Article first published as HELL ON WHEELS Review Season 4 on Seat42F.
AMC’s Western series about the
construction of the railroad, HELL ON WHEELS, is back for a fourth
season this weekend. Picking up four months after the events of season
three, not every character shows up in the first episode, and for those
that do, many have gone through some changes in circumstance. But as
much as some things change, some stay the same, and the paths of several
should land them, more or less, right back where we’re used to seeing
them.
The biggest question on many fans minds
is if Elam (Common) survived the bear attack that left him lying,
bloody, on the ground. (YOU MAY WANT TO SKIP THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW.) I can confirm that Elam does not appear in
the premiere episode, “The Elusive Eden,” nor is he in the big cast
photo released or the opening credits. However, Entertainment Weekly has
reported that Common will return and he has been spotted with the rest
of the cast, so he’s likely to pop up sooner or later.
HELL ON WHEELS has an interesting way of
storytelling in that it lets arc progress naturally, which often means
characters sit out for episodes at a time. While some series may
contract their principal players for only a certain number of episodes
to save budget, it seems like HELL ON WHEELS limits screen time when the
story warrants. For instance, “The Elusive Eden” has several threads to
tug on and explore, but leaves out characters such as Ruth (Kasha
Kropinski) and Louise (Jennifer Ferrin), who are said to still be with
the show. I kind of dig that the writers don’t squeeze in people when
they don’t fit, even if I’d like to know what they’re up to. As long as
they are touched upon at a later point, we’re good, as neither woman’s
tale feels complete.
The main character whom the entire show
revolves around, and thus he has to appear every week, remains Cullen
Bohannon (Anson Mount). Awaiting the birth of his child by Naomi
(unfortunately recast as a noticeably older-looking Mackenzie Porter),
Bohannon tests the boundaries of his dynamic with The Swede (Christopher
Heyerdahl), still posing as a Mormon bishop. While Bohannon’s usual
foe, Durant (Colm Meaney), is selfish and despicable, there is something
even more magnetic about The Swede, making for some truly excellent
scenes between Mount and Heyerdahl as the nemesis they play dance around
one another.
I don’t know if Bohannon will ever rid
himself of The Swede entirely, and I kind of hope he doesn’t, but surely
he’ll soon make his way back into the orbit of Durant. With Bohannon
off the job, the railroad is struggling to keep going, missing deadlines
and at the mercy of incompetent leadership. While Durant has his power,
he is making enemies, including of former ally Maggie Palmer (Chelah
Horsdal, now full-time), and as much as he might dislike Bohannon, he
may need his help.
Eva (Robin McLeavy) also brings the
pathos in “The Elusive Eden.” Still mourning Elam’s apparent death, she
is having trouble moving on with her life. Perhaps if she hadn’t given
up her child, the baby would provide her with motivation, but for now
she seems content to scrub laundry. It’s Durant, of all people, who
tries to light a spark in her, the writers once again striving for the
unexpected, though not so much so that it feels unnatural, as Durant has
taken an interest in her before, if only occasionally.
I like that the characters on HELL ON
WHEELS often aren’t friends. The Wild West, mainly seen as Cheyenne
currently, is a dangerous, unstable place. Alliances are struck, only to
be broken and re-formed when convenient. This makes for unpredictable
storytelling, keeping the plot engrossing. Conflict is rampant, and that
can be even better than the heart-warming uniting of those coming
together for a common purpose, which the program only occasionally
shows.
Entering the fray this year is the new
Governor of Wyoming, John Campbell (Jake Weber, Medium). Like General
Grant, Campbell is a real person in history, though surely fictionalized
enough to ratchet up the drama. Coming into town, he is likely to spur
with Durant, Bohannon, and the now-mayor of Cheyenne, Mickey McGinnes
(Phil Burke). I’m curious to see how fresh blood will shake up the
chemistry this time, which has already been frequently changed over the
course of the show’s run.
“The Elusive Eden” is a strong
continuation of a solid show, and certainly up to the standards
previously set. HELL ON WHEELS returns to AMC Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
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