The gory finish

The third season of "Deadwood" ends in bitter threats and desperate maneuvers, as its characters balance their principles against Hearst's ruthless tactics.

Editor's note: This review of the season finale of "Deadwood" contains spoilers. The finale aired Sunday night -- but if you haven't seen it yet, don't read this.

By Heather Havrilesky

Read more: TV, Arts & Entertainment, Reviews, Heather Havrilesky

Aug. 28, 2006 | At the start of the third season finale of "Deadwood," thespian Jack Langrishe serves as the Greek chorus, giving voice to the darkening clouds looming over the tiny South Dakota town. "This camp is in mortal danger!" he laments. "The man, Hearst, is a murderous engine. My friend, Swearengen, aware their combat is unequal, feels the appeal of the gory finish. Others I've just come to know stand candidates in the elections whose results they know may be moot. What, one is disposed to ask, in fuck ought a theater man to do?"

Langrishe may be feeling helpless, but unlike many of the other residents of Deadwood, he has an ominous grasp of the big picture in town and can see not only how high the stakes are, but also how many of the key players, though they may claim otherwise, might secretly thrill to the notion of impending bloodshed. Like any actor worth his salt, Langrishe is a keen observer of human behavior; he knows Swearengen, for one, could stomach a full-blown battle, even as he takes steps to avoid one. As a man of the theater, Langrishe may be uniquely equipped to manipulate Hearst, but also uniquely unprepared to face the "gory finish" that calls to the others.

But this is what George Hearst and his hired guns have unearthed, more than anything else: Those in town who will abandon their limited morals to save their own hides (the corrupt casino owner Cy Tolliver or the cowardly "mayor" E.B. Farnum), and those who will readily throw themselves in harm's way for the sake of their beliefs or ideals. Langrishe is an interesting study because he's terrified, but he's still willing to do his part to influence Hearst, either by currying favor with his back treatments or by suggesting that Hearst listen when the spirits call to him -- particularly if they call him away from Deadwood.

But under the current stresses, even Al Swearengen, a brutal, lawless man, starts to embody the essence of reasoned, respectable behavior. Or, as Swearengen's right-hand man Silas puts it, "When he ain't lyin', Al's the most honorable man you'll meet."

Of course, it's an odd sort of code Swearengen follows, as evidenced later in the episode by the human costs of keeping Trixie alive. Every time we see Swearengen grasping at his missing finger, lost in a run-in with Hearst, a grim look flashes across his face, like he's ushering all of his self-restraint to keep from slitting Hearst's throat on the spot. Obviously Swearengen would kill Hearst in a heartbeat if he thought he could escape with his life. Unlike the others, Swearengen isn't the least bit surprised by injustice and evil, but he still isn't about to actually lose his life just to get revenge -- he's nothing like his henchman Dority, say, or even Bullock or Utter in that way. Above all else, Swearengen is a pragmatist, and values his hedonistic existence far too dearly to throw it away for his ideals.

Charlie Utter, on the other hand, is far more reckless and far less attached to his own well-being, and after years backing Wild Bill Hickock's plays, he's no stranger to the deadly standoff. With his temper and stubborn nature, Utter may be the least hesitant of them all to start trouble with Hearst. In the first scene of the finale, we see him threaten Hearst to his face. (Remember that the last time Utter saw Hearst, in the jail, he openly mocked Hearst with the body of the man Hearst's men had slain). Utter seems eager to let the man who murdered Alma's husband and brought chaos to the camp know he's not one to stand for such abuses.

Utter: I don't like your tone of voice.

Hearst: Who are you, Mr. Utter, for me to care what you like or don't?

Utter: I'm the guy who, next time you see me, you'd better take a different fucking tone with.

Hearst: Given what's in store, I'm not sure I'll even learn what price I've paid for not complying.

Utter: Oh, I guess someone lookin' hard might could find you in there somewheres, peekin' from under the covers to make a fuckin' threat.

Hearst shuts the door on Utter, but we see fear in his eyes, maybe for the first time. Hearst isn't an impenetrable character, of course -- there are hints that he's lonely in camp, that it's a struggle for him to connect with others, and even when he does, with Aunt Lou or Jack Langrishe, his supposed companions clearly dislike and distrust him. Alienated as he is, he almost never seems fearful, so it's gratifying to see someone get under the guy's skin.

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