Something Pretty The Pensky File

"I'm executin' sentence now and he's hangin' under color of law."
In the pilot of "Deadwood", a variety of interesting characters feel a pull towards the settlement of Deadwood, an illegal gold rush camp in Indian territory that exists outside the confines of the United States. Drawn towards the allure of easy wealth, characters like Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen start to build a civilization from the piss-filled mud of the Dakota Territory atop a foundation of murdering, whoring and robbing.
David Milch's "Deadwood" is a television series that examines the "lies agreed upon" that enable the creation of a functioning society from the disparate individual strands of humanity. The pilot episode, directed by Walter Hill, introduces several key themes, a handful of memorable characters, and some unusual cinematography that might not be around too much longer.
In this episode of "Something Pretty", Wes and Clay discuss the pilot episode, "Deadwood" and how the show handles introducing so many unique voices. Plus! The guys chat about law and order, the genetics of clammy hands, and why you won't catch us sippin' at it.
Links:
Support "Something Pretty" on Patreon
Listen to our other podcasts
YouTube
Join our Discord
Supplemental Reading:
The Deadwood Bible: A Lie Agreed Upon
Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills
Deadwood: The Golden Years
Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By
Life's Work
Theme Song:
Western ShowDown by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

"I see as much misery outta them movin’ to justify their selves as them that set out to do harm."
"Deep Water" shows us how trouble and danger have taken hold of life in Deadwood. People like Al Swearengen were among the first to arrive in the settlement and they established the tone and decorum for people arriving afterward. Addiction drives many of our characters to actions they regret yet can't escape. The pursuit of righteous justice might end up creating more despair.
And many people just can't stop talking to Al.
In this episode of "Something Pretty", Wes and Clay discuss "Deep Water" because it's close, and cocksuckers like us always go for the easiest chance. Plus! The guys talk about Jane's backstory, master negotiator Seth Bullock, and hanging around when you should leave.
Links:
Support "Something Pretty" on Patreon
Listen to our other podcasts
YouTube
Join our Discord
Supplemental Reading:
The Deadwood Bible: A Lie Agreed Upon
Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills
Deadwood: The Golden Years
Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By
Life's Work
Theme Song:
Western ShowDown by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

"A man's ways please the Lord when he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him".
Trust is put to the test in "Reconnoitering the Rim". The third episode of "Deadwood" features some intrusions into the macrocosm of the camp: the Bella Union opens up shop across the way from The Gem and Wild Bill is hounded by those who wish him ill will. As the characters of the town circle each other, they begin to size one another up and are forced to make decisions about how to move forward. When threats appear, can you survive by simply burning it all down?
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Reconnoitering the Rim" and that's three in a row for us, Wild Bill. Plus! The guys chat about the Bella Union versus The Gem, the curse of celebrity, and the character who is most out of sync with the settlement.
Links:
Support "Something Pretty" on Patreon
Listen to our other podcasts
YouTube
Join our Discord
Supplemental Reading:
The Deadwood Bible: A Lie Agreed Upon
Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills
Deadwood: The Golden Years
Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By
Life's Work
Theme Song:
Western ShowDown by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

"Can you let me go to Hell the way I want to?"
The settlement of Deadwood is at an inflection point. The area became a beacon to those seeking to escape the bounds of civilization by finding wealth in the freezing waters of the Dakotas. Individuals of all stripes and backgrounds flooded into the camp and have been trying to create a social hierarchy ever since. In the midst of the chaos, people like Al Swearengen have built criminal empires and become wealthy. And they're also desperate to maintain that control.
People, however, seem to have an innate need to create structures around themselves to protect those who can't protect themselves. When Alma discovers that her husband is dead, and she suspects foul play, she turns to Wild Bill Hickok as a solution. And the redemption of Wild Bill is a wonderful metaphor for our reliance on society, as well as a reminder that thunder is always rumbling in the distance.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Here Was a Man", but they don't say it in thunder. Plus! The guys chat about an idealized version of the government and state, insulting animals, and the many reasons one might need a new suit.
Links:
Support "Something Pretty" on Patreon
Listen to our other podcasts
YouTube
Join our Discord
Supplemental Reading:
The Deadwood Bible: A Lie Agreed Upon
Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills
Deadwood: The Golden Years
Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By
Life's Work
Theme Song:
Western ShowDown by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

"I believe in God's purpose. Not knowing it, I ask him, moving in me, to allow me to see his will. I ask him, moving in others, to allow them to see it."
Jack McCall might have managed to murder Wild Bill Hickok, but his escape was less than successful. The death of the closest thing Deadwood had to a hero has left the settlement confused and in a bind: justice should be delivered, but future plans require that justice to be something less than satisfying. If the trial results in a sentence or punishment, Al's visions of vipers would seem to be more and more likely. When everything some seek to gain could vanish into smoke, others who have lost might have to find other ways to ease their pain.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Trial of Jack McCall" and how the show handles its most satirical content yet. Plus! The guys chat about the language and syntax of the series, its view of religion, and how justice can mean different things to different people.
Links:
Support "Something Pretty" on Patreon
Listen to our other podcasts
YouTube
Join our Discord
Supplemental Reading:
The Deadwood Bible: A Lie Agreed Upon
Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills
Deadwood: The Golden Years
Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By
Life's Work
Theme Song:
Western ShowDown by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

"Anyway, don't play that shit where you make me drag your words outta you. Declare, or shut the fuck up."
The Biblical references continue! A plague of sickness has descended upon the camp (we're still waiting on the locusts) and the tiny strands of communal interconnectedness will face an early challenge to their durability. The Reverend Smith has warned about the dangers of saying "I have no need of thee" and infectious disease will serve as a bellwether to the future chances of the camp. As some relationships are strengthened, others are weakened. And when two people fight, don't be the one to miss the layup.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Plague" and the difference between Al Swearengen and Cy Tolliver. Plus! The guys chat about subtle clues around cheating, the riverboat adventures of the Bella Union, and David Milch's opinion of the Fourth Estate.
Links:
Support "Something Pretty" on Patreon
Listen to our other podcasts
YouTube
Join our Discord
Supplemental Reading:
The Deadwood Bible: A Lie Agreed Upon
Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills
Deadwood: The Golden Years
Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By
Life's Work
Theme Song:
Western ShowDown by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.