HELL ON WHEELS Stop Turning

Article first published as 'Hell on Wheels - Season 5, Volume 2' on Blogcritics.

AMC’s Hell on Wheels, often ignored, but worthy of the great network it aired on among peers like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Walking Dead, came to an end recently with its final seven episodes. Centered around the building of the transcontinental railroad, the series followed some really good characters, as well as a depiction of racial relations at the time, as the workers labored to connect America coast to coast following the Civil War. Now, those last installments are available on Blu-ray and DVD, along with some extras.

What strikes me about this final batch of episodes, which I eagerly devoured in two sittings, is that they are, on balance, more character-driven than most of the seasons. Don’t get me wrong, Hell on Wheels has done some beautiful and disturbing stories featuring its players over the years. But usually those are scenes intermixed with larger arcs and many moving plots. Here, four of the seven episodes really zero in on one or two faces, with much of the main cast sitting out multiple installments, and the finale serves pretty much all of those left standing. This leaves only two hours for the basic narrative about the railroad as a whole.

This works very well, even if it does depart from what most long-time viewers might expect from the show. The completion of the tracks still gets its due near the end, with one more really good story about pulling together and doing the impossible, the two companies racing one another to the finish line. However, by often focusing even more than ever on the central characters, it allows solid endings for a lot of the players we have come to deeply care about. And though many of them either die or leave before the end, each hour shedding another face or two, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to send the show off.

Among those who get an appropriate goodbye are: Fong (Angela Zhou), the woman disguised as a man; Maggie Palmer (Chelah Horsdal), the hotel owner who sees the best in people; Psalms (Dohn Norwood), the former slave with whom our once-slave-owner protagonist forms a bond; Naomi (MacKenzie Porter), the young Mormon wife of our hero, from whom he’s been physically separated; Chinese mob villain Chang (Byron Mann); and, of course, The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl), the primary antagonist from Norway who has been permanently scarred by the horrors of war.

Then there’s our remaining central quartet, who have been through so much together on on their own, and whom get more than a single hour to wrap their own stories up. Cullen Bohannan (Anson Mount) is not just the central figure, but a man who learns a lot over these past years, and who finds himself at his most vulnerable as things come to a close. Bohannan says so much without words, and I continue to be impressed at Mount’s performance. Thomas Durant (Colm Meaney) is the crooked boss, through whom we begin to wonder if the ends might just justify the means. Eva (Robin McLeavy) is the girl who is perhaps the ultimate survivor, going from prisoner to whore to entrepreneur. Mickey McGinnes (Phil Burke) is the Irish immigrant pursuing the American dream, learning it costs a heck of a lot to achieve. Each of these have very touching moments as their threads tie off.

Hell on Wheels is not a happy ending type of a show. Many beloved characters have passed over the years, and happiness routinely eludes just about everyone. These people live a harsh life with a gritty reality, and that continues through the finale, with no artificial wrap up that’s too neat for their existence. That being said, there’s a full circle to be found, and the conclusions are satisfying in keeping with the series overall.

The extras in Season 5, Volume 2 are unfortunately thin. Three featurettes run less than five minutes each. A little more valuable are the “Inside the Episode” bits, which are about five minutes each, and there’s one for every hour in the set. Still, I wish the producers were a little less taciturn than the characters, and really examined what the show has accomplished over its six-year run.

In the end, though, I greatly enjoy Hell on Wheels, and will certainly miss it. If you didn’t catch it during its original airing, now is your chance, as all of the episodes have been released, ending with Hell on Wheels Season 5, Volume 2, on sale now. The Complete Series is also available. I definitely recommend it.

HELL ON WHEELS Season Four On Blu-ray

Article originally published as Blu-ray Review: 'Hell On Wheels: The Complete Fourth Season' on Blogcritics.

AMC’s Western series about the construction of the railroad, Hell On Wheels, is finally releasing its fourth season on Blu-ray and DVD (season five premiered a couple of weeks ago). 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, at least for a time.

The biggest question on many fans’ minds is if Elam (Common) survived the bear attack that left him lying, bloody, on the ground. 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, and Elam does not return right away when the season kicks off, though fans will eventually learn his fate.

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 season premiere has several threads to tug on and explore, but leaves out characters such as Ruth (Kasha Kropinski) and Louise (Jennifer Ferrin), who are still 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, and eventually it will get back around to them.

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 as The Complete Fourth Season begins. 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. The struggle that Bohannon goes through is the central thrust of Hell On Wheels.

There are other characters that matter, too, though. Eva (Robin McLeavy) brings the pathos this year, mourning Elam and once more having to pick herself up and start over. This frontier is not kind to a single woman, but Eva is nothing is if not resilient, and finds yet another way to go on and try to build a life for herself and her baby. I mentioned Durant above, and he remains around as an antagonist. But he also has other layers. It is he, of all people, who tries to light a spark in Eva, 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 don’t think Durant will be winning over many friends in the near future, but it’s nice to see there’s more than one side to a person, especially when Hell On Wheels has The Swede to be the cold, calculating, evil player.

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). This provides even more drama in an already dangerous place.

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.

The Complete Fourth Season maintains what Hell On Wheels has built, but also gives us some new places to go. With the railroad nearing completion and season five already announced as the last, there are only a limited number of stories left to tell. I’m glad it gets the chance, though, to tell its full tale, especially because this one is so good.

There are a number of bonus features included in this release. Featurettes look at the season as a whole, as well as the new characters and the Cheyenne set. There are also specific focuses on single episodes, and bits on the set with Meaney and Weber, our less-scary villains. It seems like a relatively average amount of bonus material is present, nothing super exciting, but neither is it less than what most of its peers put out. The Blu-ray quality is about what one expects, and one can truly appreciate the setting, details, and soundtrack when experienced in crisp high definition.

I recommend this release. I’m a fan of the show, and I think it often unfairly gets overlooked. These people are doing a wonderful job telling a story that feels different than just about any other program. Season four is no different, reinforcing the unstable nature of the environment in the way it presents the characters. If you haven’t seen any episodes at all, you have to start with season one. But please do so, because you’ll want to watch these discs.

Hell On Wheels: The Complete Fourth Season will be available Tuesday, August 11th.

HELL ON WHEELS No Longer "Elusive"

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.

Blu-ray Review: ‘Hell on Wheels – The Complete Third Season’

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Hell on Wheels – The Complete Third Season’ on Blogcritics.

Entertainment One recently released the third season of AMC’s Hell on Wheels on Blu-ray and DVD. The Western, which is set around the building of the first cross-continental railroad after the Civil War, is a look at the various challenges the workers faced. Early seasons featured Indian attacks and North/South and racial tensions. Season three ups the ante with an outbreak of cholera, dangerous, rebellious Mormans, political backstabbing, and the past coming back to haunt the characters. It’s a thrilling, somewhat-fact-based look at a defining time in our nation’s history, done in a style that easily keeps viewers engaged.

A lot happens this season, in character development as well as action. Picking up in the aftermath of the attack that destroyed the railroad settlement, Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) has a renewed determination to complete the track. He is distracted by new antagonists, including Union General Ulysses S. Grant (Victor Slezak, Treme), and, of course, Thomas Durant (Colm Meaney) hasn’t given up on wrestling back control of the project. Brothers Sean (Ben Esler) and Mickey McGinnes (Phil Burke) come into conflict when they choose different sides in the struggle. The romance between Eva (Robin McLeavy) and Elam (Common) is tested when she makes a difficult choice. Ruth (Kasha Kropinski) is forced to face who she is.

All of these people have satisfying stories, and not all make it out alive, which is more surprising than I thought it would be, considering the previous deaths on the show. Hell on Wheels could very well be the gritty, realistic version of A Million Ways to Die in the West, sometimes almost funny in how brutal it can be. The setting is an unforgiving one, and folks didn’t live so long back then because of the types of tribulations these characters face.

More than the first two years, season three feels like a cohesive story. Lots of individual events happen, but almost all of the important ones merge nicely together in the excellent season finale. There is a through line and purpose as the story progresses, and while some things may not feel like they’re going to come back around, when they do, it’s very well done and serves to add greater meaning. Even The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl), who has an isolated arc this season that doesn’t intersect with the rest of the cast until the very end, folds in nicely to the existing structure, rather than just being jammed back in where he doesn’t belong. The ending leaves many of the players in completely different places than where they spent most of the year, setting up a great fourth season, too.

Hell On Wheels also starts to address some topics I didn’t expect in this era. New character Louise Ellison (Jennifer Ferrin, The Following), a newspaper reporter, is a lesbian. Now, of course, homosexuality exists in this age. But I didn’t expect to see it not only acknowledged, but most of the characters that find out don’t care, even if Louise suffers potentially serious repercussions back East. Could it be that the adventurous spirit that would lead one out to the frontier would also make one naturally more open-minded? Or is this the show attempting to appeal to modern audiences and dropping the ball on authenticity?

There are a decent amount of extras on this set. One featurette catches fans up on where the show left off, while another looks at this season briefly, without spoilers, for those who might want a taste of what’s to come. Four behind-the-scenes extras, running a little under fifteen minutes combined, give us some insight into various elements, and there are also ten “Inside the Episode” bits for the ten episodes in this set. Unfortunately, all of these are light and fluffy, with nothing very meaningful included.

For this set, Blu-ray is the way to go. Hell on Wheels is a beautifully shot series, with many outdoor scenes and a broad color palette, more so in season three than in the first two years. Both establishing shots and close-ups are highly detailed in high definition, with crisp layers and stunning landscapes. The sound is also better than most television shows, with some really cool effects, as well as solidly built dialogue tracts and mixing. The HD presentation, both audio and visual, is nearly flawless, and really enhances the realism of the show.

Hell on Wheels – The Complete Third Season is available now.

HELL ON WHEELS Season 3 Premiere Review

Article first published as HELL ON WHEELS Review Season 3 on Seat42F.

AMC’s HELL ON WHEELS has been back a couple of weeks now, and the third season so far has really shown growth over the first two. There are new characters, new scenarios, and most of the threats come from the outside, rather than internal conflict these days. It’s been quite exciting.

As the season premiere, “Big Bad Wolf,” opens, Cullen Bohannan (Anson Mount) is living in a barren, ice-covered land by himself. Seeing the wolf attack him, finding his dead friend, and watching our hero succumb to cabin fever is almost like watching Cullen die, only to be re-born again as he takes the train to New York City, after a stop along the way to pick up Elam (Common).

I like this Bohannan. We’ve seen a few different sides to the character already, but this Bohannan feels like I imagine the original Bohannan was, prior to the strife in his life, before the war and losing his wife. He is a good man, full of virtue, but also one whom can square himself with reality, rather than just spouting ideals. He does the right thing, and is concerned about his sins.

We see a lot of this when Bohannan visits a couple of churchs and talks with Ruth (Kasha Kropinski, now a main character). She judges him for the sin of killing men, and at first, he takes offense. Upon reflection, though, he realizes she is sort of right, and he needs to not only be sorry, but try to find a better way.

Not that getting out of killing is easy. In “Eminent Domain,” Bohannan has to evict a Morman family off of their land. One of them shoots the police chief, and Bohannan has to dole out justice. Is he right to hang the boy who is said to have pulled the trigger? Well, that may be arguable, but in keeping with the laws and doing no more than what is required to keep the peace and order, Bohannan stays on the right side. He feels some sort of regret at the boy’s death, but he isn’t haunted by it much, nor should he be. Fans of the show will think more highly of him than he does himself for his behavior.

Viewers may not be the only ones to admire Bohannan for long. A dogged, determined reporter named Louise Ellison (Jennifer Ferrin, the latest addition to the cast) comes to Hell on Wheels to write a story about the railroad and finds Bohannan far more interesting. Maybe her interest in him is strictly professional or maybe its romantic. Either way, it not only gives us an opportunity to see Bohannan through different eyes, but could improve the character’s position in life, so her presence is welcome.

As good as Bohannan might seem to be doing, he has no shortage of obstacles to overcome this year. Indianas pose a threat, The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl) has survived and will presumably makes his way back, Union Army soliders tasked with protecting Bohannan’s crew are uncontrollable and brutal, Sean (Ben Esler) has made a bad deal that casts him as a secret mole, and Durant (Colm Meaney) will do everything he can to sabotage Bohannan so he can take back the project.

Is Durant HELL ON WHEEL’s ultimate villain? Vanquished at the end of season two, he slimily maneuvers his way out of jail and is soon the bee in Bohannan’s hat. He is not easy to get rid of, always working a new angle, and rarely in the public eye when doing so. It makes for some great scenes between Bohannan and Durant, including a recent one at a table with a corpse, and gives the series a pivotal relationship that should serve it well until the conclusion of the final season. Or Durant could die next week and be gone, which would be a shame, but not completely out of left field, considering the setting.

Death hangs heavy in the third season of HELL ON WHEELS. We’ve watched characters die, sure, but with main players taken out and danger all around, suddenly things seem to be just a little bit closer to the edge. Eva (Robin McLeavy),in particular, worries about Elam, especially when Elam’s predecessor as the enforcer in charge is murdered. The show is taking more care to convey the seriousness of the predicament the cast finds themselves in, and it provides an added interest level.

Basically, life on the frontier comes with risks, and while our beloved characters may seem up to the challenge, there is no guarantee. As heartwarming as it is to see them all reunite at the end of “Big Bad Wolf,” combining their skills and attitudes to begin construction anew, there is the definite sense that all will not be around to see completion of the project. Finding out their fates is just another reason to watch a great show.

Viva Hell On Wheels

Grade 78%

AMC’s HELL ON WHEELS rarely has an episode that is about something. That’s not to say that there is no story; the stories just don’t usually wrap up tidily in 42 minutes. One has to look at the bigger picture of the season or the series to get the context of what they just watched.

Last night’s second season premiere, “Viva La Mexico” is no different. Several months, at least, have passed since last we saw these characters. They have grown and moved on with their lives. Where they are now is informed by what they did and what happened to them in season one. “Viva La Mexico” simply sets several events in motion, rather than telling a new tale.

The anti-hero of the piece is, of course, Cullen Bohannan (Anson Mount). Bohannan is now on the run from the law, which admittedly was the case in season one, too. The difference is that now he’s living actually as an outlaw, instead of hiding in plain sight.

After learning that his family’s bodies have been dug up, Bohannan goes to an even darker place than before. He has fallen in with a train robbing gang, saving up the money he steals so he can escape to Mexico and start a life. Thing is, Bohannan has already offended a number of his cohorts, who are quite a bit less scrupulous than he. He does have one friend in the group, Doc Whitehead (Grainger Hines), who warns Bohannan to run, which he doesn’t do.

During a train robbery, Bohannan comes face to face with Elam (Common), and to save Elam’s life, Bohannan botches the robbery, which puts him even more on the outs with his comrades. It isn’t long before Bohannan ends up in army custody, awaiting an execution. There’s a bit of symmetry here, as a similar circumstance occurred in the pilot, and Bohannan managed to come out on top for the rest of the season. Let’s see if lightning can strike twice.

AMC does like to strain the definition of hero with its dark, morally ambiguous characters. Bohannan lives by a code, to be sure, but this code allows him to be a thief. It seems the only thing he doesn’t do is unjustified murder, though there is some wiggle room there, too. Still, it’s hard to judge a man living in these semi-lawless times, who has been through so much tragedy. The fact that he saves Elam should be enough to keep him likable, and it is. But can he remain likable if he keeps going down these paths?

Elam is also suffering a setback in the eyes of viewers, if not professionally. Having given up Eva (Robin McLeavy, now a main character), he has become a hired gun for Durant (Colm Meaney). Elam only does what he is paid to do, lifting not a finger in the name of righteousness, figuring this gives him more leverage with Durant. Durant appreciates this, and rewards Elam for his actions, which always must be paid for up front.

Is there any hope for Elam? Like Bohannan, Elam has a chip on his shoulder, only more so. The two men do seem to have some sort of connection, but Elam has no problem selling out Bohannan to Durant. This won’t help his reputation, as many of his co-workers now see him exactly as he is, in an unfavorable light. A man has to stand for something, and it can’t just be money. The sooner Elam realizes that, the sooner he can try to win Eva back, and find something worthwhile to do.

Durant, on the other hand, is the self-proclaimed villain of the piece, which means he’s winning. In these hard times, being rich and in power means everything. Durant has not only continued his railroad, he now has profits from leasing land, and he seems to have worn down Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott). Why does HELL ON WHEELS allow the wicked to come out on top? Was it ever really this bad, even in the wilderness?

Lily can hardly be blamed for taking up with Durant. It’s not like she is won over to his way of thinking. She is a survivor, and like her struggle to make it out of the woods after her husband’s slaughter, her new position shows her clawing through the muck just to go on. She won’t stay with Durant a minute longer than she has to. But her new station does allow her some liberties to help others, such as paying for a murdered prostitute’s funeral, proving her soul remains intact.

The souls of everyone but Lily are much less assured. Sean (Ben Esler) and Mickey (Phil Burke) are now Durant’s hired hands, selling land and collecting rent. Yes, the brothers try to behave fairly towards their tenants, and probably do a better job than most would. But when Ruth (Kasha Kropinski) has to tell them that her father can’t pay the rent, they only bend a little, and Sean even tries to leverage sex out of the deal, which, thankfully, he fails to do.

Their work may be honest, somewhat, but working for a man such as Durant limits the compassion they can have, and corrupts them a bit with their new, albeit limited, sway. This will likely turn them into bullies. This is kind of already happening as they step into The Swede’s old protectionist deal with the whorehouse. Sure, they may be offering help, but they’re also leveraging influence and wealth. Not exactly the pursuits of the noble.

What is up with Ruth? She knows her father, Reverend Cole (Tom Noonan), needs to preach to pay their rent, and yet she brings him booze. Is this to test his resolve? Is it so he will pass out and she can have carnal relations with Joseph Black Moon (Eddie Spears)? This doesn’t quite work, since Cole hears them, even if he does nothing about it. Is she trying to control her dad, help him, or just keep him out of her way? Why doesn’t she encourage Joseph to preach so that they all don’t get evicted? She is definitely the strangest character of the piece, and the one whose actions are least clear.

The bit of hope in “Viva La Mexico” is found in the most unexpected person: The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl, promoted to series regular). The Swede has lost everything, having fallen from chief of security to garbage, toilet, and dead body collector after the tar and feather incident. And yet, alone of the characters, he remains optimistic about his future. He carries on with his work, uncomplaining, and doesn’t plot revenge, except perhaps against Bohannan, should their paths cross. He is an inspiration, and comes across as quite noble, even after the things we’ve seen him do. For the writers to accomplish this feat is quite impressive.

HELL ON WHEELS finds it within to surprise us and provide quality entertainment. The plot is a little slow moving and plodding at times. But there are some very interesting characters with depth, and it does a pretty good job by brushing off modern sensibilities in favor of the time period in which it is set. There are elements that could be improved upon, but it got a second season for a reason, and maintains the quality it delivered in season one. Most importantly, it continues to be worth watching, and fans of the first year should not be disappointed in “Viva La Mexico.”

HELL ON WHEELS airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

Hell on Wheels not really living up to its name

    AMC's newest drama is Hell On Wheels, of which the "Pilot" premiered last night. The Western United States, 1865. Cullen Bohannan (Anson Mount, Conviction, The Mountain), a former Confederate soldier, packs up after the war to work on the railroad, killing a couple of men on the way. He is willing to take any job, and no wonder; he is there because of the death of his wife. A Union man (Ted Levine, Monk) begins to spill a secret surrounding the woman's murder, but before he can, a bitter, recently freed slave he wronged named Elam Ferguson (Common, Smokin' Aces), slits his throat.

     In the meantime, a Cheyenne tribe attacks Hell on Wheels, the mobile tent town where the railroad builders live. They are angry because the tracks are going right through their land. Among their victims is Lily Bell's (Dominique McElligott, Moon, The Guard) husband (Robert Moloney, K9), who created the plans for the route. This upsets the greedy man behind the project, Doc Durant (Colm Meaney, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Con Air). It also sets Joseph Black Moon (Eddie Spears, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee) on his own quest.

     The feeling that Hell on Wheels most evokes is boredom. Which is odd, given the concept. It's set in the Wild West, at a time when multiple parties are warring for control of the country. With the nation ripped asunder, and barely beginning to bandage its wounds, the railroad represents an inspiration for everyone, though the harsh reality of its creation is anything but idealistic. Plus, there are murders and revenge quests, and colorful characters, that don't actually seem all that colorful. As such, at least in "Pilot," Hell on Wheels doesn't deliver on its colorful title.

     The obvious fault is not in the actors. Mount simmers in the lead role, keeping his cards close to his vest, and not letting on how much he knows. Common is equally committed as a man who just wants the freedom promised him, and is not patient enough to wait for it. Meaney is tops, relishing the role of villain with aplomb. No one had better dare cross him, because the threat he exudes is serious.

     Similarly, the show looks fantastic. Having not lived in or studied that era extensively, one can only image that the costumes and props are authentic. But it is undeniable that the scenery is beautiful, and the lighting sets the correct tone. There is some real artistry here, if only it would be used more effectively.

     Then again, this is just a "Pilot." Many great series have grown from a lackluster first episode, and AMC's biggest hit, Mad Men, struggled with a very boring first batch of installments, before really picking up. As such, it seems worth it to give Hell on Wheels time to find its footing. There are some great elements present here. Now it's time to let them come into their own.

     Watch Hell on Wheels Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on AMC.

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