Hell on Wheels, AMC’s new Western, is a great show. The best Westerns play on the theme of good vs. evil. And the worst have nothing. The heroes are not heroes and the bad guys are as good as they are bad.
- Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl)
Back when westerns were at their height, anti-heroes began to trickle into story lines. I never had a problem with the anti-hero who wanted to live his quiet life somewhere and not wear the white hat. It was the anti-hero who was more anti than hero who caused me issue. Who did not care for the protection of society or something higher than himself, such as honor, maintaining the peace, family. . .
- Hell on Wheels gals: gentle Dominique McElligot and tattoo face Robin McLeavy
The name of it escapes me, but I once saw an early 70s Western with hippie themes. It seemed druggy and psychedelic. In two words: it sucked.
I did not start this review with the intention of a diatribe on Westerns. But my worry with Hell on Wheels was that there would be no “good guys” or “bad guys.” Am I simplistic? Sure, maybe, possibly. But I want my heroes to be good, rebelling against injustice.
I don’t want to be second-guessing their motives. Foibles, character weaknesses: I understand them. No problem. But heroes who are evil, or who are purely self-motivated, do not get my time.
Anson Mount, who plays the main character Cullen Bohannon, is conflicted. His wife was killed by Union Soldiers and he is tracking the trail of her killer. Yankees parade his world. And he’s a Southerner with his closest friend a former slave, played admirably by the rapper Common.
The show has gotten raves:
The brainchild of the brothers Joe and Tony Gayton, AMC’s Hell on Wheels is the first Western on any size screen to tell the awesome and occasionally exhausting story of the post–Civil War construction of the transcontinental railroad. So far its strengths and weaknesses can be summed up in one sentence: it doesn’t aspire to be a Western, it aspires to be the Western. If ambition translated directly into achievement, Hell on Wheels would, at the least, be the best Western series since Lonesome Dove.
- Hell on Wheels: Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott), Tom Durant (Colm Meaney)
And it has a good lineage:
The look, though, is constant. Like all of the best movie and TV Westerns since 1993, Hell on Wheels can trace at least part of its lineage back to Tombstone, written by the late Kevin Jarre (who was also scheduled to direct it before being fired a few weeks into the project). Jarre’s attention to period detail in clothing, weapons, and language set a new standard for Westerns and has influenced the best in the genre since then.
- Hell on Wheels: Chief Many Horses (Wes Studi)
My suggestion? Watch the darn tootin’ thing. . . It’s some good old fun.
I have a question and I always do when it comes to Hollywood…how can we not expect it to be anything other than what the left wants it to be? There’s always some implication when watching anything emanating from Hollywood, at least and especially today, where they’re coming from??..implying twenty-first century values on a time that wasn’t..what questions are they asking and how exactly are they presenting it?
One of my favorite programs on TV this year. I like that there no true white hats. I think if is more realistic with human weaknesses and actions. Sometimes being bad is the right thing to do. My only kick on the show is some of the dialog is 21 century.
I like this show….Cullen Bohannen is a scrapper. I’m also a fan of Colm Meaney from his Star Trek Next Gen and DS9 days. Any word on a second season of Hell on Wheels?
Kris: I share your apprehension.
CP: I agree. Cullen may do bad things, but he still comes across as doing the right thing.
Lauren: Good news. It’s coming back.
Thanks, Navy One. (Smile)
“Like all of the best movie and TV Westerns since 1993, Hell on Wheels can trace at least part of its lineage back to Tombstone”
Please allow me to differ. As a veteran of the original Hell on Wheels (at least, the U.S. Army’s version) we can trace our lineage back to WWII. That trumps Tombstone and 1993.
I like a good Western. I never got into Deadwood as I don’t like my cowboys using 21st Century cuss words. I’ll be checking this out though.
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I am with you about good and bad in shows. I have no problem with the characters being flawed, we are all flawed but when they are openly and clearly criminal or bad I just can’t watch the show. Recent examples of shows I just could not get past the good guy being bad: Dexter, The Shield, Weeds, Breaking Bad or Nurse Jackie.
It is a shame because some of them had/have great acting and writing but I simply can’t connect with a show when the main character is a piece of crap.
I’ve got all the episodes on Direct TV DVR but haven’t had time to watch it yet. I’ve heard good things about it.
CCTT: Good link.
As1stS: I think you’ll like it.
Coastie: RGR all. I am the exact same way.
Debbie: Put it in your day planner: 0900-1800: watch a good old Western!
Yeah, awesome show! One of the few series that I kept up with every episode from the beginning.