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The Best Episodes of Deadwood

Every episode of Deadwood ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Deadwood!

Best episode
S1E12 Sold Under Sin
9.12,676 votes
Worst episode
S1E7 Bullock Returns to the Camp
7.92,468 votes
Top season
Season 3
8.3avg
Binge time
1d 7h
36 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons3

All123

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Deadwood Season 1 Episode 12 - Sold Under Sin
    9.1/10(2676 votes)

    S1:E12

    In the first-season finale, Farnum and Tolliver take advantage of the arrival of a U.S. Army general. Adams teaches Clagett a thing or two about loyalty. Bullock reacts when Alma's father states his intentions regarding her claim.

    Director:Davis Guggenheim
    Writer:Ted Mann

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  2. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 5 - A Two-Headed Beast
    9.0/10(1936 votes)

    S3:E5

    Tolliver looks for a representative, the Captain calls Dan out, Swearengen continues to be perplexed by Hearst's moves, and Alma and Ellsworth's relationship takes a turn.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writer:David Milch

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  3. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 12 - Boy the Earth Talks To
    8.9/10(1993 votes)

    S2:E12

    Mining magnate George Hearst arrives while the camp is preparing for a celebration. Yankton officials react to a Swearengen power play. Violence erupts among the town's Chinese population.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writers:Ted Mann, David Milch

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  4. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 11 - The Catbird Seat
    8.9/10(1729 votes)

    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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  5. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 4 - Here Was a Man
    8.8/10(2783 votes)

    S1:E4

    Alma asks Hickok to investigate the tragic fallout of her husband's gold claim purchase. McCall plots revenge after being humiliated at poker. Charlie Utter departs camp for Cheyenne. Doc Cochran makes a house call to the Bella Union.

    Director:Alan Taylor
    Writer:Elizabeth Sarnoff

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  6. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 10 - Mister Wu
    8.6/10(2347 votes)

    S1:E10

    Swearengen receives a double dose of irritation when a drug supply is stolen and bad news arrives from a nearby town. Rev. Smith is an unlikely customer at the Gem. Merrick hatches an idea for Deadwood's first club.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writer:Bryan McDonald

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Deadwood

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  7. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 1 - A Lie Agreed Upon (1)
    8.6/10(2202 votes)

    S2:E1

    Bullock and Swearengen settle their most recent score with a bloody brawl, and Joanie welcomes her new business partner---with or without Cy's blessing. Also: a stagecoach brings important passengers; and Utter and Bullock investigate a shooting at Tom Nuttall's.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:David Milch

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  8. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 9 - Amalgamation and Capital
    8.6/10(1844 votes)

    S2:E9

    Wolcott draws Utter's ire during the questioning of a suspect. Merrick is overzealous in re-establishing his newspaper. Fields and Hostetler have little luck with a wild horse. Swearengen alters his agreement with Miss Isringhausen.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Elizabeth Sarnoff

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  9. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 10 - A Constant Throb
    8.6/10(1662 votes)

    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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  10. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 6 - Something Very Expensive
    8.5/10(1887 votes)

    S2:E6

    Merrick gives a schoolteacher a tour of the camp. An influx of Chinese labor enters the workforce. Swearengen is finally able to honor appointments. Alma suggests the idea of a bank; and Bullock insults the owner of a gold claim.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Steve Shill

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  11. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 12 - Tell Him Something Pretty
    8.4/10(1856 votes)

    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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  12. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 2 - I Am Not the Man You Take Me For
    8.4/10(1719 votes)

    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:Regina Corrado, David Milch

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  13. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 11 - The Whores Can Come
    8.3/10(1770 votes)

    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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  14. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 1 - Tell Your God to Ready for Blood
    8.3/10(1775 votes)

    S3:E1

    Elections are just days away, and Bullock lets his temper get away from him. Alma's pregnancy is not progressing as expected, and Swearengen baits Hearst.

    Director:Mark Tinker
    Writers:Ted Mann, David Milch

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  15. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 7 - E.B. Was Left Out
    8.3/10(1826 votes)

    S2:E7

    Alma and Bullock discuss the camp's financial future. Swearengen shares news about an important visitor. Wolcott seeks to make a deal with Utter involving Wild Bill Hickok's last letter. Tolliver relies on Lee's expertise.

    Director:Michael Almereyda
    Writer:Jody Worth

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  16. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 11 - Jewel's Boot Is Made for Walking
    8.3/10(2210 votes)

    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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  17. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 9 - Amateur Night
    8.2/10(1633 votes)

    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:Nick Towne, David Milch, Zack Whedon

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  18. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 10 - Advances, None Miraculous
    8.2/10(1784 votes)

    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:Daniel Minahan, Gregg Fienberg
    Writer:Sara Hess

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  19. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 4 - Requiem for a Gleet
    8.2/10(1934 votes)

    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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  20. Deadwood Season 2 Episode 2 - A Lie Agreed Upon (2)
    8.2/10(2009 votes)

    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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  21. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 8 - Suffer the Little Children
    8.2/10(2508 votes)

    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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  22. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 2 - Deep Water
    8.2/10(2861 votes)

    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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  23. Deadwood Season 1 Episode 1 - Deadwood
    8.2/10(3721 votes)

    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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  24. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 3 - True Colors
    8.1/10(1645 votes)

    S3:E3

    A dandy arrives by stage coach and immediately begins exploring how to bring culture to the camp, Alma and Hearst negotiate business, and Hearst's Aunt Lou comes to camp.

    Director:Gregg Fienberg
    Writers:Ted Mann, Regina Corrado, David Milch

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  25. Deadwood Season 3 Episode 4 - Full Faith and Credit
    8.1/10(1646 votes)

    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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Best Episodes Summary

"Sold Under Sin" is the best rated episode of Deadwood. It scored 9.1/10 from 2,676 votes. Directed by Davis Guggenheim and written by Ted Mann, it aired on June 13, 2004. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "A Two-Headed Beast".

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