Take 4 TV: Deadwood

Deadwood: Season One (2004)

What's Going On?: Montana Sheriff Seth Bullock and his friend Sol Star travel to the lawless town of Deadwood, South Dakota to establish a hardware store. They find out quickly that people there don't wear white hats or black hats...only infinite shades of gray. They quickly become embroiled in the nefarious deeds of the locals, including shady tavern-owners, famous gunslingers, and hookers with hearts of gold.

Leading the Line-Up: While this truly is an ensemble cast, Tim Olyphant (who plays Seth Bullock) and Ian McShane (who plays owner of "The Gem" saloon, Al Swearengen) are pretty much the leaders of the cast. The former represents law and order, and the latter truly embodies lawlessness and how one can get ahead by not playing by the rules. Olyphant seems a little wooden at times, but you grow to like him as the hero, while McShane is brilliant as the man you love to hate...and that you do occasionally find yourself rooting for. Can't go without mentioning Keith Carradine as Wild Bill Hickock, either...probably one of the most recognizable figures in the series.

Things to Look Out For: Historical accuracy. Many of the characters, including Bullock and Star, are pulled straight from the history books. The series really does try to paint a realistic picture of what life in Deadwood could have been like. A lot of this comes out in the special features...speaking of which...

Special Features to Catch: Out of the twelve episodes on the first five discs, there are four commentary tracks. The tricky part for me is listening to these (and doing my due diligence for these reviews) and not getting the story ruined...which is part of what I enjoy. So, in the first episode, the guy who is giving the commentary gives away information about two of the characters that die...I wasn't happy about that. So skip the first two (unless you watch them at the VERY end, as they contain "spoilers"), but catch the last two commentaries. The sixth disc is a special features disc, which includes "Making Deadwood," a behind-the-scenes look at Deadwood (not vital to watch), "The Real Deadwood," a featurette on the history of Deadwood and some of the real historical figures who appear in the series (definitely catch if you found the series interesting), "The New Language of the Old West," which talks about the use of language and cultural symbolism in the series (kind of interesting, but gets a bit academic), and "An Imaginative Reality," which looks at joining historical and fictional characters into one cohesive setting (if you're interested in acting theory, this may catch your attenton).

Random Trivia: For a long time there was a bar called Bullock's Tavern in Amherstburg, Ontario, which was originally owned by Seth Bullock's parents and was also the place he was born.

And I Quote: Seth Bullock: "There's a blood stain on your floor." Al Swearengen: "Yeah, I'm... I'm gonna get to that."

Life Lessons From Deadwood: 1) Never sit with your back to the door of a saloon; 2) Pigs are to criminals in the Old West as cement shoes are to gangsters in the Roaring 20's; 3) Don't mess with smallpox.

Curt's Take: "Worth Considering" - Was surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did, and got into it as much as I did. Picture "The Sopranos" meets "Oz" in the Old West. Kind of. The final episode was really electric, though...it was like the entire series had laid these trails of gunpowder all around town, and then multiple fuses were lit. There's a scene where all the major players are drawn from their environments (the hardware store, the bars, the hotel, etc.) and gather, one by one, in the street...you truly see how all the characters lives intersect in this small town. Literally gave me chills. I also liked the use of language in the series, most ofwhich could never appear on network television. While some viewer groups objected to the use of such harsh and intense language in a western, the creator points out in his commentary that most of us are used to the westerns that came out of the golden age of cinema...which weren't about to drop the F-bomb on an audience.

Next Time on Take 4: Three seasons of a great sitcom that brought the late, great Phil Hartman to prime-time television.

Take 4 TV: Wonderfalls

Wonderfalls (2004)

What's Going On?: Jaye Tyler, with philosophy degree in hand, has moved back home to Niagara Falls after college, where she puts her degree to use working as a clerk in a souvenir shop. Things are relatively normal until a sculpted wax lion in the store starts talking to her, directing her to take certain actions. As does the fish mounted on the wall of her favorite bar. And the plastic flamingos on her parents lawn. Basically, if it has a face, it starts to direct her, impacting the lives of others in a series of bizarre chain reactions...that somehow always seem to turn out for the best.

Leading the Line-Up: Caroline Dhavernas plays Jaye, and has the same sort of deadpan humor as Ellen Muth does in Dead Like Me. The similar tone between these two shows surprised me, until I learned through the commentary tracks that Bryan Fuller was the creator of both the shows. I think I really like his style. Anyway, the rest of the cast is great, too, especially Katie Finneran, who plays Jaye's lesbian lawyer sister.

Things to Look Out For: Some damn funny dialogue. Very well written, as with Dead Like Me.

Special Features to Catch: Well...over the 13 episodes filmed, six have commentary tracks. They include the creators, as well as Caroline and Katie, two of the main females in the series. There is also a brief featurette on special effects and a music video. I'd say watch them all...rather enjoyable.

Random Trivia: During the course of looking for a series title, staff suggestions included: "Animal Crackers", "The Tchotchke Whisperer", "Normally Insane", "What Ever Happened to Baby Jaye?", "Babble Head", and a dig at their competition, "Joan of Niagara".

And I Quote: A few of my favorite exchanges:

Jaye: "I guess I thought if I could just get my sister laid the little wax lion might just shutup." Eric: "The wax lion wanted your sister to have sex?" Jaye: "I'm assuming." Eric: "Does the little wax lion ever tell you to burn things or hurt people?" Jaye: "I bet he's working up to that..."

Eric: "I'd like to return these." Jaye: "Are they broken? 'Cause we sell a lot of crap here."

Mahandra: [off of Jaye's sudden kindness] "Have you been huffing puff paint? Because this just isn't like you." Jaye: "What do you mean, 'like me'? There is no 'like me'. I'm not 'like anything' and if I were, it certainly wouldn't be me." Mahandra: "Why are you doing this?" Jaye: [resigned] "I don't have a choice; I'm a puppet. The universe just sticks its hand up my butt, and if I don't dance, people get hurt!"

Life Lessons From Wonderfalls: 1) Surrender to fate. It may actually work out for the best. 2) If stuffed animals start talking to you, listen. It's in your best interest. 3) When smuggling French Canadians in from across the border, an Ewok blanket always makes things more comfortable as they ride in the trunk of you car.

Curt's Take: "Must See" - I remember watching the first four episodes of this show several years ago on FOX before it was cancelled, and was so disappointed I didn't get to hear the rest of the story. So, you can imagine, I was very happy to find the entire first season (in fact, the entire series) was available on DVD. It's quirky, fun to watch, and has a very stylized sense of humor. The ensemble cast, from Jaye's family to her friends who work at her favorite bar, are so likeable and engaging. At least give the first DVD a chance, and see if you don't get sucked in.

Next Time on Take 4: Time to take off for the Old West. Enjoy.

Take 4 TV: The League of Gentlemen

The League of Gentlemen (1999 - 2002)

What's Going On?: Welcome to the quintessential and quaint village of Royston Vasey, in Northern England (motto: "You'll Never Leave'). Lots of strange things are happening in Vasey. There's the Local Shop, where non-local people are mysteriously disappearing, and the strange nosebleeds that plague the populace. And we can't forget the town vet whose patients all meet tragic ends and the strange toad-loving family next door with the twin daughters who look like they're straight out of The Shining. Oh...you're not imagining things...a lot of the people look alike. But that probably has less to do with in-breeding and more to do with the fact that all the main characters are played by the same three actors. Very strange. Picture Kids in the Hall meets Twin Peaks. You've got three seasons to contend with here...plus a Christmas Special. But British. And although it doesn't sound like it...yes, it's a comedy. And if you end up watching EVERYTHING the series has to offer, you may find yourself here for a while (see also Red Dwarf).

Leading the Line-Up: The actors in the League started doing sketch comedy on stage, and this series places the characters from their act all in the same, strange town...forcing them to interact. The three performers are Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. A fourth member of the League, Jeremy Dyson, only does writing, and seldom appears on-screen.

Things to Look Out For: Very self-referential. Even though there was a two year gap between seasons two and three, I caught a LOT of callbacks to the first two seasons. They do it very subtly, too...so that they don't try to obviously call attention to these details, which is good: kind of makes you feel a little proud that you caught the joke. I think that's a key difference between British and American humor. Oh, and as a side note, although I'm referring to each year as a "season" of the show, the Brits call each year a "series." I think a "series" equals 1.34 "seasons," but I've never been that good with the metric system.

Special Features to Catch: Wow. A lot. A whole lot. More than you can shake a stick at. The first season has the special features on the DVD, which includes some deleted scenes, info on special effects, a handy directory of the characters you meet, etc. Quite a bit to choose from. The biggiest thing, by far, was the cast commentary...they discuss EVERY episode. As part of my sacred duty to you, the reader, I watch and listen to every single special feature. Luckily, there are only six episodes per season, but that ended up being nine hours of commentary. Well, ten, if you include the commentary on the Christmas Special...and then there was also an hour-long BBC radio interview and a couple twenty minute behind-the-scenes documentaries. Yeah, Merry Christmas. And that leads up to the two bonus discs I stumbled upon for seasons two and three: more behind-the-scenes documentaries, cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes, character profiles, out-takes, production stills, storyboard comparisons, a "create-your-own-ending" editor, video diaries...and music from the show. Whew.

So...what to catch? Most of the additional stuff is pretty brief (the bonus discs each took about an hour to watch), so you might as well check 'em out if you're enjoying the show. But one or two commentaries is enough, unless you get hooked on them.

Random Trivia: The title of the show in Korea is "Psycho Village." Oh...and about 75% of the characters are based on real people that the cast has met. Scary.

And I Quote: Pauline: "Just who do you think you're talking to?" Cathy: "Well, according to my report, a psychotic 50-year-old lesbian." Pauline: "How dare you. I'm 48."

Life Lessons From The League of Gentlemen: 1) British comedians are very willing to talk about their craft. VERY willing. 2) Don't eat the special meat. 3) If someone asks if you are local, the answer is YES.

Curt's Take: Well, have to break this one down a little bit differently...

Seasons One and Two - "Worth Considering." Was very unsure as I watched the first episode of the first season, but was sucked in by the end. Was funny, entertaining, and had just enough of the quirky British humor I like so much. As mentioned above, the commentary tracks got a bit old after a while, but it's not like you have to listen to them.

The Christmas Special - "Not a Priority." Accidentally stumbled on this when searching to see if they had a fourth season out. It was okay...basically, an hour-long special that ties together three horror tales featuring characters we'd met in the first two seasons. Only a Christmas special because it takes place around Christmas time. I did like the third tale, which gives the backstory on why the town vet has such unfortunate things happen to him. If you do rent this, it comes chronologically after the first two seasons.

Season Three - "Don't Bother." The tone completely changes, and a lot of the comedy is traded in for absurd drama, it seems. Each episode largely focuses on one character, rather than several simultaneously stories, which makes me prefer the first two seasons. A lot of the characters you've come to love in the first two seasons don't make an appearance. I don't know...it was like they came back with a year off and wanted to take the show in a completely different direction. Was disappointing, even though they explain their thinking on the special features disc of season three.

Seasons Two and Three: Bonus Discs - "Not a Priority." Stumbled on THESE when I found the Christmas Special. At this point, I was like...WILL IT NEVER END!!! By this time, I was just hoping to get something different in the mail from Netflix. That having been said, the stuff was pretty brief and somewhat interesting to watch.

All this having been said, looks like the League has made its way over to the big screen in Britain, with The League of Gentlemen's Apocolypse. I'm actually hoping to check that out.