We recently watched the entire Deadwood series on DVD. Talk about foul language! At the beginning, it was almost un-watchable. But I've spent some time 'round miners, and they can be a swearing bunch, and I can only imagine that in the late 1800's, it would have been worse. In some cases, swear words would have been the first words an immigrant would have learned in the camp.

In the series, there are two characters, an American brothel owner and a Chinese merchant that only have a few words they share and use to communicate. One of those is foul enough that I'll not put it here, but it would be quite common for a brothel owner to use. It also happens to be the favorite word of the entire camp. By the end of the series it has been used so often that it looses its punch as a swear word.

However, the swear words are used almost as punctuation to some of the best writing for a series I've seen in some time. I've talked to people who couldn't follow what the characters were saying when they were not swearing. That's because the language is very Victorian and requires the viewer to pay close attention and have a fairly rich vocabulary. (the English subtitles help!)

In one of the extra features in the first season, the head writer discusses the language and the writing. I couldn't find a copy of it online, but you might find it interesting, even if you don't watch the series at all.

It is difficult for me to recommend the series because of the foul language. I wouldn't recommend it to my parents, for example. That, and the sex and violence is right up there with the Rome series. I'm not sure all of it was required - not that the old west wasn't like that - but some of it didn't really move the story along; rather it got in the way.

On the plus side, the writing was excellent as was the research, the acting was very good, the sets perfect (except it never rained), and there were several memorable characters, all based upon historic figures.

A geologist tends to work with an interesting range of people. (I'd say classes, but I was avoiding that thread!) If you can't cuss with the miners, offer 'em a smoke, or tell a tall tale, then you are a college boy, and they'll never let you forget it. If you are meeting the CEO, or regional manager, you better be able to discuss the commodities market or be thought a redneck.