HBO's answer to the wild West

When TV veteran David Milch ("NYPD Blue") first came to HBO with the idea for "Deadwood" he wanted to do a show that revolved around a camp in America's history that was rough, primitively civilized, dirty, without stable government or law and ultimately, fascinating. The first season of the show presented us with this overall premise, introducing us to the ensemble of brilliant characters and major themes like loyalty, greed, trust, corruption and self-discovery. Season two essentially picks up right where its predecessor left off and revolves mainly around outside threats and the inevitable organized future of Deadwood, N.D.\nIn season two, tensions continue to rise amidst the residents of Deadwood. The often livid Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) struggles with his duties as sheriff and his commitment to wife and child, while keen bar keep/pimp and town Caesar Al Swearengen (the brilliant Ian McShane) deals with some nasty physical ailments, continues his stronghold of the camp while also dealing with eminent threats from outside business prospectors and the inevitable need to annex Deadwood into the U.S. government.\nWhile the threat of outside powers ascending on the gold miner's utopia is the overall premise of season two, it is the small side stories and development of minor characters that really makes this show fascinating. \nSol Star (a highly underused John Hawkes) pursues his complicated relationship with Swearengen's top whore Trixie (Paula Malcomson), self appointed mayor and slimy hotel connoisseur E.B. Farnum (William Sanderson) continues in his treacherous, snake-like ways and finally there is the newly introduced character Francis Wolcott (Garret Dillahunt, who previously starred as Wild Bill Hickok's assassin in season one), a prospector and businessman who has dark and nasty secrets.\nThe six-disc DVD set features enough special features to satisfy both hardcore fans of the show as well as those interested in exploring the historical background of the story. \nThe impressive set features nine commentary tracks by actors, creator Milch, and some producers, a documentary featurette on the real Deadwood and finally there is a nice little behind the scenes, "making of" video that chronicles the show's extensive and highly detailed set and costume designs, and how the actors and crew endured filming in unbearable desert heat, among other things. \n"Deadwood," like so many other series in HBO's impressive canon, is complicated and asks a lot from its audience. However, it never once insults our intelligence and is rewarding after its completion. The writing is stellar and at times poetic (even with its plethora of fantastic obscenities). The actors, many of whom are fairly unknown, are all top of their game and the show invites us to witness the wild side of the wild West while also showing us an important part of American History.