S02.E07: E.B. Was Left Out

[purist]

Quote

Joanie discovers what happened at the Chez Ami and confides in Charlie Utter. Swearengen meets with Alma regarding Miss Isringhausen's allegations ... and her connection to the Pinkertons. The town leaders convene to discuss pressing issues, but neglect to invite E.B., the mayor. By way of a strange circumstance, Utter comes into possession of Wild Bill's final correspondence.

[purist]

Another brilliant episode, with Al and Trixie handing out great advice, and Al reclaiming his position as 'top dog' in Deadwood. This episode belonged to him and to Charlie Utter. I have a lot to say about it! tl;dr

Al is really a miracle of recovery from his stroke and kidney stones - loved seeing him doing exercises in his office. He looked good all dressed up to visit the widow Garret. That meeting was fantastic - Alma suspicious and guarded at first but coming around to a grudging respect and liking for Al, even asking him what kind of tea he liked. He was upfront with her, and she liked it. His puzzlement when she pulled him up on his swearing was hilarious, as was this exchange when he came down the stairs after their meeting:  EB: 'Have we a new pope?' Al: 'She's some fuck, EB.' EB's giggle at that was PERFECT.

What a wonderful friend Charlie Utter is to Joanie. It was so satisfying to see him give Wolcott a good beating in the muddy thoroughfare while everyone else just let it happen and went about their business. Charlie is also a wonderful friend to Jane. When she showed up all bruised and bloody, having no memory of who she fought or how many days she'd been away, and she said, 'It's gettin' the upper fucken hand on me, Charlie', it was heartbreaking. Also heartbreaking: Charlie's face when he looked at Wild Bill's letter and recognised his dead friend's handwriting.

And then there was the meeting at the Gem (which EB was left out of) that followed Utter's beating of Wolcott. Best! Cy got frustrated and let it slip that Wolcott had killed the Chez Ami women, and said that it wouldn't be wise to upset George Hearst or Hearst's interests. I LOVED Al just letting Cy leak all that information and screw everything up for himself, and Al innocently remarking, 'Well Cy, all that geologist did was step on Utter's foot.' Hee! I also loved the look of hurt on Johnny's face when Cy spat the dummy and upended his dish of peaches on the table. Johnny looked personally offended.

The plotline with stupid Con and pathetic Leon trying to drum up business for the Chinese whores was both funny and deeply upsetting. The little scene at Tom Nuttall's had a couple of gems of dialogue, including: Random guy 1: 'I don't fuck Chinese - I got a mother livin' yet.' Random guy 2: 'She the jealous type?' And this: Con: 'You ever hear, Tom? The Chinese whore has an ancient way of milkin' you out of your sorrow, the loneliness, and that awful feelin' of bein' forsaken.' Tom (deadpan): 'Seems to me that'd leave you with nothin'.'

Alma and Seth's oblique conversation about her being pregnant was painful but I'm glad it happened. Her way of confirming to him that she is pregnant was 'I feel better lately in the afternoon than in the morning.' Damn that Victorian reserve. Just come out and say it!

And so begins Al's love affair with Chief Head-in-a-Box. His first soliloquy to the Chief was positively Shakespearean - describing Charlie Utter as 'a half-assed knight errant' was delicious. I just want to roll around in the dialogue on this show sometimes.

I mentioned at the top of this post Al's giving out good advice. First there was this, to a shattered Merrick in his wrecked office: 'Pain or damage don't end the world, or despair, or fucken beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man, and give some back.'

And then Al's advice to Trixie when she was doubting her ability with 'the decimals': 'Do not fucken fault them, Trixie, for your own fucken fears of tumblin' to something new.' She's scared of bettering herself - he knows it, and she knows it.

(There was also this funny exchange between Al and Trixie: Al: 'Who's harpin'? The Jew?' Trixie: 'You makin' a fucken pun?' Al (innocently): 'I'm askin'.')

And finally, Trixie's advice to Seth to lighten up, dude: 'Moses did the heavy liftin' already - the fucken tablets and so forth.' And to Sol: 'Tread lightly who lives in hope of pussy.' The look on Seth's face at that one was priceless.

Edited August 15, 2016 by purist

[Haleth]

2 hours ago, purist said:

And then Al's advice to Trixie when she was doubting her ability with 'the decimals': 'Do not fucken fault them, Trixie, for your own fucken fears of tumblin' to something new.' She's scared of bettering herself - he knows it, and she knows it.

I love that for Al this is a pep talk.  His words are always sharp but anyone who knows him knows that when he speaks this way it's his way of showing he cares.  Al/Trixie and Cy/Joanie are very interesting relationships.  Al truly wants Trixie to be safe and happy.  He's relieved that she is learning a new job and has a man who cares for her in Sol.  Had Joanie and Trixie changed places, with Trixie seeing her friend and employees murdered by Wolcott, the sun would not have set before Al fed W to the pigs.  Cy does nothing.  To him it's all business.  Jerk.

I also love that every time there's a meeting Al calls for a can of peaches.  A good host takes care of the needs of his guests.  LOL

[Mindthinkr]

On 8/15/2016 at 8:25 AM, Haleth said:

 

I also love that every time there's a meeting Al calls for a can of peaches.  A good host takes care of the needs of his guests.  LOL

Peaches or Pears. They always offer each other a whiskey too but consider it an insult if they wipe the bottle of spit before partaking. 

Its nice that Sophia has dolls but they sure have some ugly faces. One looked green and another like a monkey.