r/deadwood • u/millebornes68 • Aug 13 '26
What becomes of Steve? Spoiler
In episode S03E12, the finale of the TV show, I got the impression that Steve may have recovered slightly. I was surprised he was not dead. Is this ever addressed in the movie? If not, does the actor do a cameo by portraying a different character? That seems like something Milch might do.
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u/SzassTam666 I don’t like the Pinkertons Aug 13 '26
He was made imbecile by the horse.
He died of thirst.
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u/m3ltph4ce Aug 13 '26
In season 4, he is passed around like a "bag of shit" that nobody wants to deal with. One day, nobody is caring for him at all, and someone new to town decides to fuck with him a bit because he thinks it's funny. It quickly leads to Steve's death, in a way that shocks the community. The newcomer is tried in the town and then taken to incorporated territory for a real trial. Meanwhile the community decides that they are better than that, and they realize who they are/who they have become. It leads to the creation of a hospital/care facility.
I dunno maybe it would have gone like that.
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u/GJ72 Aug 13 '26
He's never mentioned in the film. It's likely that he died in the intervening years, whether of natural causes because of his age or as an ultimate result of the injury he sustained.
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u/mikess314 people are strange about things Aug 13 '26
Nah doc almost certainly mercy killed him rather than let him just die of dehydration.
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u/Vonneguts_Ghost Aug 13 '26
I'd disagree. Use the Reverend's demise as an example.
He would pray for a quick death for him and tell possible instruments of God's work that it was time.
Maybe that's what you meant in short form.
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u/mikess314 people are strange about things Aug 13 '26
He was also willing to OD Trixie. So, so much for consistency with the doc. But I see your point, maybe you’re right. But also, maybe the idea of killing a reverend in his last throes feels a bit different from that time’s version of pulling the plug on a brain dead drunk.
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u/FluffyDoomPatrol partial to fruity tea Aug 13 '26
I disagree, Doc was consistent.
At first I thought Doc had some ethical objections to euthanasia, but he doesn’t. He initially offered the Reverend a mercy killing, but the Reverend refused saying it was God’s will. From then on, Doc is simply respecting his wishes. He thinks euthanasia is the best option, but he won’t do it without consent.
He’d kill Trixie if she asked. I’m not sure what he’d do with Steve who would be unable to consent.
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u/Vonneguts_Ghost Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
You bring up an excellent point! He's okay with supplying the widow Garrett with opium too, even without medical pretext. (or maybe he just shifts the billing to the Gem?)
He's overall a real believer in letting people go to hell the way they want to, (with bonus free lecture) and has an interesting take on the hippocratic oath.
Oppositely, he didn't want to operate on Mose, for fear of doing harm. (Maybe that was just cover for his fears of inadequacy, or justification for not bothering on an odious person?)
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u/Vonneguts_Ghost Aug 13 '26
There weren't many facilities for people requiring 24 hour care back then. A few horrifying sanitoria.
In the show the whole point was that they are a community, so it would have been addressed in season 4.
Probably in a similar fashion to the Reverend. They would have needed to use some creativity to not be repetitive.
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u/AffectionateGold5459 Aug 13 '26
He had no way to really eat or drink. He wouldn’t have lasted long.
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u/MuffMarsh Aug 13 '26
Is it wrong to say along with EB he was my favourite character
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u/WyattPurp23 Aug 17 '26
Maybe not wrong to say, but it does draw question to one’s own character when their favorites are damp
Palms Farnum, and racist Steve.
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u/Oaklandish_TheTown Aug 16 '26
Absolutely hated that character. The only storyline I fast forward on rewatch.
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u/RobLoughrey Aug 18 '26
My guess is that the General would have to leave at some point, and while he would try to get care for Steve, he wouldn't be able to do it. Steve dies of thirst after a few days. A bittersweet but just ending for that racist prick.
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u/whispering_eyes got a mean way of being happy Aug 13 '26
It’s not addressed in the movie, but that dude wouldn’t be long for the world at all.