Welcome to the echo chamber.

For me, it's been a really close race between The Wire, Breaking Bad, Carnivàle and Deadwood for a while now.

As I'm working my way through re-watching them all though, Deadwood is my current front-runner.

The plots are not necessarily complex, though they will take some concentration, but the way they intertwine and the different relationships between the characters and their impact on each other and how they evolve is so rewarding.

The language is theatrical (some people have even said Shakespearean but I wouldn't go that far) and sometimes requires quite some concentration,. There's no dumbing-down nor any concession made with the language used. It's full and fruity right from the start and by fruity I mean almost everyone's a foul-fucking-mouthed cock-sucking heathen.

The thing that does it though is the characters. No-one is clean nor innocent, it's just a matter of time before you come across everyone's weaknesses and flaws and the way those characters interact, each trying to find those around them they can control or abuse, or take relief or solace from. They all exist in a spectrum with their good sides and bad sides on display in various shades.

And what a brutal, literally lawless place too. Set before getting incorporated into the United States, Deadwood the town is officially part of the native American's land as recognised by the government of the time. There's so much scope for the stories that unfold as the town works it's way into civilisation.

Sadly it was unceremoniously dumped by HBO before the story was fully told, but there are hushed whispers of rumours of a movie deal being conjured up. Here's to Hope!