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 from a lawless wild-west community into an organized wild-west civilized town. The story focuses on the real-life characters Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen.
Alma Garrett struggles with a laudanum addiction. Leon, who works for Cy Tolliver, is addicted to some injectable opiate, and his addiction makes him vulnerable to exploitation by Tolliver. There is frequent reference to drug use and dependence by the whores at both the Bella Union and the Gem, and there's at least one scene where one of them is shown shooting up.
Season 1 Episode 6 In the beginning of the episode, Seth's horse is shot with an arrow, he rears up and makes a noise, then falls over and is dead. Not prolonged but you see it laying there again later as well.
Not on camera, but two characters were sexually abused as children. It's also suggested that Alma's father might prey on Sofia but Alma doesn't let it happen.
Characters mention being sexually abused as children, and it's suggested that Alma's father might prey on Sofia, but no children are sexualized by the filmmakers.
Spoilers!! All the below are timings from watching it via Paramount streaming.
S1: about midway through the season, Alma is going through withdrawals but she never v*. It looks like it sometimes but doesn’t happen :)
S1 E10: 28mins in. As Al is interrogating Leon and his mate, Leon v*.
S2E5: it’s literally the first scene after the opening credits. It’s an out of focus scene at first but you can tell it’s Alma V* then there’s a close up, in focus of her over a jug next to her bed. Only 5seconds or so. Audio and slight visual. Safe to look at next scene.
S2E6: 3.30mins in. Alma is taking to Sol and Ellsworth about putting a bank in the camp. You can see she falters at her words and is uncomfortable then she gets up to go to her washbasin to v* audio and visual then it’s a change of scene to Wu so safe to look then.
S2E8: 17mins16sec. It happens straight after Mrs Bullock leaves her house after talking to Seth. The scene cuts to Jane coughing and there’s v* at her feet. Jane is talking to Charlie and kinda coughing/spluttering the V* is mainly the first bit. I waited till the end of the scene as I didn’t like the coughing but it’s safe to look after first few seconds. Jane carries on talking to Charlie.
S2E9: 8mins35secs. Alma is talking to Elsworth and as the conversation starts to wrap up, Alma runs off screen to v*. Audio only. You can tell it’s going to happen. Safe to look at new scene a few seconds after.
S3E3: about 24 mins in. Not v* but some cough up. Doc is having a coughing fit while talking to Trixie. She stubs out her cigarette on the floor and Doc coughs up some blood/phlegm into his hands.
S3E5: 28.20 in. Dan is fighting the captain and the captain holds Dan’s head under a muddy puddle. When Dan gets out of the hold, he slight coughs/v*s up some mud. Only a couple of seconds. He’s quite dribbly/muddy dribble on his beard and out his mouth for the rest of the scene.
S3E6: 50:40. Jane is very drunk laying down and Joanie is talking to her inviting Jane to come stay with her. When Joanie goes to help Jane walk and puts Janes arms round her shoulders, Jane v*. Audio and visual. Then the episode ends.
S3E8: 22mins. Jack is talking to his older friend who is bed bound and the old guy starts to cough and gurgle. It’s not explicitly v* but the sounds are gross. He turns to his side. Safe to listen when he starts talking again to Jack.
Lots of homophobic and misogynistic language, as well as ethnic slurs directed at Asians, Blacks, and Native Americans. One Black character is called "N****r General."