Hell on Wheels is the Perfect Deadwood Replacement

by

Even after 21 years, Deadwood still stands alone as a masterpiece, but I’ve been revisiting AMC’s Hell on Wheels, and it’s a show that deserves another look. Created by Joe and Tony Gayton, this five-season Western ran from 2011 to 2016 and consistently earned strong reviews and award nominations. While Deadwood captured the birth of a town, Hell on Wheels takes on an even more ambitious project: the monumental task of building a transcontinental railroad, and the brutal realities that came with it.

Westerns have always been popular, particularly on TV. With plenty of exciting stories – from gunfights to reimagined tales of famous Wild West characters – the genre offers endless possibilities for creativity. While Hell on Wheels might not be the most well-known show, it’s a great option for fans of Deadwood looking for something similar.

Hell on Wheels Looks at Destiny and the American Dream

The series Hell on Wheels brilliantly explores and then breaks down the concept of Manifest Destiny in the American West, making it the show’s main focus. Similar to Deadwood, the series unfolds in real time, covering the years 1865 to 1869 over five seasons. The characters in Hell on Wheels are motivated by the idea of Manifest Destiny and are drawn to the Union Pacific Railroad for financial reasons, to help expand America, and, for some, to rebuild the country after the Civil War.

As a fan, I’ve always felt like Hell on Wheels really captures the spirit of Manifest Destiny and the American Dream, and it does it beautifully. The show starts by showing us how the transcontinental railroad began, almost from nothing, and how it grew as more and more people got involved. What I love most is the idea that anyone, no matter where they start, can build something amazing for themselves. It reminds me a lot of Deadwood in that way, watching those residents create a town from the ground up and try to make a life for themselves.

Both Deadwood and Hell on Wheels explore the American Dream, but with a gritty and cynical edge. Deadwood, in particular, showcases the relentless pursuit of innovation and expansion, though not without a heavy dose of violence and hardship that can be quite overwhelming. Hell on Wheels follows a similar path, building upon the darker themes established in Deadwood.

Conflict and death are constant in Hell on Wheels, which powerfully shows the high price of pursuing the American Dream, particularly for the Native American tribes whose lands the railroad cuts through. While intended as a positive development for the Union Pacific Railroad, the series reveals the devastating impact on Native Americans, and the resulting clashes between the two groups add a crucial layer of complexity to the story.

If you like shows with complex, unfolding stories, a strong focus on revenge, and a unique atmosphere, then Hell on Wheels is a great choice, especially if you enjoyed Deadwood. Both series offer captivating, multi-season storylines, well-developed characters, exciting action, and thought-provoking themes about relationships, identity, and the impact of collective endeavors. Released five years after Deadwood and set about ten years earlier, Hell on Wheels shares a similar feel with the classic HBO Western but also establishes its own memorable identity.

Hell on Wheels Is A Successful Character-Driven Western

I’m a huge fan of Hell on Wheels, and I honestly think it’s a seriously underrated show. Anson Mount is just incredible as Cullen Bohannon – he totally carries the series. Bohannon reminds me a lot of Ian McShane’s Al Swearengen from Deadwood. Both characters are initially motivated by what they want and aren’t afraid to do whatever it takes, even resorting to violence, to get it. But what’s really compelling about Bohannon is that beneath that tough exterior, he’s a really wounded guy, haunted by the murder of his wife and son. That internal struggle, combined with his outward actions, is what made the first few seasons of Hell on Wheels so gripping.

Similar to William Randolph Hearst, the show Hell on Wheels presents Thomas “Doc” Durant (Colm Meaney) as a complicated and morally gray businessman. Both men are powerful and wealthy, using their connections to gain influence, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to succeed financially. This instantly makes them adversaries, though Durant is more openly manipulative. Despite his actions, Durant believes he’s justified by a strong belief in capitalism, which adds a layer of humanity to his character.

Both Deadwood and Hell on Wheels are set after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, and both shows explore the lives of formerly enslaved people building new futures. Hell on Wheels‘ character Elam Ferguson (played by Common) is particularly complex. He’s a determined and hardworking man striving for recognition after escaping slavery, but he struggles with deep-seated anger and violence stemming from his past trauma. Ultimately, Elam is more a product of his circumstances than anything else, and his journey differs from that of characters like Lou Marchbanks (Cleo King) in Deadwood, who share similar backgrounds.

The series Hell on Wheels includes several compelling female characters who are connected to the building of the transcontinental railroad and the men involved. Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott) tries to find a place working on the railroad after her husband’s death, and Eva Toole (Robin McLeavy) is a powerful figure who has adapted to life within Native American communities. Compared to the show Deadwood, Hell on Wheels doesn’t focus as heavily on sexual themes, particularly when it comes to its female characters.

Hell on Wheels vs Deadwood: Which Is Better?

Both Hell on Wheels and Deadwood are captivating shows that you’ll likely want to watch again. While both are well-made, Deadwood is considered exceptional for its writing, dialogue, and storytelling – widely praised as one of the best Westerns ever created for TV or film. It’s dramatic yet feels incredibly authentic. Hell on Wheels shares some of these qualities, but with a larger and more varied team of writers over its five seasons, it doesn’t achieve the same consistent quality as Deadwood, which benefited from being primarily written by one person.

When it comes to visual storytelling in television, Hell on Wheels truly stands out, despite often being overlooked. The AMC series, which ran for five seasons, is filled with stunning, sweeping shots of the American landscape as the first transcontinental railroad is built. The characters are constantly traveling through vast and beautiful scenery – big skies, huge canyons, and the iconic landscapes of the Old West. While Deadwood is also visually impressive, its focus on a single town means the action is mostly confined to a smaller area.

Both Hell on Wheels and Deadwood boast strong casts with consistently excellent acting. However, Deadwood is the more memorable of the two, even for people who haven’t watched it. Characters like Swearengen and Bullock are incredibly well-developed and believable, both on their own and together, bringing a real sense of authenticity to the show’s historical setting. While Hell on Wheels also features compelling characters, Deadwood’s strength ultimately lies in its superior writing and character development.

When it comes to historical accuracy, Hell on Wheels offers a somewhat more realistic portrayal of the American West, focusing more on the overall idea than strict factual correctness. While the show isn’t perfectly accurate – for example, Durant wasn’t actually president of the Union Pacific Railroad – it generally captures the feel and key events of building the transcontinental railroad. Deadwood does something similar, but arguably bends the truth even more, like inventing a friendship between Wild Bill Hickok and Bullock.

Read More

2025-11-21 05:09