Long time no Deadwood thoughts!
Dec. 12th, 2012 04:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chaniYes I'm in the mood for some Deadwood discussion.
I rewatched "Mr Wu" today and marvelled at the meta structure of the episode.
The opening scenes are all about openings and beginnings, as a bright new day begins.
First as Seth and Sol leave their nest place and head to Farnum's hotel where everybody and their uncle are having breakfast, and it's just so crowded as Merrick says out loud so Alma and Sofia can have a seat. And Sofia, our little Metaphor on legs, stresses it out, saying "GOOD MORNING!!!".
Ladies and gentlemen the community itself is greeting its members.
Seth and Sol are kind enough to share their breafast with a huge and lonely Merrick who's obviously craving sociability and is ready to share gossip with the hardware boys (but Sol being Sol would have none of that and cuts it out pointing that Merrick's cravate is in his plate! I love Sol!). Joanie, the solitary attractive woman who is now all by herself indeed, since she left The Bella Union, and sitting alone at a table, echoes Sol and Seth's kindness with some kindness of her own, inviting Charlie (whom she met in the previous episode while looking for a place to set her whorehouse) to join her, pretending she had been waiting for him all this time. Charlie has been a lonely soul lately too...but he will too find his place in Deadwood. By the way, Sofia tried to get his attention and smiled to him. Your friend Bill is dead and Jane left, but there's hope ahead for you, Charlie.
The Mayor is up and ready to start his day, heading for the Gem...which has just opened up, but " a Celestial", Mr Wu, gets there first and Johnny has to quickly lock the saloon up, leaving "the tit-licker" and E.B outside. It's a comedy number and that false entrance for two grotestques is quite fitting!
The parallel between Farnum and the "degenerate tit-licker" is enhanced later by E.B himself who voices that he envies the pervert's easy happiness. E.B's self-hatred is often stressed out when he uses other characters to portray himself, usually voicing what Al must think of – or say about– him. Deadwood is a hall of mirrors and E.B also sees his reflection in the most despicable creatures...hence his fascination with the "tit-licker"
Mr Wu of course knows how to make an entrance...but is clever enough to leave through the back door, an enactment that foreshadows the scene in which Al and Dan leave his meat storage, pretending he had them pay too much for the meat while he actually gave it for free.
Deadwood is a theatre wherein all perform for the other (just like Joanie when she acted the part to provide a seat to Charlie), even before season 3 and the amateur night!
Meanwhile, Merrick and his companions are strolling together. It's obvious that Seth, Sol and Charlie are indulging him. Seth would rather be with Alma but plays along, mostly because he's the other half of the Bullock&Star partnership (and I love how he keeps touching Sol in that scene!!!!). Sol is his usual gentle self. Charlie follows because it's nice to be part of a fellowship, no matter how short-lived it is. Bullock grows impatient :"Sol" he says, several times, "We gotta open".
And the episode gotta move on to the action as well. The opening scenes of the first act are done. The plot must advance. There are new characters to introduce, like Silas Adams and Hawkeye, a diagnosis to be said about Reverend Smith's worsening condition, and the issue of the stolen dope to work out!
By the time the episode is done, things have gotten darker. We saw a "fuck you" face off between Swearengen and the newcomers that could have ended in blood, had not Al recognise in Silas a potential ally; Cy revealed another dark side refusing to help Al, embracing white supremacy and plotting some bad moves (concerning Al, the Chink corner and even Joanie's new freedom); Eddie told Joanie he would back her, risking the wrath of Tolliver; Seth reverted to his old habits and insulted Hostetler (another man with a bad temper); Rev. Smith was drawn to the Gem twice, risking his very soul (and Al's business) in the devil's lair, but Swearengen finally put an end to the temptation(this episode takes place after the one in which Smith said he could no longer feel God's presence), and the minister ends up on the other side of the camp, the good one, at Star and Bullock's. And of course Swearengen killed again, sparing Leon and dooming his "own guy", Jimmy Iron, the pathetic dope fiend who earlier made a spectacle of himself when he shat himself then crawled and threw himself off Al's balcony before finally decided to roll in the mud, like a worm.
Deadwood likes its farce and after E.B and the anonymous tit-licker, Jimmy was the third member of the Grotesque Trinity in the episode.
In a way, Al put Jimmy Iron out of his misery. Here I can't help thinking that the deadly baptism Al gives Jimmy in the bathhouse kinda foreshadows his future helping the Reverend out, and of course by "out" I don't mean "out of the Gem" but rather the "you can go now, brother" out, especially given that Al did say that the reverend was also making a fool of himself, kicking his heel near the fucking new piano.
But in the Reverend's case, the farce looked like a tragedy, even though some silly whores mocked him (Trixie knew better and calls him a "fucking poor man"), and his death eventually looks like euthanasia, not murder. By the way Al's disgust of Jimmy's various body smells is funny but also echoes the Reverend's mentioning his own smell in the previous episode, and how he kept apologising for an odor of rotten body he only could smell, phantom smell that he couldn't escape because of his brain tumour.
In "Mr Wu" Smith wasn't dead yet but he was already haunting the Gem, always coming back despite of Al's regular bust-outs, and also visiting people like a (holy) ghost.
There was a reason the Reverend was drawn to the music. He knew he would find relief at the Gem. He said the piano was easing the pain in his head and I think it's meaningful.
I see the "fucking piano" a metaphor representing change, especially the transformation that has already began at the Gem, taking the villain from the first episode to turn him into someone who cares*. But as much as he told Trixie not to be afraid of change, Al is himself reluctant, struggling still, angry at things forced upon him...and yet ready to do what must be done for the sake of the community. In other words, fucking Yankton, fucking Bullock, fucking new piano!
And I wonder, writing these words, whose temptation it was actually, Smith's or Al's? First time Al was nice and helped the Reverend out of his joint, telling him he could come anytime as long as it's off hours; second time, he got really angry and had someone else took Smith out of the Gem. It did look like a test. And all things come in threes. The Reverend's third visit will be off hours and it will be his last.
Anyways...
The episode ends with the day. A confused Reverend Smith visits the hardware boys and it's a heartwrenching scene. Before that, Seth worked out his issues and had some bonding time with Sol...which sounded either like a confession or a therapy session (after all Sol is from Vienna!!!). As usual, it's a lovely scene in which the intimacy between the two friends is palpable. Seth can voice his fears to someone he completely trusts and Sol says what his pal needs to hear and even understands what is left unsaid, as proven by his last line "but she is a beautiful woman". BTW I also adore John Hawkes's wink earlier the episode when Seth is talking about his proposal as Health Commissioner. But yeah, I adore John Hawkes, period.
Sol always has a soothing effect on Seth, so when Smith appears, Bullock is calm and ready to return some of the comfort he was offered. No longer the angry man who almost lashed out at Hostetler or sounded like he wanted to strangle Farnum (E.B is so sadly aware of the others' feeings towards him!), but a reformed man. And it's very touching the way the hardware boys reassure the minister, recalling the names of their hometowns (Sol's "in the flesh" is the perfect biblical answer to Smith's fear that they might be devils in disguise).
Our boys calm the Reverend's terrors and kindly offer to escort him back to his tent.A last strolling, an evening walk that is the counterpoint to the morning one, with a man whose needs are deeper than needy Merrick, and this time Seth is no longer the impatient man he was in the morning.
Bullocks locks the door in that closing scene, while Smith informs Sol that Swearengen has a new piano, and it's perfect.
I rewatched "Mr Wu" today and marvelled at the meta structure of the episode.
The opening scenes are all about openings and beginnings, as a bright new day begins.
First as Seth and Sol leave their
Ladies and gentlemen the community itself is greeting its members.
Seth and Sol are kind enough to share their breafast with a huge and lonely Merrick who's obviously craving sociability and is ready to share gossip with the hardware boys (but Sol being Sol would have none of that and cuts it out pointing that Merrick's cravate is in his plate! I love Sol!). Joanie, the solitary attractive woman who is now all by herself indeed, since she left The Bella Union, and sitting alone at a table, echoes Sol and Seth's kindness with some kindness of her own, inviting Charlie (whom she met in the previous episode while looking for a place to set her whorehouse) to join her, pretending she had been waiting for him all this time. Charlie has been a lonely soul lately too...but he will too find his place in Deadwood. By the way, Sofia tried to get his attention and smiled to him. Your friend Bill is dead and Jane left, but there's hope ahead for you, Charlie.
The Mayor is up and ready to start his day, heading for the Gem...which has just opened up, but " a Celestial", Mr Wu, gets there first and Johnny has to quickly lock the saloon up, leaving "the tit-licker" and E.B outside. It's a comedy number and that false entrance for two grotestques is quite fitting!
The parallel between Farnum and the "degenerate tit-licker" is enhanced later by E.B himself who voices that he envies the pervert's easy happiness. E.B's self-hatred is often stressed out when he uses other characters to portray himself, usually voicing what Al must think of – or say about– him. Deadwood is a hall of mirrors and E.B also sees his reflection in the most despicable creatures...hence his fascination with the "tit-licker"
Mr Wu of course knows how to make an entrance...but is clever enough to leave through the back door, an enactment that foreshadows the scene in which Al and Dan leave his meat storage, pretending he had them pay too much for the meat while he actually gave it for free.
Deadwood is a theatre wherein all perform for the other (just like Joanie when she acted the part to provide a seat to Charlie), even before season 3 and the amateur night!
Meanwhile, Merrick and his companions are strolling together. It's obvious that Seth, Sol and Charlie are indulging him. Seth would rather be with Alma but plays along, mostly because he's the other half of the Bullock&Star partnership (and I love how he keeps touching Sol in that scene!!!!). Sol is his usual gentle self. Charlie follows because it's nice to be part of a fellowship, no matter how short-lived it is. Bullock grows impatient :"Sol" he says, several times, "We gotta open".
And the episode gotta move on to the action as well. The opening scenes of the first act are done. The plot must advance. There are new characters to introduce, like Silas Adams and Hawkeye, a diagnosis to be said about Reverend Smith's worsening condition, and the issue of the stolen dope to work out!
By the time the episode is done, things have gotten darker. We saw a "fuck you" face off between Swearengen and the newcomers that could have ended in blood, had not Al recognise in Silas a potential ally; Cy revealed another dark side refusing to help Al, embracing white supremacy and plotting some bad moves (concerning Al, the Chink corner and even Joanie's new freedom); Eddie told Joanie he would back her, risking the wrath of Tolliver; Seth reverted to his old habits and insulted Hostetler (another man with a bad temper); Rev. Smith was drawn to the Gem twice, risking his very soul (and Al's business) in the devil's lair, but Swearengen finally put an end to the temptation(this episode takes place after the one in which Smith said he could no longer feel God's presence), and the minister ends up on the other side of the camp, the good one, at Star and Bullock's. And of course Swearengen killed again, sparing Leon and dooming his "own guy", Jimmy Iron, the pathetic dope fiend who earlier made a spectacle of himself when he shat himself then crawled and threw himself off Al's balcony before finally decided to roll in the mud, like a worm.
Deadwood likes its farce and after E.B and the anonymous tit-licker, Jimmy was the third member of the Grotesque Trinity in the episode.
In a way, Al put Jimmy Iron out of his misery. Here I can't help thinking that the deadly baptism Al gives Jimmy in the bathhouse kinda foreshadows his future helping the Reverend out, and of course by "out" I don't mean "out of the Gem" but rather the "you can go now, brother" out, especially given that Al did say that the reverend was also making a fool of himself, kicking his heel near the fucking new piano.
But in the Reverend's case, the farce looked like a tragedy, even though some silly whores mocked him (Trixie knew better and calls him a "fucking poor man"), and his death eventually looks like euthanasia, not murder. By the way Al's disgust of Jimmy's various body smells is funny but also echoes the Reverend's mentioning his own smell in the previous episode, and how he kept apologising for an odor of rotten body he only could smell, phantom smell that he couldn't escape because of his brain tumour.
In "Mr Wu" Smith wasn't dead yet but he was already haunting the Gem, always coming back despite of Al's regular bust-outs, and also visiting people like a (holy) ghost.
There was a reason the Reverend was drawn to the music. He knew he would find relief at the Gem. He said the piano was easing the pain in his head and I think it's meaningful.
I see the "fucking piano" a metaphor representing change, especially the transformation that has already began at the Gem, taking the villain from the first episode to turn him into someone who cares*. But as much as he told Trixie not to be afraid of change, Al is himself reluctant, struggling still, angry at things forced upon him...and yet ready to do what must be done for the sake of the community. In other words, fucking Yankton, fucking Bullock, fucking new piano!
And I wonder, writing these words, whose temptation it was actually, Smith's or Al's? First time Al was nice and helped the Reverend out of his joint, telling him he could come anytime as long as it's off hours; second time, he got really angry and had someone else took Smith out of the Gem. It did look like a test. And all things come in threes. The Reverend's third visit will be off hours and it will be his last.
Anyways...
The episode ends with the day. A confused Reverend Smith visits the hardware boys and it's a heartwrenching scene. Before that, Seth worked out his issues and had some bonding time with Sol...which sounded either like a confession or a therapy session (after all Sol is from Vienna!!!). As usual, it's a lovely scene in which the intimacy between the two friends is palpable. Seth can voice his fears to someone he completely trusts and Sol says what his pal needs to hear and even understands what is left unsaid, as proven by his last line "but she is a beautiful woman". BTW I also adore John Hawkes's wink earlier the episode when Seth is talking about his proposal as Health Commissioner. But yeah, I adore John Hawkes, period.
Sol always has a soothing effect on Seth, so when Smith appears, Bullock is calm and ready to return some of the comfort he was offered. No longer the angry man who almost lashed out at Hostetler or sounded like he wanted to strangle Farnum (E.B is so sadly aware of the others' feeings towards him!), but a reformed man. And it's very touching the way the hardware boys reassure the minister, recalling the names of their hometowns (Sol's "in the flesh" is the perfect biblical answer to Smith's fear that they might be devils in disguise).
Our boys calm the Reverend's terrors and kindly offer to escort him back to his tent.A last strolling, an evening walk that is the counterpoint to the morning one, with a man whose needs are deeper than needy Merrick, and this time Seth is no longer the impatient man he was in the morning.
Bullocks locks the door in that closing scene, while Smith informs Sol that Swearengen has a new piano, and it's perfect.