deadwood is an american western?cdrama television series created, produced and almost entirely written by david milch.[1] the series aired on the premium cable network hbo from 21 march 2004 to 27 august 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. Set in the 1870s in deadwood, south dakota, the show is set before and after the area's annexation by the dakota territory. The series charts deadwood's growth from camp to town, incorporating themes ranging from the formation of communities to western capitalism.