The Western That Built the Railroad—And Then Got Buried Under It
Imagine a world where Yellowstone didn't exist. No 1923, no 1883, no Taylor Sheridan universe dominating cable TV. A decade ago, AMC's Hell on Wheels was that world's blueprint—a brutal, sprawling Western that should've been a cultural landmark. Instead, it's a ghost town in the streaming era, quietly rotting on Tubi while Sheridan's empire soaks up the spotlight.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: Hell on Wheels did it first—and, in some ways, better.
Anson Mount's Vengeance Tour (With a Side of Railroad Politics)
With Anson Mount's Cullen Bohannon as a Confederate vet turned railroad avenger, the show wasn't just “revenge with trains.” It was Breaking Bad in spurs—a man unraveling in a lawless world, where justice was as shaky as the temporary towns (the “Hell on Wheels” of the title) that followed the railroad's construction.
And oh, what a cast. Common's Elam Ferguson, a freed slave turned enforcer, stole scenes with quiet fury. Then there's Christopher Heyerdahl's The Swede, a villain so slippery he'd make 1923's Banner Creighton look like a Boy Scout. Their cat-and-mouse game peaked in Season 5's “Two Soldiers,” a showdown so tense it'd make Yellowstone's Duttons blush.
The Sheridan Connection: Gritty History, Greedier Men
Sound familiar? It should. Hell on Wheels dug into the same themes Sheridan loves:
- Land wars (Cheyenne attacks mirror 1923's sheep conflicts)
- Corporate greed (Colm Meaney's Durant = Yellowstone's Market Equities)
- Men who won't quit (Bohannon's arc from killer to leader = Rip Wheeler with a PhD in regret)
Even the “based on real history” hook? Hell on Wheels did it first. Co-creator Joe Gayton obsessed over the transcontinental railroad's dirty secrets—“the financing, the greed, the corruption”—long before Sheridan turned Montana into a soap opera.
Why Did It Disappear?
Blame AMC's Walking Dead obsession. Despite pulling 4.4 million viewers at its peak (second only to zombies), Hell on Wheels got zero spinoffs, zero merch, zero love. Meanwhile, Mount's now Captain Pike in Star Trek, Common's an Oscar winner, and the show's just… there. Forgotten.
The Verdict: Time to Board the Train
If you're craving 1923's grit or Yellowstone's machismo, Hell on Wheels is your fix. It's got:
✅ A five-season arc tighter than a lasso (unlike Yellowstone's meandering S5)
✅ Villains who don't monologue (looking at you, 1883)
✅ An ending that lands (Bohannon's church confession? Chef's kiss.)
Hell on Wheels isn't just a precursor—it's a masterclass. And now that it's free on Tubi, there's no excuse.
Watch it. Before the algorithm buries it again.
