A criminally underrated Western series is raising hell on free streaming as it forges a path up the ranks and into the top 10. Beginning more than a decade ago in 2011, Hell on Wheels transports audiences all the way back to 1865 and follows a former Confederate soldier who, while tackling demons in his war-torn past, plans a mission of revenge amid the emerging Union Pacific’s construction of the first transcontinental railroad.
Created and produced by Joe and Tony Gayton, Hell on Wheels was initially broadcast on AMC, and ran for five seasons. Led by Anson Mount (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) as Cullen Bohannon, the rest of the cast includes Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Common (John Wick: Chapter 2), and Dominique McElligott (The Boys).
Hell on Wheels did find a small cult following at the time, but now that the series is available to stream on Freevee, the show has reached heights of #9 in the top 10 so far. And could climb higher as word spreads. You can check out the official synopsis for Hell on Wheels below.
“The Civil War is in the past, but former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon can’t put it behind him. Fresh are the horrific memories of the death of his wife, killed at the hands of the Union soldiers, an act that sets Bohannon on a course of revenge. This contemporary Western tells the story of his journey, a story that rides on. Bohannon’s westward travels take him to a lawless melting pot of a town called “Hell on Wheels,” which moves with the construction of the railroad.”
‘Hell on Wheels’ Received Rave Reviews Throughout (Most Of) Its Five Seasons
Hell on Wheels was met with (mostly) rave reviews throughout its run. Overall, the series boasts scores of 73% and 89% from critics and audiences, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes. Broken down into seasons, the show started off more middling with 61% from critics (84% from audiences), before finding its footing with Season 2 and scoring 75% (89% from audiences). Things dipped greatly with Hell on Wheels Season 3, which only achieved 50% from critics (though audiences still loved the ride, scoring it 88%), while the penultimate fourth season picked up again with 80% (93% from audiences).
Thankfully, Hell on Wheels ended with a bang, as Season 5 boasts a perfect score of 100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a near-perfect 91% from audiences on the Popcornmeter. Kenny Herzog of Vulture awarded the final season a hugely impressive 4/5, saying, “Hell on Wheels has made its final stop, but a freeze-frame of where it pulled in would shine bittersweet light on a country moving full-speed ahead like a train in vain.” The same bittersweet sentiments were felt by Kendall Williams of Den of Geek, who also awarded the series 4/5 and said, “Five seasons later, the series Hell On Wheels, has come to satisfying and bittersweet end with the completion of The Transcontinental Railroad.”
In simple terms, Rob Lowman from Los Angeles Daily News has highly commended Anson Mount in his role as Cullen Bohannon, stating that he embodies the essence of a classic Western hero.
“Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannon, the onetime Rebel officer employed by the railroads, is the epitome of a Western star. He supplies his character the expected stoicism but also a range of emotions and conflicts.”
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2025-03-17 18:35