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.

'Deadwood' is acclaimed for its intricate characters, Shakespearean dialogue, and historical accuracy, though some find its profanity and language jarring. The series is celebrated for its powerful performances, especially Ian McShane's Al Swearengen, and its realistic portrayal of frontier life. However, it is criticized for its slow pace, lack of traditional western action, and abrupt cancellation. The mature themes and high production quality draw comparisons to other HBO dramas.