Is ‘1923’ Secretly Part of ‘Deadwood’s Wild West?

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Speculations among astute viewers about a potential connection between the city of Deadwood in Season 2, Episode 6 of 1923, titled “The Mountain Teeth of Monsters,” and a possible spinoff of the renowned HBO western series, Deadwood, have sparked. Although this theory might be only partly sincere, it’s important to note that during the 19th century, Deadwood, South Dakota, was a bustling center of westward expansion. It gained notoriety for its violent past, filled with legendary Western figures such as Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, and others.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the creator of “1923”, Taylor Sheridan, paid tribute to the iconic western series “Deadwood” from HBO, which aired from 2004 to 2006, due to its immense success. Given that Deadwood is a significant location in itself, it’s intriguing to consider whether there might be a connection between “1923” and “Deadwood”, or if their shared setting is merely coincidental.

‘1923’ Mentions Deadwood in Season 2, Episode 6

In the 2nd episode of Season 2 from 1923, the storyline primarily revolves around Spencer Dutton’s (Brandon Sklenar) train journey to Montana. The concern mounts among the characters that ruthless Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) might kill Spencer before he gets to the Dutton Family Ranch. Meanwhile, Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) and Sheriff McDowell (Robert Patrick) enlist their henchmen to capture Spencer in Livingston. Simultaneously, Jack (Darren Mann) attempts to support Jacob but ends up getting shot dead by two of Creighton’s men.

In the heated fight, Jacob and other survivors momentarily refer to Deadwood, the notorious South Dakota town that was given its name due to the dead trees within its gulch. This place associated with death could serve as a refuge for Spencer to evade captivity. The city is frequently mentioned as a foreboding destination worth visiting. Even without reaching it, the gunfights and cold-related deaths depicted in the episode suggest that Deadwood might be a dangerous location.

HBO’s ‘Deadwood’ Highlights South Dakota’s Historical Corruption

Originating from HBO under David Milch’s direction, Deadwood is often compared to The Wire and The Sopranos as one of the most impactful and innovative television series ever made. Debuting in 2004, this gritty western show centers around Al Swearengen (played by Ian McShane), a morally questionable saloon owner, brothel proprietor, town ruler, and criminal mastermind whose unbridled influence resulted in a spiral of immoral activities, leading to widespread crime and irreversible corruption during the 1870s.

In addition to Swearengen, the show Deadwood was modeled after actual historical figures who played significant roles in establishing the city of Deadwood, such as Seth Bullock, a hardware store owner and sheriff (portrayed by Timothy Olyphant), his wife Martha Bullock (Anna Gunn), Sol Star (John Hawkes), Wild Bill Hicock (Keith Carradine), A.W. Merrick (Jeffrey Jones), Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert), and a number of other characters based on multiple individuals. Although it ran for only three seasons and 36 episodes, Deadwood garnered eight Primetime Emmys and currently ranks at #140 on IMDb’s Top 250 TV Shows.

1923 doesn’t directly take place within the Deadwood TV series, but Seth Bullock makes his way to Deadwood following his tenure as a marshal in Montana. Interestingly, Montana is also home to Yellowstone and its related shows, leading one to wonder about the proximity between Bozeman and Deadwood.

‘Deadwood’s Rich History Reflected in Pop Culture

During the years 1876 to 1879, the city of Deadwood, South Dakota, experienced a significant increase in its population due to the discovery of gold and the subsequent gold rush. This influx of people brought with it increased competition for wealth and power, as well as instances of corruption. The Black Hills Gold Rush, which took place in 1876-77, drew around 25,000 individuals to the city, including historical figures like Wyatt Earp and characters depicted on the TV show Deadwood.

Though it wasn’t until much later, in the 2000s, that Deadwood City gained significant attention, it was actually portrayed in the 1953 western musical film “Calamity Jane,” starring Doris Day as a strong-willed saloon owner and sharpshooter who helped those in need. Just like “1923” doesn’t align with the storyline of “Calamity Jane,” connecting “1923” to the “Deadwood” series is also an unlikely match (even though, feel free to let your imagination run wild and conceptualize a massive Deadwood Western Cinematic Universe in your mind).

It would seem quite unrealistic to exclude Deadwood from the setting of 1923, given its significant historical importance during that time period, as portrayed in both series. In fact, Deadwood was a city that nearly every pioneer either passed through or heard tales about due to its rich history. Various films have been produced around this legendary town, such as “Wild Bill,” “Buffalo Girls,” “Little Big Man,” “Thunderheart,” and “Bad Man at Deadwood.

1923 and Deadwood share a significant connection due to their close geographical proximity in real life, despite being about 430 miles apart. Pioneers from both Montana and South Dakota would have traveled along the same dangerous route, linking these two places historically and culturally. Therefore, it’s understandable that people from Montana might refer to Deadwood, not because there’s a connection between the two TV westerns’ narratives, but rather due to their shared geography, history, and culture.

Speaking of Deadwood, it was commemorated in the 2019 film titled “Deadwood: The Movie,” where we find characters like Bullock and Swearengen ten years on. It’s likely that this town will make an appearance in future Western productions, separate from any potential spinoffs of HBO’s Deadwood or Paramount’s Yellowstone series.

Deadwood is available to stream on Max and 1923 on Paramount+

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2025-04-18 06:02