Seths' family (Anna Gunn of later 'Breaking Bad' fame & Josh Eriksson) are set to rejoin him in Deadwood, but they happen to arrive at a very bad time. Swearengen, on edge because of the precarious future of the camp, has been taunting Seth something fierce over his relationship with Alma, and a later confrontation had turned ugly & violent, with Dan, Sol, and Johnny also getting involved. Meanwhile, Cy reluctantly gives Joanie his blessing as she prepares to strike out on her own. (Some of the prostitutes who will be working for her were on the same stagecoach as Martha & William.)
This is quite a tense episode indeed, and it was likely inevitable that Seth & Al would come to blows at some point. But it is Powers Boothe as Cy who dominates the whole episode; he offers a real master class in subtle, restrained rage & menace. Even when he sends Joanies' prostitutes on their way, he makes the whole scene uncomfortable. (He vows that since Joanies' place, "Chez Ami", was funded with money that Eddie stole from him, that basically gives him the right to treat this new place as an investment.)
The whole cast is on fire in this episode, to be sure: Timothy Olyphant & Ian McShane are also great. Seth is really starting to take center stage now, and at the end it's extremely telling that even though he has welcomed Martha & William into his home, he'd rather be with Alma, to whom he's obviously become quite attached.
As I've said before, this series intrigued me from the start by casting some of the best character actors in Hollywood, and creating such a compelling ensemble. Some of the regular cast members get a boost in billing this second season, as they are included in the opening credits sequence. (It was wonderful to see veteran actress Alice Krige turn up in a small but interesting role; a future star, Sarah Paulson, plays the little girls' tutor.)
Eight out of 10.
This is quite a tense episode indeed, and it was likely inevitable that Seth & Al would come to blows at some point. But it is Powers Boothe as Cy who dominates the whole episode; he offers a real master class in subtle, restrained rage & menace. Even when he sends Joanies' prostitutes on their way, he makes the whole scene uncomfortable. (He vows that since Joanies' place, "Chez Ami", was funded with money that Eddie stole from him, that basically gives him the right to treat this new place as an investment.)
The whole cast is on fire in this episode, to be sure: Timothy Olyphant & Ian McShane are also great. Seth is really starting to take center stage now, and at the end it's extremely telling that even though he has welcomed Martha & William into his home, he'd rather be with Alma, to whom he's obviously become quite attached.
As I've said before, this series intrigued me from the start by casting some of the best character actors in Hollywood, and creating such a compelling ensemble. Some of the regular cast members get a boost in billing this second season, as they are included in the opening credits sequence. (It was wonderful to see veteran actress Alice Krige turn up in a small but interesting role; a future star, Sarah Paulson, plays the little girls' tutor.)
Eight out of 10.
