Hell on Wheels - Season One (3DVD)

Hell on Wheels is a Western TV Series about the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States. Cullen Bohannon, a former soldier and slaveholder, follows the track of a band of Union soldiers, the killers of his wife. This brings him to the middle of one of the biggest projects in US history… Hell on Wheels tells the epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on a Confederate soldier who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who have killed his wife. His journey takes him west to Hell on Wheels, a dangerous, lawless melting pot of a town that travels with and services the construction of the first transcontinental railroad – an engineering feat unprecedented for its time. The series documents the railroad s engineering and construction as well as institutionalised greed and corruption, the immigrant experience and the plight of newly emancipated African-Americans during Reconstruction. Hell on Wheels chronicles this potent turning point in North Americas history and how uncivilised the business of civilisation can be. Hell on Wheels TV Show Review "Do not come looking to Hell on Wheels for anything new in the Western genre. It is unashamedly a combination of Deadwood and The Outlaw Josey Wales. From The Outlaw Josey Wales, the show takes the story of a Confederate soldier whose family has been murdered who then goes West—though in Josey's case, it's more to get away from people than the seek revenge. The show does not take the lighthearted, sometimes comic approach of Josey Wales. No, from Deadwood, the show takes its darker spin on the Western tradition. We see more realistic characters taking on a variety of challenges, and the show isn't afraid to tackle adult subjects like violence and sexuality. However, just because Hell on Wheels doesn't really bring anything new to the table doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile. Arguments could be made that The Sopranos was just a well-done remix of gangster elements. Revenge is still an excellent motivation for a character, and the series does a fine job doling out the information Bohannan needs to get his revenge. On the one hand, things are drawn out enough for maximum suspense, but on the other, we're not waiting four episodes in between progress on his search. The show also does a fine job handling the usual Western trappings. We've got the solider bent on revenge, a woman who needs protecting, an amoral railroad man, and a freed slave as main characters. They interact in beautifully shot locations (with Canada standing in for America). Although the terrain is unforgiving and the railroad track difficult to lay, the show isn't afraid to show something positive. Fans of Deadwood will also likely appreciate the way the show weaves its fictional Western story into the real history of the Union Pacific railroad. Thomas Durant was a real person and single-mindedly brought the Transatlantic Railroad together (and he also lied, cheated, and stole to make it reality). The center of Hell on Wheels, though, is its cast. Anson Mount perfectly embodies the difficulties of a man bent on revenge. He's so broken he can't make ties to people, but he needs ties to get his revenge. Colm Meaney, on the other hand, simply chews through his scenes (in the best sense possible) with the kind of craft he's been honing for years. Rappers-turned-actors rarely get much credit, but Common shows here that he can grow when he's given a substantial part. Similarly, Dominique McElligott is a relative newcomer, but her performance here shows she could go far. Finally, the smaller roles are filled out by a raft of excellent thespians. Hell on Wheels is a solid Western drama from the same folks who regularly bring you shows like Breaking Bad. It's dark, adult, and unafraid to be violent.." DVD Verdict