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The Worst Episodes of Deadwood

Every episode of Deadwood ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Deadwood!

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The story of the early days of Deadwood, South Dakota; woven around actual historic events with most of the main characters based on real people. Deadwood starts as a gold mining camp and gradually turns

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Deadwood Season 3 Episode 8 - Leviathan Smiles
    6.9/10(19 votes)

    #1 - Leviathan Smiles

    S3:E8

    The letter is published, Wyatt Earp hits town, delays continue with the theater, and Hearst makes a move.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Kem Nunn

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  2. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 1 - Deadwood
    7.1/10(47 votes)

    #2 - Deadwood

    S1:E1

    Former Montana marshal Seth Bullock starts a hardware business for miners, and the arrival of Wild Bill Hickok creates a stir. Meanwhile, a corrupt saloon owner brokers a land claim for a wealthy New Yorker.

    Director:Walter Hill
    Writer:David Milch

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  3. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 11 - The Catbird Seat
    7.1/10(19 votes)

    #3 - The Catbird Seat

    S3:E11

    Another attack is made at Hearst's behest, Harry and Bullock travel to Sturgis for campaigning, and there's unrest in Langrishe's troupe.

    Director:Gregg Fienberg
    Writer:Bernadette McNamara

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  4. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 10 - A Constant Throb
    7.2/10(18 votes)

    #4 - A Constant Throb

    S3:E10

    Swearengen is spurred to action when a prominent camp member is attacked, Langrishe makes arrangements for his theater, and Jane has an epiphany.

    Director:Mark Tinker
    Writer:W. Earl Brown

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  5. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 2 - Deep Water
    7.3/10(31 votes)

    #5 - Deep Water

    S1:E2

    Calamity Jane helps Doc protect a young girl who survived a recent massacre. New Yorker Brom Garret realizes he may not be cut out for prospecting. Dan mulls over a difficult order from Al Swearengen.

    Director:Davis Guggenheim
    Writer:Malcolm MacRury

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  6. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 6 - Plague
    7.3/10(27 votes)

    #6 - Plague

    S1:E6

    Bullock's form of vigilante justice meets resistance from the locals. The town fathers band together to fight an epidemic. Farnum reluctantly agrees to keep an eye on Alma and Trixie. Swearengen adds journalist to his colorful résumé.

    Director:Davis Guggenheim
    Writer:Malcolm MacRury

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  7. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 7 - Bullock Returns to the Camp
    7.3/10(26 votes)

    #7 - Bullock Returns to the Camp

    S1:E7

    Bullock's vigilantism makes new enemies. Utter returns to Deadwood to say goodbye to an old friend. Teenage siblings arrive on a quest to find their father. Alma holds on to her late husband's claim despite another offer from Farnum.

    Director:Michael Engler
    Writer:Jody Worth

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  8. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 11 - The Whores Can Come
    7.3/10(19 votes)

    #8 - The Whores Can Come

    S2:E11

    Jarry worries that Bullock and George Hearst will side with Montana on the annexation issue and a showdown looms between Wu and Lee. Andy Cramed holds his first religious service, though he doesn't count on Tolliver's participation.

    Directors:Gregg Fienberg, Ed Bianchi
    Writers:David Milch, Bryan McDonald

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  9. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 5 - The Trial of Jack McCall
    7.4/10(26 votes)

    #9 - The Trial of Jack McCall

    S1:E5

    The town buries its most famous casualty while the man responsible is tried in Swearengen's saloon. Trixie helps a widowed Alma care for an orphan. Doc warns of an impending epidemic.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:John Belluso

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  10. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 8 - Suffer the Little Children
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    #10 - Suffer the Little Children

    S1:E8

    A much-needed vaccine arrives in Deadwood. There are rumblings of a treaty with the Sioux. Swearengen is reluctant to accept advice from Farnum while Trixie is away. Alma reconsiders her plans for her gold claim. Stubbs learns an important lesson from Tolliver.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writer:Elizabeth Sarnoff

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  11. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 9 - No Other Sons or Daughters
    7.5/10(24 votes)

    #11 - No Other Sons or Daughters

    S1:E9

    Swearengen makes an effort to set up an informal government. Anna and Bullock discuss Ellsworth. Jane receives a job offer from Utter. Tolliver agrees to let Stubbs strike out on her own.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:George Putnam

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  12. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 12 - Tell Him Something Pretty
    7.7/10(15 votes)

    #12 - Tell Him Something Pretty

    S3:E12

    Election day arrives, Hearst has his revenge, Sol and Trixie have it out, and Tolliver releases rage at his impotence.

    Director:Mark Tinker
    Writer:Ted Mann

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  13. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 3 - New Money
    7.8/10(18 votes)

    #13 - New Money

    S2:E3

    Swearengen's deteriorating health worries his employees. Alma ponders a real-estate move after surveying her operation. A mining-company agent makes his presence known. Maddie lets Joanie in on a secret about their first client.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Elizabeth Sarnoff

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  14. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 8 - Childish Things
    7.8/10(18 votes)

    #14 - Childish Things

    S2:E8

    Wolcott reports his gold-claim acquisitions to his employer, George Hearst, and Nuttall shows off his new bicycle. Meanwhile, Miss Isringhausen reaches an agreement with Swearengen, who also meets with Bullock to discuss alternatives to annexation.

    Director:Tim Van Patten
    Writer:Regina Corrado

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  15. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 7 - Unauthorized Cinnamon
    7.8/10(17 votes)

    #15 - Unauthorized Cinnamon

    S3:E7

    A meeting of the elders occurs with surprising results, Doc's absence is noted by Swearengen, Alma battles her addiction, and Sol offers Trixie something she never expected.

    Director:Mark Tinker
    Writer:Mark Tinker

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  16. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 3 - Reconnoitering the Rim
    7.9/10(29 votes)

    #16 - Reconnoitering the Rim

    S1:E3

    Believing he's been duped, Brom Garret threatens to call the Pinkertons on Swearengen. Star and Bullock finally reach a deal on their hardware-store property. A new gambling outfit arrives from Chicago.

    Director:Davis Guggenheim
    Writer:Jody Worth

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  17. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 11 - Jewel's Boot Is Made For Walking
    7.9/10(22 votes)

    #17 - Jewel's Boot Is Made For Walking

    S1:E11

    Adams helps Swearengen out of a jam. Jewel seeks out Doc for treatment. Leon and Eddie go back to work for Cy. Alma's father arrives from New York. The camp's choice for a sheriff doesn't please Bullock.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Ricky Jay

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  18. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 10 - Advances, None Miraculous
    7.9/10(18 votes)

    #18 - Advances, None Miraculous

    S2:E10

    Cochran's ominous prognosis puts the camp on alert. Smallpox survivor Andy Cramed returns as a minister. Swearengen asks an unlikely pair to pull a scam on Commissioner Jarry. Martha Bullock has second thoughts about staying in Deadwood.

    Directors:Gregg Fienberg, Daniel Minahan
    Writer:Sara Hess

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  19. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 2 - I Am Not The Man You Take Me For
    7.9/10(18 votes)

    #19 - I Am Not The Man You Take Me For

    S3:E2

    Campaign speeches are rescheduled, Sol makes an investment, Alma's condition worsens, and Hearst starts a deadly game with Swearengen.

    Director:Dan Attias
    Writers:David Milch, Regina Corrado

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  20. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 6 - A Rich Find
    7.9/10(17 votes)

    #20 - A Rich Find

    S3:E6

    Hearst's feathers are ruffled, Aunt Lou's son comes to town, and Bullock and Swearengen make a decision.

    Director:Tim Hunter
    Writer:Alix Lambert

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  21. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 9 - Amateur Night
    7.9/10(16 votes)

    #21 - Amateur Night

    S3:E9

    An Amateur Night is organized by the new theater troupe, Pinkertons hit town, the students move to their new school, and Hearst makes another move regarding the elections.

    Director:Adam Davidson
    Writers:Zack Whedon, Nick Towne, David Milch

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  22. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 2 - A Lie Agreed Upon (2)
    8.0/10(20 votes)

    #22 - A Lie Agreed Upon (2)

    S2:E2

    Calamity Jane returns to camp; Swearengen nurses his wounds while Dan and Johnny await Bullock's next move; Joanie and Maddie prepare their new place of business; Alma is asked to make a decision about her future. Maddie: Alice Krige. Adams: Titus Welliver.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Jody Worth

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  23. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 4 - Full Faith and Credit
    8.0/10(18 votes)

    #23 - Full Faith and Credit

    S3:E4

    Alma presides over the bank's grand opening, the feud over the livery between Steve and Hostetler tests Bullock's patience, Swearengen taps Adams to negotiate with Hearst, and Joanie has reservations about Langrishe's offer to buy her place.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writers:Ted Mann, David Milch

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  24. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 4 - Requiem for a Gleet
    8.1/10(19 votes)

    #24 - Requiem for a Gleet

    S2:E4

    Alma fires Miss Isringhausen as her ward's tutor. Bullock struggles with domestic life. Cochran suggests a risky surgical procedure for an ailing Swearengen. Dority deals with a former associate's robbery proposal.

    Director:Alan Taylor
    Writer:Ted Mann

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  25. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 5 - Complications
    8.1/10(18 votes)

    #25 - Complications

    S2:E5

    Doc Cochran advises Dan and Johnny how to help Swearengen's recovery. Thriving business at a new brothel leads to a startling discovery by Tolliver. Merrick gets a scoop from Yankton about gold claims. Bullock's badge comes in handy for Commissioner Jarry.

    Director:Gregg Fienberg
    Writer:Victoria Morrow

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Leviathan Smiles" is the worst rated episode of "Deadwood". It scored 6.9/10 based on 19 votes. Directed by Ed Bianchi and written by Kem Nunn, it aired on 7/30/2006. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Deadwood".