10 Reasons You MUST Finally Watch Deadwood

Language is a big part of the appeal of Deadwood. Characters don't talk like they do in other shows (including other period dramas) and there's a level of authenticity, bite and wit to the dialogue that you'll be hard pushed to find anywhere else.

Characters often speak in a classic Shakespearian tongue, flowery and unusual to modern ears and, throughout the series, there are some truly fantastic monologues. To get the most out of the language of Deadwood you need to listen up and pay attention but once accustomed to it, you'll be hooked.

And then there's the swearing.

The unrelenting, shameless and delightfully filthy swearing. It's so frequent it becomes casual, everyday and even comical but it's in the moments where vile words are used in anger that it becomes its most powerful - colourful, cutting words spat with a vociferous candour.

More recently, shows like Game Of Thrones have approached language and dialogue in a similar way but Deadwood mastered and perfected the art.