The BEST episodes of Deadwood

Every episode of Deadwood ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Deadwood!

In the Black Hills Indian Cession, the town of Deadwood is a settlement violating treaty obligations; a violent and uncivilized outpost that attracts outlaws and entrepreneurs, ex-soldiers and racketeers, Chinese laborers, prostitutes, city slickers and gunfighters.

Last Updated: 1/25/2024Network: HBOStatus: Ended
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Sold Under Sin
star
8.19
1701 votes

#1 - Sold Under Sin

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/13/2004

The U.S. Army--under General Crook a.k.a. "Custer's Avengers"--rolls into Deadwood, prompting a parade...and business solicitations from Farnum and Tolliver. Swearengen delivers a tortured soul from suffering; Bullock reacts decisively to Russell's intentions regarding Alma; Con Stapleton's new commission proves short-lived; Adams shows Clagett where his loyalties lie; and Bullock and Alma have a late-night meeting.

Directors: Davis Guggenheim
Writer: Ted Mann
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Boy-The-Earth-Talks-To
star
8.05
1762 votes

#2 - Boy-The-Earth-Talks-To

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/22/2005

Swearengen's shrewd manipulation of the rumor mill pays off in a Yankton counter-offer that requires only slight amending. Meanwhile, George Hearst's arrival in Deadwood has shaken up the camp's status quo from Wu to Farnum to Wolcott. Tolliver, for his part, seeks to avoid marginalization by offering the tycoon damning nuggets about his engineer's nasty habits.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Ted Mann
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A Two-Headed Beast
star
7.96
1576 votes

#3 - A Two-Headed Beast

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/9/2006

As Tolliver tries to find a respectable employee suitable to be his liaison with Hearst, Swearengen tries to understand the reasoning behind Hearst's actions. The conflict becomes more tense as Dority and Captain Turner violently settle their differences. Bullock tries to finally settle the dispute between Steve and Hostetler and another murder brings Bullock once more face to face with Hearst, forcing him to take action. Trixie becomes suspicious of Alma's odd behaviour at the bank. Ellsworth and Alma have a close encounter that alters their relationship. Langrishe welcomes more arrivals from his theater troupe.

Directors: Dan Minahan
Writer: David Milch
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A Constant Throb
star
7.91
1520 votes

#4 - A Constant Throb

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/13/2006

With the Sheriff out of camp, Alma is assailed by Hearst's men and as she never would have expected, shelter comes form Swearengen. Barrett is sent to the Gem, but Al resorts to old fashion methods of enquiring to his employers plans. Meanwhile, Langrishe recruits a new actor.

Directors: Mark Tinker
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Amalgamation and Capital
star
7.88
1866 votes

#5 - Amalgamation and Capital

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/1/2005

Eagar for the latest news from Yankton, Swearengen enlists Farnum to keep tabs on Blazanov and his telegrams, and admonishes Merrick for over-hyping the Montana rumors in his paper. Wolcott gets a new moniker; Jane and Joanie continue their unlikely alliance; Sweargengen strikes a departure deal with Miss Isringhausen; and Fields and Hostetler attempt to tame a wild horse for the cavalry with damaging results.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
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The Catbird Seat
star
7.88
1514 votes

#6 - The Catbird Seat

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/20/2006

Bullock holds an impromptu morning meeting to determine which emergencies warrant wiring him in Sturgis, where he and Harry are delivering campaign pitches. The first summons doesn't take long, as Hearst follows up Alma's close call with one that's decidedly more on-target. In the aftermath, Alma takes refuge at the Gem, again, while Trixie decides to take matters into her own hands. Langrishe has a falling out with Hearst, giving him little time to huddle with his new lineup of actors. Dismissing the likelihood of ever seeing 23 mercenaries promised by Hawkeye, Swearengen turns to Wu to deliver more reliable, if not quite weapons-tested, reinforcements from Custer City.

Directors: Gregg Fienberg
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Mister Wu
star
7.87
1809 votes

#7 - Mister Wu

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/23/2004

An opium theft leaves Swearengen trying to find common language with his supplier, as well as navigating tricky waters to deal with the mess. Meanwhile, Silas Adams, bagman for the magistrate from Yankton, arrives with bad news for Swearengen; Bullock regrets having raised his hand at the government meeting; Merrick proposes Deadwood's first "club"; and an unwelcome Rev. Smith gravitates to the Gem and its new piano.

Directors: Dan Minahan
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A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1
star
7.84
1896 votes

#8 - A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/6/2005

Swearengen and Bullock have a violent confrontation; Bullock and Utter discover that mistaken identity led to a fatal shooting at Nuttall's.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: David Milch
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Here Was a Man
star
7.83
2112 votes

#9 - Here Was a Man

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/11/2004

Swearengen directs Farnum to buy back the Garret claim; Alma prevails on Calamity Jane and Hickok for help; Hickok commissions Bullock in his stead; Charlie Utter leaves the camp; an ailing colleague, Andy Cramed, rejoins the Bella Union; and Hickok's run of luck at poker yields an unexpected return.

Directors: Alan Taylor
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Requiem for a Gleet
star
7.81
1872 votes

#10 - Requiem for a Gleet

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/27/2005

Doc Cochran contemplates a procedure that could cure Swearengen; Bullock attempts to settle into domesticity; rumors about the camp's future begin to spread.

Directors: Alan Taylor
Writer: Ted Mann
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I Am Not the Man You Take Me for
star
7.79
1620 votes

#11 - I Am Not the Man You Take Me for

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/18/2006

Captain Turner tips off Swearengen with a cryptic note to another bloody incident at the Gem; later, Hearst makes his intentions known in a more straightforward way. While Jane finds a captive audience for her oratory skills, the candidates for mayor and sheriff aren't as fortunate. Alma's health raises the issue of Sofia's stewardship and newly reformed Andy Cramed pays a visit to Tolliver, with a different agenda and outcome.

Directors: Daniel Attias
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Full Faith and Credit
star
7.79
1514 votes

#12 - Full Faith and Credit

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/2/2006

While Alma officially opens the bank of Deadwood, Langrishe asks Joanie whether she is willing to sell the Chez Ami, so he could make it into a theatre. Stapleton sets his eye on one of the new actresses in town and Jane receives a telegram from Fields. Hostetler and the latter arrive in camp and engage Steve with regard to the ownership of the livery, forcing Bullock to intervene. Meanwhile, Al delegates Adams to represent him in his affairs with Hearst and Tolliver.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Ted Mann
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A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2
star
7.75
1819 votes

#13 - A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/13/2005

Alma and Bullock face an abrupt decision about their future; Swearengen prepares for another showdown with Bullock; Calamity Jane returns to camp.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Jody Worth
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Complications
star
7.74
1774 votes

#14 - Complications

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/3/2005

As a convalescing Swearengen bridles, Cochran schools Burns and Dority how best to assist his recovery. Alma is also feeling unwell, mornings. Unexpected profits at the Chez Ami lead Tolliver to an unexpected discovery about Wolcott. Merrick posts a provocative statement from Yankton on title to the claims; Bullock protects Commissioner Jarry from an angry mob, which redirects its ire. After returning a horse to Hostetler at the livery, professional go-between Samuel Fields finds a kindred spirit in Jane.

Directors: Gregg Fienberg
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E.B. Was Left Out
star
7.74
1740 votes

#15 - E.B. Was Left Out

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/17/2005

Tolliver wrecked Merrick's newspaper office in retribution for not publishing the county commissioner's notice. Con Stapleton and Leon are having difficulty generating business for Tolliver's new Chinese whores. Utter learns that Wolcott is in possession of Hickok's last letter. Joanie returns to Tolliver to "turn tricks."

Writer: Jody Worth
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Something Very Expensive
star
7.73
1838 votes

#16 - Something Very Expensive

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/10/2005

Alma proposes forming a bank, and looks to familiar faces to run it. To test himself, Swearengen grants audience to a long line of supplicants; talks with Farnum and Miss Isringhausen prove most illuminating. The arrival of low-priced Chinese whores begins the next phase in Tolliver and Wolcott's arrangement. Humiliated by Bullock, an angry claim owner looks to "square the scales." An enchanted Merrick tours a new schoolteacher about the camp. Wolcott's inner demons test his alliance with Tolliver, and prompt Stubbs and Utter to covert action.

Directors: Steve Shill
Writer: Steve Shill
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Jewel's Boot Is Made for Walking
star
7.73
1875 votes

#17 - Jewel's Boot Is Made for Walking

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/6/2004

Alma's father, Otis Russell, arrives from New York to "help" with her claim; Swearengen strikes a bargain with Adams to rid him of some legal baggage; Jewel journeys to Cochran's cabin for help with her leg; Utter hazards an opinion on the safety of Nuttal's saloon; Leon and Sawyer resume work at the Bella Union; Bullock is angered by the choice of a new sheriff; and Star winds up paying for a free service.

Directors: Steve Shill
Writer: Ricky Jay
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New Money
star
7.72
1806 votes

#18 - New Money

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/20/2005

A scout for a powerful mining operation arrives; an ailing Swearengen refuses visitors and medical attention; Farnum finds someone to buy the Hickok letter.

Directors: Steve Shill
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Amateur Night
star
7.71
1557 votes

#19 - Amateur Night

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/6/2006

As Deadwood is overrun by Hearst's men, Bullock issues contingency plans to Martha. Wu is caught in a Pinkerton stampede and delivers a cryptic message to Swearengen that is solved by the unlikeliest person. Barrett makes Merrick pay for embarrassing Hearst in The Pioneer while Morgan Earp calls out one of the "Pistoleros." As night falls, Langrishe mines Deadwood's talent pool with an amateur-night performance in front of his future theater, financed in part by a "loan" from Alma's bank.

Directors: Adam Davidson
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Advances, None Miraculous
star
7.68
1676 votes

#20 - Advances, None Miraculous

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/8/2005

The camp waits vigil for Doc Cochran's prognosis of William Bullock. Martha regrets her move to Deadwood after her son is severely injured. Commisioner Jarry returns to Deadwood to discuss possible annexation with Swearengen, who then asks Sol Star to school Silas Adams on Montana policy. Trixie forces Alma to make a decision on Ellsworth's proposal.

Directors: Gregg Fienberg
Writer: Sara Hess
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Tell Your God to Ready for Blood
star
7.66
1619 votes

#21 - Tell Your God to Ready for Blood

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/11/2006

Deadwood's first true elections are nearly here, with the offices of sheriff and mayor to be decided. Tonight, the candidates will state their cases to the townspeople. One of Hearst's Cornish workers is killed at the Gem, leading Swearengen to suspect that the incident was a staged Hearst power play. Ellsworth and Doc Cochran are alarmed by complications involving Alma's pregnancy. Star gains a new home from Adams' orchestrated foreclosure. Jane prepares to tell the camp's children about her experiences scouting for General Custer. Shocked by her inability to make a clean break from the gut-stabbed Tolliver, Joanie considers taking the easy way out. Hearst will give Bullock his political backing if Bullock promises to exert influence over certain areas of the camp.

Directors: Mark Tinker
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Bullock Returns to the Camp
star
7.66
1958 votes

#22 - Bullock Returns to the Camp

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/2/2004

After tracking down a murderer, Bullock returns to Deadwood a changed man--and a marked one--while Utter must pay final respects to a fallen friend. Dority and Stubbs both take special interest when teenagers Miles and Flora Anderson arrive in camp in search of their father, each finding work at a rival saloon; Calamity Jane earns her moniker in the Pest Tent; Swearengen sees through Trixie's latest subterfuge; and Alma remains cold on Farnum's inappropriately advanced bid on her claim.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Jody Worth
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Plague
star
7.65
1929 votes

#23 - Plague

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/25/2004

Bullock encounters native resistance in his quest to bring a murderer to justice. Swearengen presses a resentful Farnum to keep tabs on Alma and Trixie; the camp fathers pool their resources to dispatch riders after precious vaccine and build a sick tent; Cochran enlists Jane as a nurse; and Swearengen collaborates on an article appearing in the Deadwood Pioneer.

Directors: Davis Guggenheim
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Unauthorized Cinnamon
star
7.65
1549 votes

#24 - Unauthorized Cinnamon

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/23/2006

Bullock's proposal carries the day during a meeting held at the Gem to discuss the Hearst conundrum; Aunt Lou fears for Odell's well-being after his latest gambit; Fields is skeptical of Steve's offer to remain in camp; Cochran finds other uses for a tailor's swatches; Chesterton's illness postpones Langrishe's theater plans.

Directors: Regina Corrado
Writer: Mark Tinker
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True Colors
star
7.63
1493 votes

#25 - True Colors

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/25/2006

New arrivals on the stagecoach usher into Deadwood: Jack Langrishe, a stage promoter and friend of Al Swearengen, and Aunt Lou Marchbanks, Hearst's longtime cook. Also returning to town is a newly westernized Wu, with news for "Swegin" about a soon-to-arrive group of imported Hearst workers. Recovered from her ailments, Alma decides to approach Hearst with a claim deal, despite Ellsworth's adamant objections. Bullock uncovers the truth about the Gem killings, and vows to put Hearst on notice. Hearst calls Tolliver's bluff, then offers him a "fresh start."

Directors: Gregg Fienberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV