“I’ve lived most of my life a whore. And much as he’s her misery, the pimp’s a whore’s familiar, so the sudden, strange or violent draws her to him. Not that I wouldn’t learn another way.”
—— Paula Malcomson as Trixie in the HBO dramatic series Deadwood
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Yesterday was one of binge-watching for me and yes, I felt good about it. It seems to me that in this new world of entertainment opportunities, I’d be remiss to not take full advantage of such easy and convenient access to what I see as the preeminent art form of our time.
In my opinion, one of the very best examples of this art form is the HOB series Deadwood.
A few weeks ago I decided to rewatch all three seasons and as I was nearing the end of the last one (yesterday afternoon) I found I just couldn’t stop. I felt like I do when I’m on the last chapter of a great novel and simply can’t put the thing down.
It was Saturday, I didn’t have to stop, so I didn’t.
Yay!
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One of the best aspects of the dramatic series format is its ability to facilitate character development. This is an advantage the format has over that of the traditional motion picture. It’s a rare film that does justice to the book on which it is based (if that be the case) and typically, the best movies are those that do not try and do so.
But over the course of several ten or twelve-episode seasons, the collaborative craft of these modern creatives can indeed have the space to make something significant. Something for the ages. Whether based on existing works, or written for the format itself, the space is there (should the artists use it to its potential) where characters can truly struggle and/or explore. To grow and change and/or transform. To do all those things that good characters in all fine works of the art of story-telling do.
In Deadwood, a prostitute called Trixie (played by Paula Malcomson) is one such character.
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Trixie is a woman of great strength and conflict. Both of these aspects of her being, are depicted artfully in the series by way of her internal dialogs and overt actions. Actions and self-examinations that lead to her profound transformation.
From the beginning we see Trixie as a woman who has survived a world of incredible brutality and shameful exploitation. She has survived, but only at great cost. A cost that is at the expense of much of what most societies see as dignified, acceptable or even possible.
Trixie continues to survive and we follow her struggle as she makes repeated attempts to improve her lot. How she fails in some ways and succeeds in others. At one point she gives up and tries to end it all but is not allowed to even do that. Finally Trixie begins to see how this life can only change and improve with the help of others.
This incredible woman then seeks out and eventually accepts the help she sees she needs, and this leads her to a final demonstration of strength and conflict that is now as transformed as she is. Now, she uses her gifts (much as she is loath to admit their existence) to serve those others that have helped her. As much as she was previously willing to end her own life to end her suffering, Trixie is now willing to put her life on the line to demonstrate support for one who has been there for her.
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What makes this story all the better, what makes Deadwood such a great work of art (IMHO) is how it happens in a manner I can’t help but see as so very real. Not that it really happened or even that it could really have happened (albeit I don’t doubt it could have) it’s just that this story is told with all kinds imperfection. Imperfections that make it all seem so very real to me. Imperfections of not only the characters, but the story. It is such a well-told imperfect story of such imperfect people that I can’t help but find my own imperfections there.
This is that kind of story I can really sink my mind into. One with characters like Trixie (and so many others of equal interest to me) that speak to me and the life I live everyday.
However much I would never relate to these people or their story, I can’t help but find something to relate to, in everything about it. A bit of a contradiction I know but… there you have it.
This is truly great art and I am happy to have spent such quality time to appreciate it.
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So very blessed…
m(___)m
