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Any of the denizens of this forum have an opinion about the TV series "Hell on Wheels," a Western about the making of the transcontinental railroad?
The reviews seem to be spotty, but the other night I caught part of the most recent episode and was struck by the performances of Colm Meaney as Thomas Durant and Wes Studi as a Cheyenne chief. They were intriguing enough to make me want to go back and watch the series from Episode One.
Allen Barra, a respected journalist, literary critic and baseball historian, checks in today on Daily Beast with this piece.
Anyone?
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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I've watched all episodes to date using Comcast On-Demand. The series Sunday 9PM CT airtime on AMC is simply after my bed-hour.
There appears to be many a license taken from the Transcontinental Railroad historical fact. I guess the character Robert, Lily Bell's (Dominique McElligott) husband, killed in the first episode was a Theodore Judah - sincere to the extent as any of them. However, Thomas Durant (Colm Meaney) was a real life scoundrel to the extent portrayed in the series.
But historical inacuracies abound; namely that the route was through the Rockies as in D&RGW rather than the "high plains" of Southern Wyoming.
Finally, to close Amtrak related, if anyone has knowledge of when the Zephyr will be rerouted over the Overland Route next Summer and you are so booked, I can only opine (been there done that, but on the "real deal") you will not be disappointed.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I thought you were referring to a ride on the Carolinian between Richmond and Rocky Mount!
Things have improved a bit but there was one period four or five years ago where it was not uncommon for 79 to depart Richmond on-time and lose three hours before reaching Rocky Mount!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Mr. Presley, there is historical foundation for the series' title "Hell on Wheels"; that was the unofficial name for towns that sprung up at or near the furthest point of construction. As the construction moved on, all of the card sharks, hookers, and preachers, would do same.
Most any town of consequence today along the Overland Route had its origins as a "Hell on Wheels".
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I thought the thread title was about my wife when she gets on our riding mower to cut the grass in our pastures. The horses, cats, and all other living things (including me) have been known to scatter when they see her coming on that thing!
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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I have seen every "Hell on Wheels" episode, and all I can say is I don't love it and I don't hate it. But I like trains and westerns and Wes Studi, a fascinating and intelligent man if you have ever seen him interviewed (He was the villain in "Last of the Mohicans" with Daniel Day Lewis).
What has bothered me most is they seem to be laying track at the bottom of gullies, as if it will never rain.
As for the riding lawn mower, that was already in the other AMC series "Mad Men". It cut off someone's foot at an office party.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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I was joking (sort of) with my reply. I understood the 'Hell on Wheels' reference and I have seen the trailers for this series.
On one of my train trips some years ago I actually got off an on-time #6 in Salt Lake City, caught a cab to the airport where I picked up a Hertz rental at 5:30am, and drove myself up to Promontory Summit to visit the Golden Spike site.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Episode 9 was simply "too graphic" for my taste; Episode 10 airs this Sunday (I'll get to it by On-Demand Monday), which will "wrap 'er up".
Still would be nice to have AMC announce a firm "premiere" date for "Mad Men" (edit: guess what, there is; March 25).
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I'm getting tired of the "shock value" scenes as well. And it bothers me that everyone seems to get a lot of time off to do something other than build a railroad.
I do love Mad Men. My father ran an ad agency in Minneapolis during the same time period (50's and 60's), and the show seems to be really authentic. He was also with a firm who had offices in Chicago and Peoria, and he would take me with as a child on his business trips. That means I got to ride Zephyrs and Hiawathas overnite in roomettes, and the futuristic Jet Rocket to Peoria. And I got to see a few Chicago stations. All as a business expense.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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Having now seen half of the show's first season, I did think it improved immensely as it went along (and is full of inspired performances).
But I agree with GBN and TwinStarRocket, it's too graphic. The self-mutilation of the Cheyenne chief and the decapitation of the cavalry lieutenant in Episode 9 gave me the collywobbles. I hope Episode 10 this Sunday won't be quite so bloody.
I can hear folks saying nonetheless, "That's the way it was, son."
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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I was able to watch a few back episodes from On Demand then had to read the plots of the earlier ones via Wiki.
It is certainly graphic but I do feel the living conditions are represented very realistically. Reminds me of Deadwood a lot but Deadwood had several characters that one could really either bond with or hate.
I also wonder how they got those 40 miles done, they were so busy messing around with other stuff.
Ready indeed for Mad Men as well as Justified and The Killing.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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HOW is one show we watch regularly at our place; my Chinese friend is really riveted by it and thinks it shows the era and the first transcon railroad building fairly accurately. But yes there are some glaring inconsistencies such as when they show the train (a mock-up, by the way!) rolling down the tracks with no ballast at all??
I'm OK with the graphic stuff as I have come to Hell on Wheels from Breaking Bad; an even more graphic serial story from the same cable network, I believe.
My favorite HOW character is Durant; amazingly rich and complex guy well played by Meaney. My least favorite character is the Norwegian "policeman" ugh! I guess most of us are waiting for him to get his just comuppance, eh? I'll watch the closing episode tonight, and then probably watch the reruns before the new season kicks in. Thanks for the thread!
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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I thought the season's windup Sunday was riveting -- and the gore was, for a change, minimal. No, there wasn't much railroading (if at all) but I'm hooked by the narrative. Looking forward to Season 2.
Nice to see Swede get his just deserts.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Having now seen Episode 10 through Comcast On-Demand, it certainly appears that the producers of Hell on Wheels are confident the series will be renewed for a Season 2.
Bohannon is now a wanted man for murder, Swede wants revenge for being tarred and feathered. Who knows where Lilly and Durant, or could it be Lilly and Bohannon, will go?
It all could be "sport".
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Good synopsis, GBN...the producers have given the show's fans plenty of reasons to return for the 2nd season. I'm wondering what will become of the fallen minister; a second-tier yet for me really compelling character. When Bohannon went in for some God-talk finally with him- he sent him out the tent flap with the advice: "Choose hate, my son-- it's so much easier." The normally stoic Bohannon seemed kind of mystified by that advice.
Wow! Plus there was that little issue of the head in the canvas bag and stuff. The minister surely has a lot on his plate, too.
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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"Wow! Plus there was that little issue of the head in the canvas bag and stuff. The minister surely has a lot on his plate, too."
For some reason this took me back to Rita Hayworth playing Salome with the head of John the Baptist. That sure was a lot on HER plate!
The character of the fallen minister indeed is compelling. At first I thought he could profitably have been faded from the series, but the actor who plays him is terrific.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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It certainly appears that the Series second or third billed actor, Common, did "not exactly" grow up on the streets and 'got lucky' on two counts - first being staying alive and second becoming a star:
Thomas Durant really did have a surveyor killed by Indians, and he did maximize mileage for personal gain. Compared to Colm Meaney, he was quite handsome. In 1856, his railroad built the first bridge across the Mississippi and he hired attorney Abraham Lincoln to defend his bridge in a dispute with boat operators. This connection may have have played in Lincoln's selection of Durant's Union Pacific for the transcontinental. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_C._DurantPosts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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