I've searched in the history but can't find any old threads on this hsow. I find that amazing!
Ok, I'd heard about this series the last couple of years from my brother - he said it was awesome. Just before xmas, my wife bought the first season on DVD, while buying other stuff for xmas - it was part of a '2 for $40' thing.
The wife and kids are away for 2 weeks so last week I thought I'd check out the first ep to see if I liked it.
Now bear in mind, I watch hardly any TV or DVDS, and don't go to the movies( haven't got the tinme or patience anymore). My missus thinks it's highly ironic I don't watch films, yet aspire to write scripts!!
Anyway, the first ep of DW blew me away(no pun intended). Over the next 2 days, I lay around, watching the rest of the first season. I was damn well hokked!
Last Sunday, I bought the second and third seasons on special, for 20 bucks each.
Today, Wednesday Australian time, I finished watching both of them!

The acting is superb, I'd rate it up there with The Shield, the only other major TV show I've watched. I've read a bit of stuff about the actors from DW - it is amazing that most were relatively unknown. Ok, the language, violence and nudity were always bound to cause contro - it must have been unreal if you were watching HBO the night it first aired! But the swearing becomes second nature after awhile - it sounds odd when the cast don't use a line without 'fuck' in it.
The show was cancelled before a 4th season could be made, although two telemovies were mooted but sadly, never came to fruition.
I would recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen it.

PS - I've been to Deadwood on my sojourn across the US, in 1997. We went there expecting a real good tourist experience, with gambling and stuff. But it was a bit of a dump, so we fueled up and left town.

I loved this show as well, particularly the second season. I wish this show had gotten more recognition than it did. Maybe there would've been a fourth season had that been the case. Too bad.

It was a great show that ended way too soon. But I guess it's better to have three great seasons and nothing more than three great seasons followed by four or five not-so-great ones. Still, I would love to have seen Ian McShane playing Al Swearengen in his final, ruined days. I'm still waiting for those two telemovies David Milch promised as well, but it doesn't look like we're be getting those anytime soon either.

Anyway, it's a great show. A gritty, realistic western with dialogue that flows like poetry and truly great performances backing it. I highly recommend it as well.