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Season 3 – Hell on Wheels

Play trailer Poster for Season 3 – Hell on Wheels 2013 Drama Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
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 Union Pacific's construction of the first transcontinental railroad. 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.
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Hell on Wheels — Season 3

Hell on Wheels — Season 3

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Critics Consensus

Hell on Wheels' third outing teases an exciting new direction for its characters but unfortunately loses locomotion in the end, leaving its characters stuck in a stranded narrative boxcar.

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Critics Reviews

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Seth Abramson IndieWire The final nail in the coffin for Hell on Wheels is that scourge of all television programs that begin slowly: Most viewers simply won't have the patience to find out if the show's writers ultimately find their footing. Sep 29, 2018 Full Review Mike Hale New York Times A prickly alliance founded on mutual respect and constantly threatened by both history and present, unpleasant circumstance, it's more subtle and moving than your average TV bromance and brings out the best in Common and Mr. Mount. Sep 29, 2018 Full Review Linda Stasi New York Post There are some new folks; a NYC reporter who is an unnecessary tough-dame-reporter caricature. What this well-written series does not need is a character whose only job [is to move] the story along with expository dialogue in the guise of interviews. Rated: 3/4 Aug 20, 2013 Full Review Scott D. Pierce Salt Lake Tribune The Mormon subplot is quick-and-dirty writing that uses nasty stereotypes as shorthand. Because it's harder and takes longer to put research and effort into scriptwriting. It's harder to create characters who aren't just cartoonish clichés. Oct 3, 2018 Full Review Ryan Sandoval TV.com An at times jerky return, but a fun one at that. Sep 29, 2018 Full Review Robert Bernstein Den of Geek The Hell on Wheels writers have taken us on a short ride that started out with a bang, dropped the speed for a couple of episodes in the middle there, started on an incline again, but only to never send us down the roller-coaster in an exciting fashion. Rated: 2.5/5 Sep 29, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Don J In episode 6, the Swedes song was written in 1989. The whole Mormon thing was pathetic. Should have did a little more research. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/03/24 Full Review Audience Member While slow sometimes with filler episodes I found hell on wheels third season to be enjoyable and interesting enough to keep me watching throughout Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Hell On Wheels is in general one of the best dramas describing how the Euro Americans laid the foundation to the destruction of a continent, and the building of the transcontinental railroad was an absolute peak in this development. Even though the characters are either invented or a more or less heavily romanticizing of historical persons, all to fit a brilliant plot, the depiction of the invironment following the railroad track is basically genuin. The melodrama is based on real human relations within a frame of true historical events, and despite a free creative dramaturgy, the plot never loses proximity to the authentic events. On top of this the creators manage to make a highly engaging story, and the cast, acting, direction, costumes, set designing and cinematography is all sublime. However, if there is any low point in the series, in season 3 there is a tendency for the human relations and interactions to get too romantacized and occasionally almost soapish, which makes a plot balancing on the edge between credible historical realism, tip over into pure romantic fiction. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member The only thing wrong with this season is the end. I won't spoil it, but just know they set things going in a direction that doesn't lead anywhere. Other than that, this season was awesome with compelling character development and amazing cinematography. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Season 3 is clearly not for everyone, decidedly, but the character turns and overall plot direction are packed with unpredictability and excitement, much like the times of the Wild West that it takes place in. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member The Mormon subplot felt a bit exaggerated, and there were a few episodes in the middle that were very slow, but season 3 did manage to throw all of its characters in new directions. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Hell on Wheels — Season 3

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Cast & Crew

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Joe Gayton

Creator

Tony Gayton

Creator

Anson Mount

Cullen Bohannon

Common

Elam Ferguson

Colm Meaney

Thomas "Doc" Durant

Ben Esler

Sean McGinnes

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 10, 2013 Big Bad Wolf Cullen and Elam secure their railroad positions in New York; Durant fights for his legacy from prison. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 10, 2013 Eminent Domain Cullen and Elam secure their railroad positions in New York; Durant fights for his legacy from prison. Details Episode 3 Aired Aug 17, 2013 Range War Cullen and Elam search for their stolen food on the prairie; a stranger's arrival threatens Elam's family. Details Episode 4 Aired Aug 24, 2013 The Game Cullen and Elam try to secure a new lumber source following a railroad accident; Durant tells Louise a secret about Cullen. Details Episode 5 Aired Aug 31, 2013 Searchers Cullen helps Elam track down a dangerous criminal; the town prepares to move down the tracks. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 7, 2013 One Less Mule Durant files an injunction against Union Pacific, threatening Cullen's position; Elam deals with a dangerous newcomer. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 14, 2013 Cholera A cholera epidemic breaks; Cullen must locate fresh water before his employees perish; Durant faces political fallout. Details Episode 8 Aired Sep 21, 2013 It Happened in Boston Cullen seeks help from Durant in winning his workers back from the Mormons; Sean and Mickey are haunted by their past. Details Episode 9 Aired Sep 28, 2013 Fathers and Sins Riders attack Cheyenne; Cullen and Elam visit Durant; General Grant's deadline approaches. Details Episode 10 Aired Oct 5, 2013 Get Behind the Mule Cullen deals with consequences; Elam mounts a rescue attempt; Durant receives the U.P. board ahead of the deadline. Details

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Hell on Wheels — Season 3

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Season Info

Creator
Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
Executive Producer
Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton, Jeremy Gold, John Wirth
Screenwriter
Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
Network
AMC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 10, 2013