History Awesome / Deadwood

* The last five minutes of Season 2 episode "Boy the Earth Talks To" contains more Crowning Moments than most series have in their entire runs. Starting from 47:55 to the closing credits at 53:35, we get: "God is not mocked you son of a bitch."; Mr. Wu's takeover; Wolcott's suicide; Dan Dority makes his peace with Adams; "Wu! America!"; Jen groping a shocked Merrick; Ellsworth dancing with Sofia, Sol with Trixie, Charlie with Jane and Joanie, Doc with Jewel - heck, the entire town dancing in the streets, happy and free of the world's worries for at least one night ("Hey! We ain't done fuckin' dancing!"). That may or may not be more than most series' runs, but this troper alternately cheered, grinned, and wept manly tears over that final 5:40.

* Charlie Utter's NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on Francis Wollcott.

* The single scene that Wild Bill Hickok (played by Keith Carradine) and Al Swearengen (played by Ian McShane) share in the entire series, early in the first season. For context, Hickok has been asked by Alma Garrett to investigate whether Al Swearengen has something to do with her husband's death, and then later asks him to investigate why EB is so interested in buying back her claim on the gold patch that her husband had bought before his murder (it's so Al can make a profit on nothing). The following exchange might be the only time that Al Swearengen, the ManipulativeBastard that he is, is legitimately ''afraid''.

* The last five minutes of Season 2 episode "Boy The Earth Talks To" contains more Crowning Moments than most series have in their entire runs. Starting from 47:55 to the closing credits at 53:35, we get: "God is not mocked you son of a bitch."; Mr. Wu's takeover; Wolcott's suicide; Dan Dority makes his peace with Adams; "Wu! America!"; Jen groping a shocked Merrick; Ellsworth dancing with Sofia, Sol with Trixie, Charlie with Jane and Joanie, Doc with Jewel - heck, the entire town dancing in the streets, happy and free of the world's worries for at least one night ("Hey! We ain't done fuckin' dancing!"). That may or may not be more than most series' runs, but this troper alternately cheered, grinned, and wept manly tears over that final 5:40.

** Also Bullock's more [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guxNtlktMbU literal smackdown of Farnum.]]

* After [[spoiler:Ellsworth's]] death, Trixie goes straight to Hearst's hotel, [[DistractedByTheSexy opens up her blouse to get through all the Pinkertons guarding the lobby]], knocks on his door and [[spoiler:shoots him]].

* The single scene that Wild Bill Hickok (played by Keith Carradine) and Al Swearengen (played by Ian McShane) share in the entire series, early in the first season. For context, Hickok has been asked by Alma Garrett to investigate whether Al Swearengen has something to do with her husband's death, and then later asks him to investigate why EB is so interested in buying back her claim on the gold patch that her husband had bought before his murder (spoiler: it's so Al can make a profit on nothing). The following exchange might be the only time that Al Swearengen, the ManipulativeBastard that he is, is legitimately ''afraid''.

* Jane saving Bullock in the movie. Doubly awesome as she both finally displays her skills as a gunfighter (an InformedAbility in the series) and saves a man from dying in the same way as [[spoiler: Wild Bill]].

* The last five minutes of Season 2 episode "Boy The Earth Talks To" contains more Crowning Moments than most series have in their entire runs.
** Such as?
** If you round down, this may be literally true. Starting from 47:55 to the closing credits at 53:35, we get: "God is not mocked you son of a bitch."; Mr. Wu's takeover; Wolcott's suicide; Dan Dority makes his peace with Adams; "Wu! America!"; Jen groping a shocked Merrick; Ellsworth dancing with Sofia, Sol with Trixie, Charlie with Jane and Joanie, Doc with Jewel - heck, the entire town dancing in the streets, happy and free of the world's worries for at least one night ("Hey! We ain't done fuckin' dancing!"). That may or may not be more than most series' runs, but this troper alternately cheered, grinned, and wept manly tears over that final 5:40.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlq6_LqhGBM Charlie visiting Hearst's room]] in the beginning of the final episode.

** Also Bullocks' more [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guxNtlktMbU literal smackdown of Farnum.]]

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Alma's father Otis is basically blackmailing her, threatening to implicate her in her husband Brom's death. An enraged Bullock has threatened Otis: "I will beat you here in the street." Otis promises to implicate Bullock as well if Bullock opposes him, then dares him, saying "I suppose you'd best take your swing"...whereupon Bullock beats him senseless. Awesome.

** Also sort of doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, since it shows that Al cares enough about Merrick to comfort him when he's in despair, [[CruelToBeKind even if it does involve hitting him]].

--->'''Al:''' How many ribs do you think you broke?
--->'''Pinkerton:''' I feel like I broke...two or three
--->'''Al:''' [[AndThisIsFor I'm talking about that newspaperman's ribs you fucking cunt!]]

--> (Cut to Al [[INeedAFreakingDrink taking a shot.]])

--> (Cut to Al [[INeedAFreakingDrink taking a shot.]]

--->'''Al:''' [[AndThisIsFor I'm talking about that newspaperman's ribs you fucking cunt!]]

* Sheriff Seth Bullock, breaking up the tarring of a black man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After the victim screamed out "Motherfucker" at the racist posse leader Steve, he refuses to listen to Bullock's order to let the man go, adding "Did you hear this monkey just mother-fucked me?!" Bullock cocks his revolver and draws on Steves face as he replies "I'll mother fuck you, and, blow your head off."

** Also sort of doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, since it shows that Al cares enough about Merrick to comfort him when he's in dispair, [[CruelToBeKind even if it does involve hitting him]]
* Al's beating the crap out of [[PsychoForHire Hearst's head Pinkerton]] who shot at Alma

** Also sort of doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, since it shows that Al cares enough about Merrick to comfort him when he's in dispair, [[CruelToBeKind even if it does involve hitting him]]

** Also sort of doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, since it shows that Al cares enough about Merrick to make sure he's ok, even if it does involve hitting him

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Q7YRDL90E The pep talk Al gives Merrick]]
** "Take it like a man...and give some back"

* Charlie Utter's NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on Francis Wollcott.

* The last five minutes of Season 2 episode "Boy The Earth Talks To" contains more Crowning Moments than most series have in their entire runs.

* After [[spoiler:Ellsworth's]] death, Trixie goes straight to Hearst's hotel, [[DistractedByTheSexy opens up her blouse to get through all the Pinkertons guarding the lobby]], knocks on his door and [[spoiler:shoots him]].

* Sheriff Seth Bullock, breaking up the tarring of a black man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After the victim screamed out "Motherfucker" at the racist posse leader Steve, he refuses to listen to Bullock's order to let the man go, adding "Did you hear this monkey just mother-fucked me?!" Bullock cocks his revolver and draws on Steves face as he replies "I'll mother fuck you, and, blow your head off."