bill bodkin looks at the newest AMC original …
Hell On Wheels started out with a bang, literally. Within the first five minutes, our a man has been shot, leaving a hole the size of Kentucky through his skull, he lies bleeding profusely in a church confessional. A gunslinger slowly walks out of the other side of the confessional, people run in fear from him. He’s the type of cowboy that might make The Duke quake in his boots. We cut to the opening credits.
This is a way you kick off a show — bold, brazen, unconventional.
Sadly, that gunshot was the only highlight of the premiere episode AMC’s newest original series. What followed for the next 55 minutes was a slowly told, matter-of-fact post-Civil War era Western — a series of random, violent events interrupting marbled mouthed dialogue that told us next to nothing about anyone or anything really going on in the series.
What we do know is that our hero, former Confederate solider and landowner Cullen Bonhanan (Anson Mount), is on a bloody tour of revenge and it has lead him to the “town” of Hell On Wheels, where he gets a job working for the Union Pacific Railroad’s westward construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad. There’s no explanation why he takes the job until the end when we discover one of the men responsible for the death of his wife (the impetus of his bloodlust) is working on the railroad’s construction.
As our leading man, Anson Mount looks the part of a bad ass, cooler than ice cowboy. His steely eyes combined with the highlights of gray in his hair and beard are really striking. This guy has hero written all over him. It’ll be interesting to see if his character will carry on the AMC tradition of charismatic yet flawed male leads the channel has developed over the past few years.
We’re also introduced to three other major characters — the infuriated former slave Elam (Common), railroad baron Thomas ‘Doc’ Durant (Colm Meaney) and Lilly Bell (Dominiquie McElligott) the bloodied wife of a slain surveyor.
Of these three, it’s Meaney who shines the brightest. Always playing the perfect arrogant jerk, Meaney’s ending monologue about how history will remember him and what it will take to complete the construction of the railroad is the perfect foreshadowing of everything that will happen in the series. And if his speech holds true, Hell On Wheels could become an extremely interesting and entertaining series.
As for Elam and Lilly, we’re not given too much on them in the pilot, except you get the feeling that both will become allies of Bonhanan very shortly. If Common is given more than just angry grunting and staring to do in the series, we’re in store for some dynamic performances. It’s about time this talented artist is given more than bit parts in action flicks, he seems like he could be the real deal. As for McElligott, she has romantic interest written all over her. But this is AMC, and they seem to know how to create female characters that are more than just eye candy.
Hell On Wheels’ first episode started off hot and ended in a very lukewarm manner. However, this doesn’t mean the show isn’t worth continued viewing. This is AMC remember. The Killing and certain seasons of Mad Men have had very slow starts and by the time all was said and done, brilliance was achieved.
With a solid cast in place, Hell On Wheels has the potential to develop and develop into something specials. As an audience, we’ve been given so little that we feel compelled to give the show another week or so to see if anything can be explained. And if things are explained, and explained well, we could be in for another “hell” of ride, courtesy of AMC.
You say; “But this is AMC and they seem to know how to create female characters that are more than just eye candy.”
What is this? Some kind of EEOC rating contest? Why is it they have to have woman who can kill or beat up men? When I see stupid stuff like a little girl beating up men I am going to call it as a lie by social engineering morons. At least the Indian was chocked out and on the ground, so I can buy into that.
I meant it more like the character will be well-developed and interesting not just superfluous eye candy.
I agree. I’m not trying to be sexist or anything but why do women get mad when people portray them as reality? Then also get mad when they portray them as fake?
Sorry but in reality men usually take lead men usually fight off the bad guy. Now take into account that this is the 1880s! Feminism please go away until you can prove yourself instead of bitching.
I thought Mad Men did a great job of portraying women correctly. Peggy was the tough one that fought to get ahead in a male powered world, Joan was the intelligent secretary who knew how to work her appearance to get what she wanted and Betty was the suspicious, moody, money grubbing wife. Not all women are completely helpless, folks. It is plausable that there were tough women, hardened by the times. Look at Anne Bonney, Joan of Arc, Annie Oakley, Tomoe Gozen…then tell me it is “a lie by social engineering” for a woman to defeat a man.