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Season 2 – Hell on Wheels

Play trailer Poster for Season 2 – Hell on Wheels Aug 2012 Drama Western History Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 90% 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 2

Hell on Wheels — Season 2

What to Know

Critics Consensus

While it still feels like it's finding its legs, the second season of Hell on Wheels is more confident than the first and perfectly acceptable for those in need of a Western fix.

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Critics Reviews

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Alasdair Wilkins AV Club 08/12/2012
B-
It's still welcome to tell its pulpy Southern revenge story, which can certainly offer a certain amount of goofy fun, but for any of the other characters to have much point, the show needs to do more. Go to Full Review Maureen Ryan HuffPost 08/12/2012
The drama feels dry, predictable and sluggish. Go to Full Review Matt Zoller Seitz New York Magazine/Vulture 08/12/2012
Hell on Wheels seems to be puttering around a circular track, with no straightway in sight. Go to Full Review Ethan Alter Television Without Pity 07/16/2013
While it may not feature Johnny Depp clowning around Jack Sparrow style, Hell on Wheels is a lot more entertaining. Go to Full Review Sean McKenna TV Fanatic 08/12/2012
4.3/5
Everything feels like it's more or less a continuation of the first season with a little extra spice. Go to Full Review Matt Roush TV Guide 08/12/2012
Dramatically, the show feels as stalled as the trains, which have nowhere to go. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Wild for N @RT42520137 Sep 30 Are you kidding me? How in the hell did this show get low review ratings? This series was amazing and Anson Mount was Hella fine! I freaking loved it!!! See more 09/04/2021 Absolutely incredible hell on wheels second season is a must see despite a decision to remove a character from the show I found the story and action to be one of the best I've seen in a while See more Per S @RT83737705 02/14/2021 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. However, season 2 tends to turn into a kind of soap opera, at least in some episodes. Still, the creators manage to make a highly engaging story, and the cast, acting, direction, costumes, production designing and cinematography is generally sublime. See more 06/09/2020 This was a major step up. Everything about it was awesome. Slow, but never boring. Mythical, but not unrealistic. This is a great show. See more 12/27/2018 Season 2 was epic, ambitious, and tragic. See more 08/07/2016 Amazing, engaging. Very fun western. See more Read all reviews
Hell on Wheels — Season 2

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Joe Gayton

Creator

Tony Gayton

Creator

Anson Mount

Cullen Bohannon

Common

Elam Ferguson

Dominique McElligott

Lily Bell

Colm Meaney

Thomas "Doc" Durant

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 12, 2012 Viva La Mexico Cullen and Elam are on opposite sides of the law; Durant and Lily push the railroad west. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 19, 2012 Durant, Nebraska Durant confronts a threat to Hell on Wheels; a crime forces Lily and Elam to strike a deal. Details Episode 3 Aired Aug 26, 2012 Slaughterhouse Mickey and Sean's lives hang in the balance; Cullen tries to keep order; Lily and Elam work together to clean up a mess. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 2, 2012 Scabs Cullen has to diffuse an internal threat to the railroad; tragedy strikes. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 9, 2012 The Railroad Job Cullen is haunted by his past; the fate of the railroad hangs in the balance. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 16, 2012 Purged Away With Blood Durant fights for his life and the railroad; Cullen tries to save an old friend. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 23, 2012 The White Spirit Lily and Cullen struggle to maintain order; Elam plans for the future. Details Episode 8 Aired Sep 30, 2012 The Lord's Day A new arrival brings chaos; Eva is caught between Elam and Mr. Toole. Details Episode 9 Aired Oct 7, 2012 Blood Moon Cullen is interrogated about the destruction of Hell on Wheels. Details Episode 10 Aired Oct 7, 2012 Blood Moon Rising Cullen and Lily take over the railroad and the Sioux attack; Eva attends Toole's funeral. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 23, 2026 A Confederate soldier's westward journey takes him to a lawless melting pot of a town. Details

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Hell on Wheels — Season 2

Hell on Wheels View more photos

Season Info

Creator
Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
Executive Producer
Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton, Jeremy Gold, John Shiban, David Von Ancken
Screenwriter
Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
Network
AMC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama, Western, History, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 12, 2012