The essential episodes of Hell on Wheels
Watch these 10 in order and you've got Hell on Wheels — each pick states its reason.
- 01
A Western about a former Confederate soldier (Anson Mount) and his quest for revenge on the Union troops who killed his wife. In the premiere episode, he heads west to take a job helping to construct the first transcontinental railroad.
- 02
A looming railroad deadline throws Cullen and Lily together; Joseph and Elam deal with what their violent mission has wrought.
- 03
Cullen gears up for battle as the town celebrates.
- 04
Cullen battles to save Hell on Wheels in the Season 2 finale.
- 05
Cullen is forced to make a difficult decision; a reporter arrives in Hell on Wheels; and Elam has trouble with his new boss.
- 06
Cullen challenges the Swede while planning his exit from Fort Smith. Meanwhile, a new adversary arrives and makes his presence felt in Cheyenne.
- 07
Cullen goes back to work on the railroad and butts heads with his new boss. Meanwhile, Durant and Campbell clash over a valuable piece of real estate.
- 08
Following an attack by a bear, Elam struggles to survive in a Comanche village and find his way back to Cheyenne.
- 09
Cullen solves a Chinese labor strike in the wake of violence. Meanwhile, Durant pulls Mickey deeper into Union Pacific business.
- 10
The golden spike, government hearings and unpredictable actions mean new beginnings and endings for the survivors.
Shows like Hell on Wheels
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
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The Abandons follows a group of diverse, outlier families pursuing their Manifest Destiny in 1850s Oregon when a corrupt force of wealth and power, coveting their land, tries to force them out. - 02Drama·Action·WesternThe essential episodes of American Primeval2025–2025A raw, adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West.
- 03Drama·Action·WesternThe essential episodes of The Son2017–2019Same network — AMC·
- 04Drama·Action·WesternThe essential episodes of Bonanza1959–1973·NBC
Bonanza chronicles the weekly adventures of the Cartwright family, headed by the thrice-widowed patriarch Ben Cartwright. - 05Drama·Action·WesternThe essential episodes of Texas Rising2015–2015·History
Texas Rising is an 8-hour miniseries that details the Texas Revolution and the rise of the Texas Rangers.In 1836, west of the Mississippi was considered the Wild West and the Texas frontier was viewed as hell on earth. - 06Drama·Action·WesternThe essential episodes of Kung Fu1972–1975·ABCKwai Chang Caine, the half-American Buddhist monk from China, wandering the American West as a wanted fugitive, befriends a homeless boy, foils a bounty hunter, and experiences the pain of love.
