August 20, 2007

Dear Mr. Milch,

In your most recent efforts – Deadwood and John from Cincinnati – you channeled an overriding vision of the collective in which each character came to act and sometimes even understand their part in a larger organism. It was a holistic view of the world that enthralled and touched me beyond measure and one that I [foolishly] began to think of as your own perception of it. Imagine my disappointment to find out otherwise…! In reality, sir, you seem to adopt an approach that is far from the Kumbaya vision of "we are one" that you parlay so effectively on television. 

Contrary to what you may believe, Deadwood is not yours to do what you want with. When you put it into the world in 2004, it assumed a life of its own and touched millions of people in myriad ways that you [and no one else] can begin to fathom. While you may not consider yourself under obligation to these nameless and faceless people, your pseudo-philosophy on life would dictate otherwise – 

You have waxed lyrical on many an occasion of your interpretation of the artist as an emissary of god; if that is the case, sir, let me ask you think what happens when god's messenger decides to shut up? You seem to have been so blindsided by your ego that you -- to use your own lingo -- have lost sight of god, and by extension, his people.

Despite what you may hope for in redemption through the creative process, there is not enough forgiveness in the world for you sir, and if John from Cincinnati is not evidence enough of karmic consequences, perhaps this NYPD Blue rehash that you envision as your next project will make it clearer. Please do us the favor of not repackaging your sentimental and increasingly incredulous vision of communal togetherness in this new series but rather, show us the world in which you live. 

What you have done with Deadwood has affected your legacy more than you may think. Will I ever again have "Faith in Dave?" For trusting in you for so long, shame on me. For allowing me trust in you for so long – for lying about scripts that were never written and contracts that were never signed – shame on you! 

Sincerely, 

Deadwood fan
It's just four hours – not a lifetime epic