This time around, I would like to see less blood and gore and more story devlopment but that's probably not going to happen. I think the actor Colm Meaney, who plays Thomas Durant, does an outstanding job of acting.
Richard
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Just finished watching the first three shows in the series via Netflix on my iPad, catching up with what I missed last season. Not a bad series at all, although the gore is a tad overdone. Meany *is* magnificent.
Railroad Bob Member # 3508
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We watch the series faithfully, along with Breaking Bad, the show that precedes Hell on Wheels occasionally. The new season first episode last night did not disappoint. Not to be a spoiler for those that have recorded it or have yet to view it- I can say there are a LOT of changes for the principal players. Blood 'n gore does factor in, but that's kind of a hallmark for this rawboned historical drama. The Swede has a new "position" he doesn't like very much; Bohannon is in a world of hurt and work on the road has inched to a crawl...Lily is as smart and beautiful as ever, and the minister has his own set of new "challenges." Durant cleverly and comically gets to use the swell phrase: "you got ran out of town on a rail." Well, I liked that!
These shows both feature generally unlikeable characters, as they spin their tales. However, I do like Durant/Meaney; it's sharp how they based him on a true character involved in the building of the UPRR, Tom Durant.
"Without me, and men like me- your glorious railroad never would have been built."
Durant from HOW/Season One
yukon11 Member # 2997
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Mumble, grumble time.
I am a little confused as to where the 1st season of "Hell on Wheels" ends and where the new season begins.
The AMC promo stated that the new season started Sun 8/12 (yesterday). The promo stated that the old episodes would be shown starting Sun morning, with the new (2nd series?) episode starting at 9PM. However, the episode called "Viva La Mexico" aired before that, and again at 9:30 PM. I DVR'd "Viva La Mexico"..but I am not sure if that is the 1st episode of the new season, or an episode from the previous season (I did not watch every episode from the initial season so I'm not sure).
For more confusion, AMC had a brief promo stating the new season for Hell on Wheels starts Sept. 2nd. Why can't they label each episode, appropriately, so you can tell what episode is what. Very confusing, at least for me.
Richard
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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"Hell On Wheels" Episode 201 is now available at Comcast's Xfinity On Demand.
Haven't watched it yet ("The Newsroom" and "Political Animal" got my viewership last evening - both via On-Demand), but surely will do before the week is out.
Vincent206 Member # 15447
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The Breaking Bad episode that aired after Hell on Wheels had a modern day train robbery plot that might have worked well for developing the story line; but in reality, the scheme would likely have been disastrous for Walter, Jesse and their crew. For those who don't watch Breaking Bad, the bad guys needed to steal chemicals from a railroad tank car, so they parked a disabled dump truck on the mainline and waited for the train to stop so they could hook-up a hose to the tanker car and drain enough methylamine to keep their operation running. Good luck, guys.
BNSF didn't have any part in that episode. The action was shot on Santa Fe Southern property using SFS equipment. So the supposed transcontinental mainline was a weedy single track right-of-way with no crossing gates and the hotshot container train had about 20 cars with one locomotive.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Season 3 has now left the station.
Obviously Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott) has 'died out' - no reincarnation as in 'Dallas' with Sue Ellen, but enough for spoilers. I can't recall if Swede (Thor Gundersen) was written out, but no sign of him in the opening double episode.
The only real 'negative' to me was the unflattering light in which the LDS (Mormon) church is displayed. While no doubt there have been sordid episodes in the church's past, their ethic of 'work hard, play hard, pray hard' has to be respected. While not about to sign up myself, I developed this respect when in service while being stationed at Hill AFB (Ogden) UT.
Otherwise, original episodes air Saturday at 10P ET on AMC; it is also out there to watch on any of a number of replay sources. Mine is Xfinity On-Demand.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Just started watching Season 2 on Netflix and will catch up with Season 3 on Comcast On Demand when I return to civilization.
As GBN said in the original post, Colm Meaney is nonpareil. Common is pretty good. As for Anson Mount, he does a respectable glower.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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I liked the Omaha and New York City scenes. The sets seemed believable. But did work on the Union Pacific really shut down and freeze over for winter? Could someone actually fire up a frozen steam locomotive? I want to do that to escape winter!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: As GBN said in the original post.....
Let us give appropriate credit to Mr. Richard Yukon.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Whoops. Thanks for the correction, GBN.
Railroad Bob Member # 3508
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GBN- I agree, the HOW writing staff were pretty rough on the portrayal of the Mormon family in the new episode. "Eminent domain" had some pretty hard edges back in the 1850s/1860s, during the early transcon RR building era.
I spent quite a bit of time around Ogden and SLC in the '80s; plus worked closely with many kindly, older gentlemen belonging to the LDS church who owned lofty positions on the UPRR seniority roster. They all have faded away now, just like the Desert Wind train we worked on in those days. They were conductors between Las Vegas and Ogden; later to SLC when the Zephyr was moved to the DRG&W. All gentlemen of the highest order; plus classic "old school" passenger conductors that are so rare today.
yukon11 Member # 2997
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I'm starting to get a little turned off by "Hell of Wheels".
I thought several of the earlier episodes of "Hell on Wheels" were worthwhile. I think the acting is good (especially Colm Meaney) and the whole idea of basing a series on the building of the transcontinental railroad interesting.
I saw, last night, the "Searchers" episode where they looked for the kidnapped baby. I thought the episode lacked interest, was boring, and I turned it off before it ended.
I wish there was more continuity in the episodes and a more compelling plot. I have missed a few episodes, so possibly that has something to do with my desire for more continuity. Also, too much unnecessary violence.
I guess I will keep watching but I hope for more interesting plots and less obligatory violence.
PS - although I have some differences with their belief, I have found members of the LDS church to be fine and admirable people in all respects.
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