"Checking in with the a**holes"

As the third and final season of Deadwood gets underway, it feels like many characters have taken a step back in the six weeks that have passed since the season two finale, especially our girl Joanie. Won't someone help her deal with her grief and give her something to do that doesn't involve Cy? Meanwhile, elections are imminent (finally), violence is going down in the Gem (shocking),  and suddenly there are children all over town (huh?).