DEADWOOD: "A Lie Agreed Upon Part 2"

Profane poetry...

By Jason Davis     March 14, 2005

Resuming moments after the previous episode's conclusion, "A Lie Agreed On Part 2" is a contemplative sequel to its violent prequel. As the characters reflect upon the battle waged in the streets by Sheriff Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, writer Jody Worth manages to achieve what could only be called "profane poetry" as the dialogue, replete with expletive excess, meditates on the meaning of what has come to pass.

With his wife and son in the camp, Bullock must not only determine the fate of his affair with the widow Alma Garrett but reclaim his badge and weapon from Swearengen's saloon to uphold the honor with which his adopted son believes he lives his life. Bullock's moral compass, though constant in his duty to the law, has wavered in unexpected measure as regards his brother's widow, now his wife. Her unexpected arrival has thrown him into emotional chaos, and the pillar of the community believes he must either own up to his errors or abandon the camp with his sins in tow. That the episode counterpoints Bullock's personal dilemma with a professional one of similar dimensions is a credit to the parallelism built into the script. The sheriff seems happy to take a bullet for his badge but unwilling to employ the same fortitude for his wedding band.

Meanwhile, Swearengen has his own problems both internal and external. His duel with Bullock has had the unexpected side effect of souring his relationship with Dan Dougherty, his most trusted associate. His health, already questionable in the season premiere, is brought into the foreground by a visit from Doc Cochran, and Al's seeming decline echoes the uncertain hold he has on Deadwood as the United States grows ever closer to annexing the Black Hills. Politics become a point of interest as Al learns that certain people in the camp may be more valuable than he expected when the inevitable government arrives, and the episode's title starts to make its meaning clear as things fall into place for a very different second season.

The series regulars that lurked in the background of part one make their way into the story for the second half with the always intriguing Doc Cochran turning his attentions to the Swearengen side of the street brawl before reacquainting himself with a returning visitor. Newsman A.W. Merrick seeks the source of the altercation with his normal dogged pursuit of a story, while E.B. Farnum investigates Joanie Stubbs and her newly arrived business partners at their establishment of ill repute. Best of all, the foul-mouthed Calamity Jane returns with invectives for all to hear.

With an elegance unforeseen amongst the vulgarity-ridden dialogue, DEADWOOD is back on the screen for what promises to be an exciting season full of unexpected twists and turns. Keeping to BUFFY creator Joss Whedon's dictate that good television makes its characters suffer, David Milch and his writing staff have arrayed a whole new harem of hells for their characters to dance with. For Al, his control of this frontier outpost could slip away at any second. For Seth, his honor hangs by a very thin thread. And for everyone else, death loiters like a specter waiting for its next taste.