One of the greatest draws to Deadwood, aside from its distinct dialogue and incredible performances, is its lack of plot developments that insult its audience. Nothing is spelled out for viewers, and neither do events and situations arise that are particularly shocking simply for their own sake.
That being said, there were plenty of moments that caught fans off guard. Every action had a ripple effect in Deadwood, and over the course of three seasons and one film, certain situations set off a series of events that greatly impacted every character, both principle and tertiary. From the abrupt departure of Wild Bill Hickok to Trixie's rampage against Hearst, here are the ways the series subverted expectations.
WILD BILL GETTING SHOT
Wild Bill's dismal path to self-destruction was difficult to watch on the series, and while viewers knew the famous gunslinger was determined to "go to hell the way I want to", they weren't prepared to watch him get shot in the back.
History buffs went into Deadwood knowing that as soon as Wild Bill Hickok appeared in the series, it wouldn't be long before he was shot dead by his real-life killer, the Coward Jack McCall. They didn't, however, know how his death would forever alter the pursuit of justice in Deadwood, especially with regards to Seth Bullock.
WOLCOTT KILLING THE GIRLS AT THE CHEZ AMIS
After Joanie Stubbs secured the Chez Amis and set about turning it into a brothel known for its refinement, she was forced to accept funding from Mr. Wolcott a man known for his animalistic appetites and depravity.
Viewers had been prepared for him possibly causing the death of one of the girls given his penchant for violence, but they didn't expect him to murder others, including Joanie's business partner, Maddie. With her girls killed or missing, Joanie sank into a deeper depression until she was forced to alter her business.
SETH AND ALMA'S AFFAIR
Given Seth's reserved disposition and Alma's equally taciturn composure, the only hint of interest fans received from either of them was through a few longing glances and subtle hints in convivial conversation.
When Seth goes to Alma's suite to explain to the fate of her father to her, talk drifts to the topic of his wife and adopted son. No sooner are the words out of his mouth than he kisses her passionately, thus beginning a torrid affair between the two that forever alters their interactions and those of townsfolk in the know.
ALMA GETTING PREGNANT
As though Seth and Alma's salacious affair wasn't surprising enough, especially when his wife and son arrived in Deadwood in Season 2, the product of their union was even more of a shock given Alma's supposed inability to have children.
Not only did Alma get pregnant and nearly die carrying her child to term, but her delicate position both physically and in society meant that Ellsworth was given the opportunity to propose marriage, an event that had ripple effects throughout the remaining seasons.
JANE AND JOANIE'S ROMANCE
Many viewers assumed that Jane's heart belonged to Wild Bill Hickok, and that following his death she would remain a heartbroken woman unable to accept another's tender advances. That wasn't to be the case with the ambition of Joanie Stubbs, who seemed drawn to Jane and her misery like a moth to a flame.
A romance between them didn't blossom fully until Season 3, especially given Jane's resolute attempts to destroy herself. While it didn't leave a lot of room to explore a future, it did provide a convincing reason to bring Jane back to Deadwood for the events of the film.
ANDY CRAMED SURVIVING
The fate of Andy Cramed, friend of Joanie Stubbs and Cy Tolliver, seemed sealed when Tolliver ordered him to be left in the hills outside of Deadwood to die. He was nursed to health by Jane, who managed not to contract the smallpox despite their close proximity.
Not only was Andy's return to Deadwood as a man of the cloth a great surprise to Tolliver, it was also a pivotal point in his storyline. Having been neutered by Hearst's schemes, Tolliver had become aimless, until a knife to the gut from a vengeful Andy sent him spiraling into madness.
WILLIAM'S DEATH
No sooner had Martha Bullock and her young son William started to make some semblance of a life in Deadwood than tragedy struck. William was mowed down by a rampaging horse on the main thoroughfare of the camp and died several days later while in a coma.
His death had perhaps the most profound effect on the entire town, with even villains like Tolliver and Al Swearengen paying their respects. It galvanized the community in a way it had never been before, and forged new alliances that would become instrumental in taking on George Hearst.
TRIXIE SHOOTING HEARST
The irascible and irrepressible Trixie was the only person in the camp who wasn't afraid of Hearst, and would hold him accountable for the death of Whitney Ellsworth even if it meant her own death as a repercussion.
By shooting him in the shoulder at the Grand Central Hotel, she set in motion a series of events from which the camp could not return. Characters made decisions and choices that were inevitable, inspired by one woman's rash, courageous, and possibly foolhardy act of vengeance.
CHARLIE UTTER'S DEATH
It took a man of conviction to refuse an offer of acquisition from George Hearst, especially given the empire builder's reputation in the series as a cold-blooded murderer. It was no surprise to viewers Charlie would be that man in the Deadwood movie, especially when the land Hearst wanted had taken years for Charlie to toil.
His shocking death at the hands of Hearst's agents led to a domino effect that revealed the character of even some of Deadwood's most duplicitous citizens, particularly E.B. Farnum.
ELLSWORTH'S ASSASSINATION
No other death was felt as immediately, nor poignantly, nor viewed with as much righteous indignation as Whitney Ellsworth's. A man for whom compassion and self-sacrifice were constant hallmarks was assassinated by Hearst's agents in an act that shocked viewers to their cores.
Hearst's villainy had previously been revealed when he'd had his minions harass Deadwood's newspaper editor and take shots at Alma, but his true malevolence was known when Ellsworth died. For the man who had been seen as a friend to anyone in need, a portion of the town died with him.