Al Swearengen is a hard to define character in the world of Deadwood. Early in the series, he seems like a clear villain – he beats Trixie, he tries to control the camp, he’s always got murderous plans brewing… and set up against the clear lawful hero that is Seth Bullock, it would be easy to make Al a villain.
However, as the show continues, it becomes clear that there is more to Al than first meets the eye. In fact, he’s got a serious soft side, and in many ways, is just trying to make the camp run the best it can. He’s got connections to everyone and everything, and sometimes, he’s just a little bit sad…
Felt Bad: Dying Of Liver Failure
Even for someone as unlikable as Al, it’s hard not to feel for him in the film, when he is dying of liver failure after decades of seriously hard drinking. In almost every scene, Al is drinking whiskey, and it clearly takes a toll on him by the end. Despite Doc’s warnings, he’s just not willing to quit, and in the final scenes, he is dying alone in his bed – a heartbreaking moment.
Hated: Casual Murder
Some of Al’s biggest murders are worth discussing on their own, but let’s not forget the fact that he’s got absolutely no respect for human life, and thinks nothing of killing people left, right, and center. If there’s someone in his way, he has absolutely no issue sending Dan to do the deed, and leaves a trail of bodies through Deadwood. While at times, Mr. Swearengen may seem kind and even caring, it’s hard to forget that he is a truly violent man.
Felt Bad: Went A Bit Crazy
It must be hard to stay totally sane in this kind of camp, and with so much plotting going around – but Al’s sanity seemed to take a bit of a beating over time. Sure, he was nowhere near the level of lost that some other characters were (EB may win that contest), but he does spend a fair bit of time talking to a severed head in a box – and that’s just a little bit sad.
Hated: Lying And Manipulating Bullock
Especially in the early seasons, Seth Bullock is clearly the Lawful Good of the camp, trying to stay out of trouble and make his way in the world… but Al just keeps dragging him into complex and terrifying situations.
He’s also a master manipulator, and plays on Bullock’s desire to be the good guy and protect the people of the camp in order to force him to play Al’s game. As time goes by, and Bullock becomes a little less sympathetic, fans might not feel so bad about this, but especially in the early seasons, it’s hard to watch.
Felt Bad: His Childhood At The Orphanage
Little bits of Al’s backstory are slowly revealed as the show goes on – and it’s not pretty. It turns out, he was raised in an orphanage, run by an abuser, and this early abandonment and violence is a huge part of what makes him the man that comes to Deadwood. When fans also realize that he saved Jewel from the same orphanage, and keeps her around no matter what, it really shows just how kind he can be.
Hated: When He Casually Used The Women For Sex
Al does run a brothel, so this shouldn’t come as a particular surprise – but there’s something deeply offputting about seeing how he uses the women who work for him. After Trixie leaves, especially, he picks a new ‘favorite’, and will often be seen getting her to (ahem) perform for him while he tries and thinks through his latest problem.
He’s rude, condescending, and treats the women who work for him as property. It may have been the norm for the time period, but it’s still not exactly something that will endear him to the viewer.
Felt Bad: When He Had Kidney Stones
While Doc is actually a surprisingly competent medical professional for the time period, it’s impossible not to feel bad for Al when he has to deal with kidney stones – and the medical procedure at the time would be to start shoving sharp metal objects up his urethra to attempt to get them out. Watching him collapsed on the floor in agony, then unable to move or speak while the people in his life start brutally ‘treating’ him and even considering surgery (and the inevitable infection from it) is horrifying.
Hated: When He Beat Trixie
This is one of the first things that fans see Al do, and it truly sets up his character for the series. Early on, Trixie shoots a customer who tries to hurt her – and while Al isn’t overly concerned about the death itself, he’s furious at the idea that it might hurt business. So his response is to beat Trixie – and while she accepts it (and even says ‘do what you have to’) it’s such brutal abuse that it’s hard to feel anything but hate for Al.
Felt Bad: When Hearst Cut Off His Finger
While Al is capable of getting through most of the drama and horror of Deadwood unscathed, he does lose a finger… thanks to Hearst. The one man that Bullock and Al just couldn’t work around, the murderous Hearst viciously chops off Al’s finger in warning – and he then just has to accept it, out of fear that he won’t be able to kill Hearst himself (which is reasonable).
Hated: When He Killed Jen
Of all the people that Al killed, one of the worst had to be Jen – a sweet women who worked at the Gem, and who was involved in a sweet burgeoning relationship with one of Al’s henchmen. She was completely innocent, but after Trixie shot Hearst (and failed to kill him) he was baying for blood – and rather than actually kill Trixie and give her to Hearst, Al chose to kill Jen and pretend they were the same person. It was utterly heartless, and brutal to see.
