S01.E09: No Other Sons or Daughters

[Drogo]

With annexation looming, Swearengen calls a meeting to set up an informal government. Bullock and Alma compare notes on Ellsworth, and each other; Farnum gets a special-delivery letter from Hickok; Utter offers Jane a job; and Stubbs prepares to make a go on her own, with Tolliver's avowed blessings.

[Drogo]

Joanie and Charlie, best friends forever.  I think she was just about to turn back to Tollivertown after passing Wu's but Charlie was able to bring her sensibilities back with his insecurity about his new frock coat.  (FROCK COAT, FROCK COAT, FROCK COAT)

"I'll be the Mayor." --> "Any objections?"   --->   "Mayor!"   I loved this whole scene.  I still can't wait for Farnum to die, and being mayor should help him get there. 

[purist]

Some pearls of wisdom in this episode. Al's philosophy: 'In life, you have to do a lotta things you don't wanna do. Many times that's what the fuck life is - one vile fucken task after another.' And Jane's heroic realisation of her own shortcomings before she leaves camp: 'I will not be a drunk where he's buried, and I cannot stay fucken sober.' I love that we are still seeing the effects on Jane of her grief at Wild Bill's death. Most TV series would have just had the one or two episodes on it and then would have never referred to it again.

That whole chat Al had with Trixie in the first scene, about the town being annexed and things changing and not being afraid of change, was really him just giving himself a pep talk. He knew it, and she knew it. And he finished by mumbling to her: 'Don't fucken try doing away with yourself again.' I love their fucked-up relationship so much.

Ellsworth playing peekaboo with Sophia was adorable, as was Charlie's concern about his frock coat (which, for the record, I thought suited him fine), as was Sol's gentle flirting with Trixie at the Gem.

Hilarious scenes with Al, Johnny and Dan. Johnny was so very proud that Al offered him Persimmon Phil's position. Before he gets downstairs, we get Dan saying to Al, 'How'd it go with Johnny?' and Al replying, 'I have just fled my own office in horror at his fucking dimwittedness.' Hee! Al is such a drama queen. And then, when Johnny comes downstairs, saying (loud enough for Dan to hear), 'Al! Any reason I can't share with Dan the proceeds of the talk me 'n you just had about me taking over for Persimmon Phil?' Al wickedly replies: 'Yeah. Keep Dan in the dark' and Dan asks Johnny, 'Hey Johnny. What's new?' knowing Johnny is busting to tell him. Hahahaha.

The reverend looks ROUGH and like he's not long for this world. The doc was great with him. The doc is great with everyone - I also loved how non-judgmental he was with Trixie when he was tending to the whores at the Gem. If Brad Dourif didn't win an award for this role, he damn well should have.

Ouch, that was nasty when Joanie saw Flora's clothes in the corner of the pig enclosure. I'm glad she had that serendipitous meeting with Charlie soon after that - two good people who can clearly see the goodness in each other. I liked how they motivated each other to keep going in their respective new business ventures, and how Joanie told Charlie about the meeting at the Gem, which he should totally have been invited to, and which I'm glad he showed up to.

Of many great exchanges in the episode, I did love this one, when Jane was leaning against that wall at a perfect angle:

Charlie: What do they pay you to hold that building up?

Jane: Charlie Utter? Of Utter Charlie 'n Freight?

Charlie: Close enough to get you offered a position.

Jane: I'm in a position, you eternally meddlin' cocksucker!

Charlie: Yeah. Leanin' forward, shit-faced drunk.

On 06/07/2016 at 10:37 PM, Drogo said:

"I'll be the Mayor." --> "Any objections?"   --->   "Mayor!"   I loved this whole scene.

Me too. Not to mention Al saying, later that night at the Gem as EB preened and gloated and cavorted with the whores, 'I'm gonna find early occasion to put the mayor off his pedestal' and Dan replying, 'Don't do it with no nudge.' AND Alma's perfect 'How horrifying!' reaction when Seth told her EB was mayor. Hee.

The scene where Cy bullied Eddie was almost too painful to watch. I think this is the episode where I went from being vaguely amused by Powers Boothe's moustache-twirling portrayal of a villain to being completely over it. There's just no subtlety there. Shut up, Cy.

And last, but not least, this lovely piece of dialogue between Sol and Seth as they were sitting on their porch like two old-timers. I just about died laughing at this:

Sol: Before I told a story on myself like the doc did, I'd'a just said, 'Thank you for the nomination, but I decline being health supervisor.'

Seth: They buy bodies to do their research ... doctors. They cut 'em open and study 'em.

Sol: All the less reason to say you've been arrested for grave robbin' ... seven times.

[Mindthinkr]

I. Loved it when Calamity Jane got off duty at the Pest Tent. She gave a report on no deaths and who was there. Then the 'I'm off duty, you're on fucking duty' conversation had me tickled. I'd have loved to have gone off a shift with just such words! I think she's been one of my favorite characters and if she's leaving the series I'm sad to see her go. I think the actress nailed the part.