Jones, Sean Bridgers, Titus Welliver, Bree Seanna Wall, Josh Eriksson, Garret Dillahunt, Brent Sexton
• Theme music composer: David Schwartz
• Composers: Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek, David Schwartz, Michael Brook
• No. of seasons: 3
• No. of episodes: 36
• Executive producers: David Milch, Gregg Fienberg, Mark Tinker
• Running time: 48–60 minutes
• Production companies: Roscoe Productions, Red Board Productions, Paramount Network Television, Home Box Office
• Network: HBO
• Release: March 21, 2004 – August 27, 2006

The town of Deadwood, South Dakota in the weeks following the Custer massacre is a lawless sinkhole of crime and corruption. Into this uncivilized outpost ride a disillusioned and bitter ex-lawman, Wild Bill Hickok, and Seth Bullock, a man hoping to find a new start for himself. Both men find themselves quickly on opposite sides of the legal and moral fence from Al Swearengen, saloon owner, hotel operator, and incipient boss of Deadwood. The lives of these three intertwine with many others, the high-minded and the low-lifes who populate Deadwood in 1876.

"Leviathan Smiles"

The Pioneer publishes Bullock's letter to Hearst's ire. Wyatt and Morgan Earp arrive in town claiming to have protected a stagecoach from bandits. Al suspects the story is false, but offers to hire them as henchmen anyway, while Tolliver makes the same offer. Disapproving of their descent into lawlessness, Bullock tries to get them to leave. Fields plans to leave Deadwood and Steve tries to steal his saddle to prevent this. Fields's horse kicks him in the head, leaving him paralyzed and under Fields's care. Odell leaves for New York to meet with Hearst's men. Langrishe has his ailing lead actor come to the Chez Amis so he can view their future venue as he dies. Hearst's Pinkertons arrive in town.

"Amateur Night"

Morgan duels and unfairly shoots a Pinkerton after an altercation, which Bullock uses to press the Earps into leaving town. Hearst has Merrick beaten by his man Barrett. Alma clears Fields of any obligation to the livery, but he stays in town and leaves Steve in the care of the No. 10. Wu informs Al that, due to Hearst's increased hostility, he has laborers and armed men holed up in Custer. Odell is found dead outside Rapid City. Jarry returns to Deadwood to inform Hearst that state soldiers are ready to come to town and rig the election in Hearst's favor. Langrishe holds an "amateur night" that allows residents to show off their talents, which leaves the town delighted. Al does not attend and instead sings "St. James Infirmary Blues" in the empty Gem.