22 Years Ago Today, HBO’s Best TV Series Premiered With a 10/10 First Episode (And No Bad Ones After)

by

For the past three decades, HBO has consistently delivered high-quality television. Beginning with The Sopranos in 1999, the network revolutionized TV storytelling, offering shorter, more focused seasons and complex character-driven dramas that weren’t afraid to take risks. The Sopranos‘ success kicked off what many consider the Golden Age of Television, and HBO continued to lead the way with acclaimed shows like The Wire, Oz, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Band of Brothers, Six Feet Under, and ultimately, Game of Thrones.

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the premiere of Deadwood, one of HBO’s greatest shows. The western drama first aired on March 21, 2004, and quickly stood out for its distinctive setting and, most importantly, its compelling writing and characters. Even now, the pilot episode is remarkably strong, perfectly establishing the tone and quality of a series that, despite its brief run, remains fondly remembered and discussed more than two decades later. Be warned: the following contains full spoilers for Deadwood.

Deadwood’s Pilot Episode Perfectly Sets Up Every Character and Story

As a critic, I have to say the first episode of Deadwood, directed by Emmy winner Walter Hill and penned by creator David Milch, is masterful. It lays the groundwork for everything that unfolds across the show’s three seasons. What’s fascinating is that while the first season doesn’t immediately take place in Deadwood itself, we’re introduced to Timothy Olyphant’s Seth Bullock – a man trying to leave his past as a lawman behind. But old habits die hard, and Bullock can’t quite shake his need to impose order, even in a place actively built on chaos. It’s a defining struggle for his character, one that, honestly, even the Deadwood movie doesn’t entirely resolve.

In contrast to the opening scene with Bullock, the pilot episode of Deadwood quickly establishes Ian McShane’s Al Swearengen as a powerful figure. He’s clearly in charge of the Deadwood camp, having built a position of authority in a place that otherwise lacks any formal rules. Many characters look to him for leadership. In fact, almost everything that happens in the first episode is driven by Swearengen. He’s behind the scheme to con Brom Garret with a worthless gold claim – a plotline that continues after Garret’s death – and he’s the one Bullock and Star need to deal with to establish their business. The only story not directly caused by Swearengen is the arrival of Wild Bill Hickok, though even that connects to the unrest sparked by the death of the Metz family, supposedly at the hands of the Sioux.

This part of the episode adds another layer to the complex story of Deadwood, a story that was present from the beginning and, unsurprisingly, connects back to Swearengen. The brutal killing of the Metz family not only forces Bullock and Wild Bill to work together, but also reveals that their baby, Sofia, miraculously survived. While Swearengen didn’t directly order the attack, he hired the men who carried it out, leading him to later plot to kill Sofia to cover up his involvement. It’s remarkable how much groundwork the first episode lays – at just over an hour long, it expertly sets up everything that happens throughout the series.

Deadwood Remains One of HBO’s Complete Masterpieces

Fans continue to be captivated by the beautiful, almost musical rhythm of the dialogue in Deadwood. While the show is famous for its characters’ colorful and often harsh language – which sparked debate about historical accuracy – the dialogue, crafted by David Milch, truly sets it apart from other TV dramas. It’s more than just profanity; it has a richness and depth reminiscent of Shakespeare, rewarding close attention. Every line of dialogue reveals a complete story about the scene and the characters involved, as exemplified by a memorable exchange in the very first episode.

Jack McCall: “Look, can we just shake hands and ease the tension? I’m not an idiot, you know.”

WILD BILL HICKOK: “I don’t know, I just met you.”

Throughout its three seasons, Deadwood consistently delivered exceptional episodes. Even the show’s lowest-rated installment, scoring a 7.9 out of 10 on IMDB, is remarkably strong. That particular episode features a compelling performance from Ian McShane, who portrays Swearengen battling kidney stones with minimal dialogue. While it ranks last out of 36 episodes, this actually highlights the overall quality of Deadwood. Even its ‘weakest’ episode showcases superb acting and writing, and it’s notable because it forces McShane to perform without the benefit of David Milch’s typically rich dialogue.

Despite being critically acclaimed and often nominated for Emmys, the show Deadwood was unexpectedly cancelled after just three seasons, leaving many storylines unfinished and fans wanting more. Over time, the show gained a legendary status, and the cast and creators continued to express their love for it and hope for a continuation or proper ending. Finally, in 2019, Deadwood: The Movie provided that closure. While the movie served as a satisfying conclusion, it also reminded everyone of what made the original series so special. Today is another day to celebrate the show’s lasting impact, proving that even twenty years later, Deadwood remains one of HBO’s greatest achievements and a benchmark for quality television.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/best-characters-hbo-deadwood-timothy-olypant/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-21 22:40