Hell on Wheels

After Deadwood (HBO)stopped being aired I was DEVASTATED. I love watching the "modern" western. When I saw that AMC had a new series Hell on Wheels I watched the first episode and wasn't so sure I'd like it. I was torn with a few of the characters and wasn't sure things meshed together but I watched the second episode and by the 3rd I was hooked! I just finished the season and am DYING for next season to get started. Some of the scenery is breathtaking and the musical score during the Indian battle with Cullen, Elam and the Union soldiers (when the Indians stole their horses) was absolutely mesmerizing. I think it's a great show and will only improve with time!! I'm a fan. For sure.

Watching this has reminded me of a series of Brutal Western stories I used to read by George G. Gilman called Edge.

Add to that is is reminiscent of my days as a Civl War reenactor.

They've hit the period history right between the eyes.

They have also portrayed the Corruption and the beauty of the times. The Scenes in Kansas are as good as it gets on the small screen. . The west made for hard people, or dead ones. And the writers and directors have pulled no punches in portraying things as they were. The Harlots don't look like they live in downtown Las Vegas, and the Protagenist makes mistakes.

This series has shown extreme promise in its first two episodes, and some Excellent human drama. I'm hopeful the writers will not allow that to go to their heads, and keep it gritty and harsh, without going over the top.

I Love this show. Best I've seen in a long time. I had no interest in a following a western, in fact was put of by genera, but decided to give it a try anyway as the trailers seemed pretty good.

The characters are complex, the cinematography outstanding, and the shows plot lines are solid.

I love the soundtracks... the fact that you seldom if ever hear "country music", but instead Dixieland, blues, folk and rock sometimes layered over scenes that you may not immediately equate with the music you are hearing and as a result make the scene more memorable.

Overall, each episode is a feast to the eyes and ears. Yes, the material may not be mind shattering, but that I think is not what one should expect from a western.

It has picked a period where it was able to mash up a lot of different "western" inspirations... railroad, civil war, calvary, Lynch mobs, cowboys and Indians, etc. and has tied them together very well.

Can't wait for season 2.

This show has it all- two hard-as-nails, but flawed protagonists, sleazy politicians, a slick railroad tycoon staying one step ahead of the legalities, grit, sex, humor, and of course, the Fair Haired Maiden of the West. The characters are deep and intense, although occasionally caricatured to the point of cartoonish. Their is something of a realism to their good-bad pendulum: the good guys are mostly good, but show some real bad, too. The bad guys are cursed with feelings and emotions that are sometimes fragile. They elicit something close to sympathy.

If you like action, this show has more than most. Shooting, killing, hard-working, rough and tumble action that keeps you riveted and keeps the show fresh. It even has a guy who gets shot point blank in the mouth and lives.

The storyline is itself relatively simple. Good guy out for revenge for the murder of his wife and son. The acting is generally decent, certainly not Shakespearean, but with heart and charm. It's the portrayal of the characters that really keeps the show pumping.

By the way, did I mention sex? Not graphic, but pervasive. Prostitutes here, prostitutes their, prostitutes everywhere. You will definitely hear your share of grunts and howls. Is it possible to show whores groveling with the johns in the mud, but in a tasteful, non-slutty sort-of way? I think they achieved just that.

In all, Hell On Wheels is a slick, witty, well crafted yarn, edgy enough for our modern times, but rooted in enough historical interest for lovers of westerns.

Hell on Wheels is a gritty and exciting western that takes place right after the Civil War ended. It follows former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) who can't seem to put the way behind him. He wife was killed by Union Soldiers and he sets out on revenge. It also follows the construction of the first transcontinental railroad. This all takes place in a lawless town called Hell on Wheels. I never watched it when it was originally on and thought I'd finally give it a chance after hearing so many great things about it and I'm so glad I did. I binged the entire series in just a few weeks and it was worth every second. It's one of the more underrated shows ever!