Opinion of a Civil War re-enactor on the authenticity of Hell on Wheels.
The AMC series "Hell on Wheels" is a wonderful glimpse of life after the Civil War during the building of the Transcontinental Railroad -- a story line that has only been briefly touched-on in past westerns.
Being raised during the Civil War myself (my parents were re-enactors) ;) hee haw! I can confirm the scenes are spot-on with mud up to their shins, dirty canvas tents, era furnishings, period firearms, and mix and match uniforms remnants being the fashion statement of the time - very well done.
The Cast and Story Line:
Interlaced within the 1865 details is the unlikely friendship between an ex-confederate soldier and a former slave (flawlessly portrayed by Anson Mount and Common respectively). Their bond grows with each episode as their commonality becomes apparent and they have each other's back in revolving dilemmas.
Lily Bell (wonderfully portrayed by Irish actress Dominique McElligott) is half lady / half wildcat and cute as a button - we...
AMC Reinvigorates The Western: A Gorgeous Blu-Ray Presentation Compliments One Of TV's Most Lavish Productions
With all the success that AMC has had recently turning out high quality adult programs such as "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," and "The Walking Dead," few new dramas in 2011 were as eagerly anticipated as their Western revival "Hell on Wheels." Despite a somewhat mixed reaction from the mainstream media, the show was an instant hit when its premiere episode became the network's second highest rated debut in history. And yet, despite these big numbers and impeccable production values, it is still very much a show that is finding its way creatively and dramatically. There are so many reasons to recommend "Hell on Wheels" and yet it takes a while to find its footing after a powerhouse beginning. For most of its ten episodes, I found myself admiring the show's technical construction as opposed to loving its storytelling arc.
The two strongest components of the show (evident from the very beginning) were its lavish depiction of the Old West with some spectacular battles and effects...
OUTSTANDING SERIES!!! A MUST SEE!!!
I caught episode 6 while channel surfing last week and I was instantly hook. There were only a few episodes on demand through my satellite. I found the beginning of the series on Amazon and quickly caught up.
The show is about the construction of the Union Pacific railroad shortly after the end of the Civil War. The show is historically accurate and the locations transport you to that time.
Common is OUTSTANDING as Elam Ferguson! The characters are well developed and the acting is superb.
I usually watch the HBO series, The Wire, Oz, Trueblood etc. because the stories can be told with less editing and a realness. This series can can compare with any of those shows.
AMC has a great thing going and I hope that word gets out and people start tuning in. I am waiting on season 2 already.
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