Why is Deadwood Great?

I've been watching HBO's Deadwood since the beginning. It's clearly one of the best shows on television, but I'm not sure many people can say why. It certainly requires a lot of it's audience. There are many characters and many involved plotlines. Things happen in actions, in conversations and in small glances. You can't do anything else while watching Deadwood except pay complete attention; if you don't, in a few minutes you'll find yourself wondering what just happened.

I think the point is to show us what goes into making a society. In the first season you could literally see the town being built week-by-week in the background of the outdoor scenes. Through all the characters we see lawmakers, businessmen, murderers, theives, doctors, newspapermen, teachers, drug addicts, prostitutes, miners, priests, Jews, Indians, Chinese, black, rich, poor, handicapped, moral, amoral, leaders, followers, etc. And the fascinating thing, most characters are more than one of these. Much is made of Al Swearengen as the bad guy, but he does things to help the town and sometimes the individuals in it, and not just for his own gain (though he wouldn't let that be known publicly). Seth Bullock is (eventually) the town's Sheriff but he also kills in revenge, fights, and commits adultery. Prejudice abounds, in fact everyone seems prejudiced against everyone else, yet they find ways to do business with each other and live in the same town finding roles to fill.

A lot is also made of the cursing in the show. Yes there is a lot of cursing and we're used to not hearing the 'c' words at all let alone this much. But moreso the other words are rich and complex, almost Shakespearian. Let's be clear, no one ever spoke this way. Here's what a salesman bringing the first bicycle to the town says to a crowd: "My bi-cycle masters boardwalk and quagmire with aplomb. Those that doubt me suck cock by choice." In Deadwood, everyone talks this way. but why? I think it's the level setter, everyone's story is worth listening to and no one is above the basest of actions or each other, even if their roles in society are well defined as high or low.

It wasn't until I read this review in Slant that I was able to articulate this, and I believe creater David Milch said this reviewer "got it". I recommend reading it and watching this show.