Deadwood: Tell Your God to Ready For Blood (season premiere)

(S03E01) One of the things you need to realize about this show is that you're bound to get confused. Especially after you've gone a year without seeing an episode and hearing that trademark "F this and F that and F you" dialogue. It takes a good ten minutes for your ears and mind to adjust. Part of is also the multitude of characters. But you have to respect a show that's so ambitious in that respect and Deadwood does it well.

I will say though, it was a great feeling to see Swearengen walk out onto his deck and slug down some coffee from that dirty tin mug. I missed this guy... which is odd, because I don't think I'd want him as a friend.

As tends to be the case in the town of Deadwood, everything is in disarray. Even more so since George Hearst (the famed prospector) arrived in town. He's bought just about every plot and claim in town and while his worth is far and away at first, Alma Garret Ellsworth's single claim is right behind him. Naturally he wants it.

Elections are coming. Bullock is running to maintain his seat as sheriff with the only competition being some guy who tends bar at Nuttall's. Sol has entered the race for mayor against E.B. and it seems that Al is secretly backing Sol without Sol's knowledge. Al sends out Silas to default on a loan taken from Sol and Alma's bank. This way Sol gets the house that the loan sat on and he can keep Trixie in it since the townfolk don't want a potential mayor "associating with whores." At least that's the way I interpreted it.

Earlier in the day, one of Hearst's miners was shot in the Gem and Swearengen is fairly certain that Hearst himself orchestrated it to see how Bullock would react. That way if Bullock was to go easy on the case, then Hearst might be more inclined to back Seth for sheriff. Bullock won't be bought though and he enters an odd alliance with Al to help stop Hearst. Later, after Al promises to be a thorn in Hearst's side, George sends the same killers he hired before to go after Al.

During their meeting, Hearst alludes to having knowledge of Bullock and Alma's affair. Without considering the possibility that he tipped Hearst himself, Bullock assumes it was E.B.'s big mouth and kicks the crap out of him.

Over at the Bella Union, Joanie has been looking after Sy's whores while he convalesces from the stab wound given to him by the Reverend Cramed. She isn't doing well though, and she heads over to a new hotel run by a Brit named Shaunessy. She rents a room and holds a gun to her head. Then she leaves. I got the impression that she does this daily.

Other happenings:

• The stablehand Hoffstedtler has left town and Steve, the guy that tried to screw Bullock's horse last season, now runs the carriage house.
• Martha now teaches school for about a dozen of the town's children.
• Jane is still a drunk, but it leads to some great lines. Her version of her time spent scouting with Custer? "Custer was a cunt. The end." Priceless.
• Alma has fallen ill while still pregnant. She says she wants to keep the baby but I'm worried because Cochran is treating her pain with lanthanum (which she used to be addicted to).

As a result of the sour taste in his mouth after meeting with Hearst, Al cancels the election speeches. Which is good for E.B. since he couldn't really speak clear anyway. Now we just wait and see if Al makes it through the night. He'll be fine. Hearst's men don't seem too quick anyway.