Hell on Wheels

Editor Reviews

• Milo Sexton

  Rating: 4

  4

  May 9, 2025

  Embark on an epic journey across the American West with Hell on Wheels. Set in the years following the Civil War, the series follows Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), a former Confederate soldier seeking revenge on the Union soldiers who murdered his wife. His quest leads him to the mobile, lawless encampment that follows the construction of the first transcontinental railroad. The railroad itself becomes a central character, a symbol of progress and destruction. The show delves into the harsh realities of this era, exploring themes of revenge, redemption, and the clash of cultures among the workers, settlers, and Native American tribes. Anson Mount delivers a powerful performance as the driven, haunted Bohannon, making this a compelling and often brutal historical Western saga.

• Lennox Park

  Rating: 4

  4

  April 3, 2025

  A compelling series that charts the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States. "Hell on Wheels" delivers a raw and ambitious portrayal of the American West in the 1860s. The series follows Cullen Bohannon, played by Anson Mount, a former Confederate soldier seeking revenge for the murder of his wife. Bohannon's journey takes him to the mobile town of Hell on Wheels, a lawless encampment of workers, prostitutes, and opportunists that follows the railroad's progress. The show stands out for its grand scope and examination of the social and political forces that shaped the American West. One memorable fact is that the series was filmed in Alberta, Canada, using authentic techniques to recreate the look and feel of the 1860s.