Hell on Wheels

(series)
Trailer 2
Canada / UK, (2011–2016), 41 h 29 min (Length: 42–87 min)

Creators:

Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton

Composer:

Kevin Kiner

Cast:

Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Dominique McElligott, Common, Robin McLeavy, Kasha Kropinski, Eddie Spears, Christopher Heyerdahl, Tom Noonan, Barb Mitchell (more)
(more professions)

Seasons(5) / Episodes(57)

Plots(1)

Set in the 1860s it centers on former confederate soldier Cullen Bohannan, whose quest for vengeance has led him to the Union Pacific Railroad's westward construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad. (official distributor synopsis)

Reviews of this series by the user Necrotongue (63)

The Lord's Day (2012) (S02E08) 

English Just like the previous episode, this one also lacked action scenes, but the arrival of Durant and especially his wife added an intriguing twist. It intensified the atmosphere and sparked a series of interesting plot twists and important conversations. Overall, I had a really good time. ()

Blood Moon (2012) (S02E09) 

English I was most impressed by the creators' ability to build tension masterfully. Even though it wasn’t action-packed, the suspense and atmosphere pushed it into five-star territory. I usually don't care for night scenes, often used to cut costs, but this time I thoroughly enjoyed the darkness. ()

Blood Moon Rising (2012) (S02E10) 

English I was a bit disappointed by how predictable some outcomes were (Lily's fate, Gundersen's execution), but I couldn't give this episode anything less than five stars. The creators perfectly blended atmosphere, tension, action, and story into one compelling package. There was plenty to keep me hooked. ()

Season 3 (2013) (S03) 

English Season 3 didn’t get the highest rating from me, although the effort of the creators cannot be denied. Nevertheless, they didn't manage to keep up the pace which I was used to, and Episode 5 was downright disappointing because it seemed quite pointless. On the other hand, despite all my quibbles, I am still a satisfied viewer, and the rather weird ending makes me excited to watch the next season. ()

Big Bad Wolf (2013) (S03E01) 

English The third season opening was more about wordplay than gunplay, and it excelled in that aspect. It was full of negotiations, intrigues, and pretenses, with plenty of scenes that made me laugh. The only downside was the overly naive way they revived the frozen locomotive, but overall, it was a great start to the season. ()

Eminent Domain (2013) (S03E02) 

English The episode featured more dialogue than action or construction, but that was no issue. The conversations were impactful, with some lines worthy of being etched in stone. One standout was the impassioned speech by Mormon farmer Hatch about why no one could take his land — land he rightfully owns because he drove the Native Americans off it. Absolutely priceless. ()

Range War (2013) (S03E03) 

English The third episode was the most action-packed of the season so far, but what really intrigued me were the circumstances leading up to all the gunplay. Durant’s schemes intensified, and I was treated to another brilliant speech, this time from Major Bendix, perfectly complementing farmer Hatch’s speech from the previous episode. If I had Native American blood and heard both speakers, burning the American flag might just become my favorite pastime. ()

The Game (2013) (S03E04) 

English While I enjoyed the adventure in the Kiowa village, the episode lost a bit of its pace. The previous ones were full of intrigue, and even though Durant appeared more frequently, it just didn’t have the same impact. ()

Searchers (2013) (S03E05) 

English For the first time since the start, I was disappointed. Apart from Durant's latest scheme, the episode followed a pointless side plot that didn't advance the story or add any real value. Despite that, I couldn't rate it below three stars because, aside from the script, everything else was executed brilliantly. ()

One Less Mule (2013) (S03E06) 

English After the previous plot detour, the story returned to the railroad, and even without a flurry of action, I thoroughly enjoyed Durant's scheming. Cullen's hearing before the board was extremely engaging. ()

Cholera (2013) (S03E07) 

English The biggest issue with this episode was its lack of pace, making the story feel a bit dragged out. Some episodes are driven by action, others by intrigue and meaningful conversations. Unfortunately, this one had very little of either. ()

It Happened in Boston (2013) (S03E08) 

English The episode didn’t focus much on the railroad construction, with Cullen’s trip to the Mormons with Durant being the standout exception. While the other events were interesting, they strayed a bit too far from the main storyline for my liking. ()

Fathers and Sins (2013) (S03E09) 

English The familiar scents of the Wild West (excrement, urine, sweat, decomposing carcasses) were once again overpowered by the smell of gunpowder, with bullets flying as frequently as doors swinging at a post office on social security payout days. The creators bet on action this time, and they nailed it. I even decided to overlook Elam’s motivational speech. ()

Get Behind the Mule (2013) (S03E10) 

English I had a feeling the final episode wouldn’t match the quality of the previous one, and I was right. The story slowed down a bit in Fort Smith, focusing on trivial matters like farming, marriage, and execution, with no real action. Despite that, it was still a solid season finale, and probably the most open-ended one yet. ()

Season 4 (2014) (S04) 

English In episodes 6 and 7, the creators brought back a totally unnecessary character into the game who shouldn’t have returned, resulting in an unnaturally stretched plot, which really got on my nerves. I’d rather the season was one episode shorter than to have such unnecessary filler. Here’s hoping that the final season will steer clear of such strategies. ()

The Elusive Eden (2014) (S04E01) 

English I was puzzled by Naomi’s character. I couldn’t tell if they recast her or if the Mormons had a top-notch plastic surgery department. I reluctantly went with the recasting theory. The latter would have made for an interesting plot twist. Otherwise, it was a weaker episode because Cullen and Hell on Wheels were apart, and that dynamic just isn’t the same. ()

Escape from the Garden (2014) (S04E02) 

English Cullen may not have been at the tracks this time, but plenty of interesting things were happening at the fort and on the railroad, keeping me engaged the whole time. It's clear that appointing the interim governor will bring some excitement to the story, and I can't wait for the next episodes. ()

Chicken Hill (2014) (S04E03) 

English ullen finally returned to Cheyenne, instantly turning this backwater into the center of all the action. If it were just about the action, the third episode might have been a letdown. However, the creators delivered excellent dialogue and an intriguing plot, creating a fantastic atmosphere that kept me thoroughly entertained. ()

Reckoning (2014) (S04E04) 

English Like the previous episode, this one wasn’t heavy on action, yet I wasn’t bored for a moment. I was a bit surprised at how easily Cullen shook off the beating, but the creators quickly entertained me with the character of a Native American who wielded his bow so skillfully, he must have been the only vegetarian in his tribe. ()

Life's a Mystery (2014) (S04E05) 

English A great example that Hell on Wheels isn’t just about action. This episode had more action than the previous two combined, yet it didn’t excite me. The character of Sid Snow felt completely unnecessary, reminding me of shows where a new character appears, the plot revolves around them, and then they disappear, never to be mentioned again. ()