The Unicorn Scale: Deadwood

By Jennie Roberson

June 06, 2019

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Photo credit: HBO

Well now, howdy, pardners — er, Unicorn readers! I hope everyone has tied off their horses and ready to sit for a spell, because we are about to talk about my favorite show of all time, Deadwood.

"Really? She has a favorite?" YES. Yes, I very much do.

Ever since my first roommate exposed me to the show thirteen years ago, I have been transfixed with this “cowboy Shakespeare” drama made by HBO. I am indeed one of those rabid fans who is totally psyched for the finale movie premiering on May 31st, hoping it will wrap everything up from the narrative that ended so abruptly due to its cancellation in 2006. 

Honestly, it is taking a heaping pile of willpower for me to not write in the full vernacular during this review that’s reminiscent of the show — not because I’m afraid of flowery language, but because of the powerful cussing that would probably not clear my editor.

Anyways. I was re-watching the series in anticipation of the movie coming out, and realized that one of the characters deserves her own submission in the annals of the Unicorn library. So I thought I would remedy that today.

Photo/HBO

Before I go any further, I reckon I should put together the traditional disclaimers for the newbies. First, I need to note that this article will contain SPOILERS for the show — most specifically for two characters and their arcs. While the show itself needs a content/trigger warning for extreme language and various types of assaults, probably the only warning I should give here is for foul language. Oh, and if all this scale talk is confusing, please consider going to the original Unicorn Scale article to familiarize yourself with the metric at play.

All right, are we all back together now? Let’s get started.

Deadwood is a drama series that focuses on the booming mining town in 1876, a new source of gold and a lawless land in the Dakota territories. While the main story focuses on Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), a newcomer who soon becomes a sheriff in the newly-forming town, the story expands into an ensemble piece, exploring the goings-on of more than a dozen townsfolk in any given episode.

But the character I want to hone in on is frontierswoman and scout Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert), who barrels into town as part of Wild Bill Hickok’s (Keith Carradine) posse, and remains after his assassination.

Photo/HBO

What I Liked:

Calamity Jane may be a supporting character in the spurs-and-horses Western drama, but she is a full-fledged character with as much dialogue, shadings, and personality as any of the main players. Jane is one of the funnier characters I’ve ever seen on screen — even when I was reviewing the series for this article, I still found myself laughing at her observations and turns of phrase, even though I’ve seen the show through at least three times. And she is also a standout in a show full of character actors — not only as a woman who dares to wear men’s clothing, but who shirks any idea of needing to keep up any societal idea of femininity in this lawless frontier. 

Photo/HBO

She is not devoid of compassion, though, as she aids the camp when plague sweeps through it, and also shows kindness to children. But Jane is also troubled and has her own sets of fears — she is a fall-down drunk, and some of the bullies in town will make her shrink from the dangers in a very relatable, human way.

I also appreciated the way that Jane shows her love for different people in her life, even when it’s unfamiliar to her. From the first minute we see her arrive into the Deadwood camp with Wild Bill (Keith Carradine), we see her go from snapping at a colleague to giving puppy eyes to her beloved Wild Bill. Most of her affection for Bill is clear, but never acted upon, as she respects that Bill loves his new wife, Agnes, who lives in Cheyenne. So although it is an unrequited love, the affection is clear — especially when Bill is killed and Jane falls into a depressive, drinking binge.

Jane’s affection for Joanie Stubbs (Kim Dickens), however, is more of a slow burn. Their friendship takes time to build (between Jane’s alcoholic binges), but grows stronger as she spends time at Joanie’s brothel. Jane seems to perceive that Joanie is a lesbian, but doesn’t quite know how to handle her own growing attraction to her. For a woman wrestling with same-sex affections in a time before the word “bisexual” even existed, I can understand her inner turmoil.

Photo/HBO

Yet Jane does make efforts to have her attraction known, as she pieces everything together. While her first kiss with Joanie was initiated by the latter, the second one comes after a longwinded explanation of a dream and showing how it was one of the best things to happen to her:

This relationship blooms over multiple episodes (and I believe seasons) in tiny increments, which I think makes it feel even more realistic. I’m just glad these two deeply troubled women found some peace with each other. And passed the Bechdel test while doing it!

What I Didn't Like:

Honestly, it’s hard for me to find fault with this show, or this portrayal. Other than I wish that there had been more. Hopefully there will be even more development with the upcoming movie! (I’m a fangirl, I know, but seriously, this element is only one of the dozens and dozens of reasons why I adore this story.)

The Rating:

Historically, it’s most likely that Jane was straight. She may or may not have been married to Wild Bill in secret, but she did have a husband and at least one child. She did also work under the employ of the woman who inspired Joanie Stubbs, but there doesn’t seem to be much evidence to show that she was bi in real life. But in this 2004 drama? Absolutely.

Photo/HBO

Do they not use the term “bisexual?” Nope. But the events of the story take place a good twenty years before the term was even invented, so I’m not gonna be nitpicky about it. But Calamity Jane is maybe the only other bi woman I can think of in a Western other than Godless. She’s hilarious, troubled, nuanced, and coming to terms with herself. She deserves all the accolades — and all the unicorns, too.

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