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Deadwood Season 3 Episode 2

I Am Not The Fine Man You Take Me For

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9.3

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AIRED: 6/18/06

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.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

„Change ain’t looking for friends… change calls the tune we dance to”

9.8

By cris_007, Jun 25, 2006

As Al elegantly put it, this episode is about change: Hearst seems to be running out of patience in achieving his goals and the speeches finally take place setting the stage for the new social hierarchy and order. In the background we see a sober Jane for a change and Alma loses her baby. But what really stands out is not necessarily the actions themselves, but, as always, the incredible way in which they are told. The editing is flawless, one scene leading brilliantly into the next, and from this point of view the speeches are excelently built: With Hearst and Al overseeing them from above, barely paying any attention to them as they discuss the camps true future. The fact that Hearst has his own veranda now also symbolises his ascent to power, as Al and Cy are no longet the only ones with a clear view of the camp.

Hearst shows off his intelligence and cunning, while at the same time measuring that of his opponent. He does so through the cryptic note he sends through captain Turner, showing his inginuity, his rational cold way of thinking, and the fact that resources are not a problem for him, not even human ones. As Dan notices, both Hearst and Al are "real smart" and if thus far Al’s intelligence provided him with the edge required to grasp victory when at a disadvantage, this may no longer be the case…

Returning to the speeches, which represent the most memorable part of the episode, they are as brilliant as they are simple: Farnum’s megalomania driven speech, culminating with „Farnum! Christ knows he’s earned it!” shows the characters desperation as he realises he is being pushed aside… and also constitutes for a good laugh. Sol and Seth are honest and direct, with no need for pretentious words. In particular Bullock’s speech, emphasised by the crowds silence, strikes a very soft cord through its melancholy and sincerity („I’m glad we’re in the camp… even on the sorriest of days”), speaking to the amount of sacrifices he endured here. Manning’s speech and the public’s response reflects his role as „extra” perfectly. His speech is of course hilarious and proposterous, as is his standing for office: „We need a fire brigade… and I’d like to lead it! I’ve always loved fires!” – the antithesis is brilliant.

As for the climax of the episode, the meeting behind closed doors between Al and Hearst, what else can there be said except: it’s beautiful. Al gives a demonstration of his true willpower and his inner strength is beginning to unsettle Hearst, which for the first time loses his patience - a sign of weakness. Al played a dangerous game with his calculated bluff and his response really caught Hearst off his feet. (Hearst: „It’s my will to which I will have you bend!” / Al:”No”)

To conclude, the episode displays some mighty impressive acting, writing and directing and is a great follow-up to the previous episode.

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All Takes His Lumps

9.8

By furiousfunk, Jun 20, 2006

Milch knows how to deliver a one - two punch with this show! Begins a bit odd with the cryptic note from Hearst and then the brutal slicing in the Gem. Alma is going to lose her and Sheriff Bullock\'s baby and may lose her life as well. Bulllock seems to be adjusting to his brother\'s wife that he married after his death. Elsworth seems a bit left out of Alma\'s plans if she were to die. Trixie and Starr got a house to live in and the debates happened as Hearst tortured Al. This makes next week\'s episode even more suspensful since we have to wait for the big bloody matchup between Hearst and Al along with a former rival returning to cause mayhem. Tragic that this show is going away, viewers deserve quality television like this.moreless
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Hearst steps into his villainous role and doesn't disappoint. This episode proves that in Deadwood, there is never a dull moment.

9.8

By wildcat0326, Jun 19, 2006

Deadwood has just been astonishing this season. The character interactions and plotlines are set up for the most part at this point and the season is already at full speed.

Alma’s complications have not only revealed things about herself but also about Ellsworth and Bullock. Ellsworth seems to be a great father figure for Sofia even if he might not want to admit it.

E.B. continues to be one of the characters that you love to hate as he deals with his wounds and Richardson. His reaction to a simple “uh oh” rings true and shows how frustrated he has become with his life and his seemingly doomed campaign for mayor.

Cy Tolliver’s condition has seemed to improve. We still cannot be sure how he is going to fit into the bigger plots here, but we can only wait and see. I’ve shown dislike for Tolliver in the past, but perhaps there is still time to redeem the dullness of the character. Joanie’s future with the Bella Union is still up in the air after the heartfelt talk that she had with Charlie Utter.

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the continuing development of The Boy the Earth talks to in this episode. Hearst has finally put away his almost likeable façade and shown his true intentions for the camp and his running of it. His attack on Al and his blatant attack on the Gem Saloon only go to show how much he feels he deserves. As Al said, it is out of scale for him to be so arrogant.

The Bullock/Swearengen team-up is fueled by Hearst’s ego. This is beginning to be one of the most unlikely but satisfying partnerships to grace the television screen. Bullock’s disgust with the attack on Al only shows how far Hearst had gone. As much as I hate to see Al go down, it ultimately leads to one of the coolest lines of all time. “I’m having mine served cold”

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Whamy! \\\"Deadwood\\\" fills in the void left by \\\"The Sopranos\\\" and lack of any other decent drama on HBO. This episode exemplifies that.

9.2

By fonixmunkee, Jun 19, 2006

\\\"Deadwood\\\" has lived in the shadows of \\\"The Sopranos\\\" as the second-tier drama on HBO. After this last season of \\\"The Sopranos\\\" wrapped, I think we can all say we were a little disappointed. \\\"Deadwood\\\" has filled in for the high drama and intrigue of \\\"The Sopranos\\\" this season. Easily the strongest opening of the series, last week\\\'s episode set forth one of the biggest, most action-packed story lines the series may ever see. This week, it\\\'s amplified and the unholy (and unusual) relationships between the town\\\'s citizens take shape as they prepare to face a villain worse than Al Swearengen: George W. Hearst.

Along the way, there\\\'s subplots that draw interesting parallels to the main story: such as Alma\\\'s complications with her and Bullock\\\'s baby. Simultaneously, Hearst is preying upon Alma. This shows the depth of the writing on \\\"Deadwood:\\\" cautiously balancing multiple story lines that bring together the true heartache and toughness of living in a frontier town where the cutthroat-ness thrives. Other story lines help develop solid characters: such as Jane going to school. \\\"Calamity\\\" Jane is already an award-winning character, and it\\\'s great to see her expounded upon. There\\\'s also the less-intriguing Joanie Stubbs who is coming into her own as she deals with her life. Nothing left to bore, for sure.

\\\"Deadwood\\\" has always been entertaining, but now it seems the writers are really getting down-and-dirty, keeping the same strong dialogs and characters, but spicing up the plot a bit more to deliver some action-packed episodes. Keep it going!

One thing: let\\\'s see Bullock in a gun battle. We all know he\\\'s the second-fastest gun in the West, and he\\\'s obviously flawed, but let\\\'s show how bad-ass he can really be.moreless
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In my opinion, one hell of a great episode!

10

By Jookhouse, Jun 19, 2006

This is one of my favorite episodes of this show, period. Very, very intense nearly all of the way through. The scene with Andy Cramed and Cy was pretty wild. It seems to me like Cy is beginning to go a little nuts, at least in some instances, though certainly not all. He is still as sharp and cunning as ever. I particularly liked where Joanie said to him, \"When you speak, I feel like it\'s the Devil talking.\" Not to mention his response, which was great.

I will say this much: George Hearst needs to go! Al is my favorite character on this show, and I didn\'t like seeing him getting roughed up by Hearst and Captain Turner (and of course not Bullock, either-as in the 2nd season...although I would say in that fight, Al gave just as good as he got.) Anyway, I hope Al gets rid of Hearst sometime soon. This season, while only 2 episodes in, is shaping up to be one hell of a wild ride, in my opinion.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Anna Gunn	Martha Bullock
Brad Dourif	Doctor Amos "Doc" Cochran
Bree Seanna Wall	Sofia Metz
Dayton Callie	Charlie Utter
Ian McShane	Al Swearengen
Jim Beaver	Ellsworth

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Paul Blackthorne	Unknown	Guest Star
Seth Peterson	Unknown	Guest Star
Eamonn Roche	Unknown	Guest Star
Kim Dickens	Joanie Stubbs	Recurring Role
Sean Bridgers	Johnny Burns	Recurring Role
Jeffrey Jones	A.W. Merrick	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (9)
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- Farnum: Could you have been born, Richardson, and not egg-hatched as I've always assumed? Did your mother hover over you, snaggle-toothed and doting, as you now hover over me?
  Richardson: I loved my mother.
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- Joanie Stubbs: When you speak, I feel like it's the devil talking.
  Cy Tolliver: Ain't that a lovely thing to hear yourself accused of?
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- Al Swearengen: (to Johnny Burns) Would you close your flap, that I don't forego my boiled eggs?
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- Dan Dority: I'm older, and I'm much less friendly to ******* change.
  Al Swearengen: Change ain't looking for friends... change calls the tune we dance to.
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- Jane: I'm, for the day, off the bottle and about to bathe.
  Mose: Camp get up a petition?
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- Jane: So... I guess my lesson I got to teach you, listen and you won't get scalped. And don't look at yourself too much in the mirror.
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- Al Swearengen: Not throwing my hands up, or my skirt over my head, don't mean I ain't awestruck.
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- George Hearst: (pouring whisky into a glass) Accepting your premise Mr. Swearengen, I'll not name how you will benefit from the action I wish you to take, saying only instead: It's my will, to which I will have you bend! I suggest you drink that.
  Al Swearengen: No.
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- Al Swearengen: I'm having mine served cold.
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NOTES (1)
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- Gerald McRaney was billed as Special Guest Star in this episode.
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