Holy fucking shit. They killed Ellsworth. And that was just the start of this fantastic episode. It's absolutely right to talk about Al's about-face: the man murdered Alma's husband and Sophia's family, but has become (somewhat uncomfortably for his self-image) the leading citizen in town. Charlie Utter's bonding with the Gem boys was absolutely wonderful, too. And damn historicity, I wanna see Hearst take a few more bullets.

I agree that the theater troupe is a drag, but have to assume that Milch intended for them to play a large part in the 4th season, which we'll unfortunately never see. All these episodes were shot before those spineless moneychanging pigfuckers cancelled our show.

Charlie Utter's bonding with the Gem boys was absolutely wonderful, too.

Oh yeah - a wonderful moment that I forgot to mention in the whole OMGWTFELLSWORTH of the rest of the episode.

Just seeing Trixie in the first couple of episodes compared to how she is now is an astonishing transition. Can't wait to see how it happens as it happens.

What the hell was Cy so upset about? Is there some connection between him and Ellsworth I've not encountered yet?

I agree that the theater troupe is a drag, but have to assume that Milch intended for them to play a large part in the 4th season, which we'll unfortunately never see.

Sadly, there's no way I can know how I'd feel about them if the show was continuing. They'd still seem pretty pointless, I fear, aside from Brian Cox possibly. However, even with his character (who's name I'm never going to spell right), there's been a little too much tell rather than show. That is, we know Al is fond of him (but haven't really been told or seen why), and he's played by Brian Cox, who's almost always a compelling actor to watch, but I haven't seen much to indicate why the viewer should be interested in him.

I wanna see Hearst take a few more bullets.

Bears repeating. I'd like that, or at least a nice solid beating.

What the hell was Cy so upset about? Is there some connection between him and Ellsworth I've not encountered yet?

I think Ellsworth was just universally beloved in the camp. Typical of Tolliver to turn his emotions into dumb rage against the whores.

we know Al is fond of him

Yeah, he's alright. (Sorry, that's become a particularly amusing running joke.) I like his outsider's take on the politics of the town. And his offer to be used as ballast in a fight.

at least a nice solid beating

I'm wondering if he can lose a finger. I've been carrying "I'm having mine served cold" as my tag for a while on another board, and that's one dish of revenge that can't come soon enough.

I'm wondering if he can lose a finger. I've been carrying "I'm having mine served cold" as my tag for a while on another board, and that's one dish of revenge that can't come soon enough.

I fear that, like the acting troupe, Hearst's ultimate fate on the show (be it historically accurate or not) may have needed a fourth season to play itself out as Milch planned it. I'm curious if there is/was a way to have it play out as history did and still have the man lose in some substantial way.

That's the rabbit I've been waiting to see pulled from the hat.

That's the rabbit I've been waiting to see pulled from the hat.

Yes. Unfortunately, there seems to be a herd of Bullwinkles running HBO.

I have heard that we are gonna see these people again, though. Not to sound like Jarry or anything, though, but I bet that show does cost a lot.(Won't be the same in big chunks like that, but...) Oh.(puts out peaches) At my meetings we have refreshments.

I have heard that we are gonna see these people again, though.

No, I am happy about that under the circumstances, but it's probably fucked the master plan pretty hard.

Oh, you mean, like arcs and shit? Yeah, those are probably fucked harder than the girls after a gold strike. But I trust the writing staff to minimize the damage.