Hell on Wheels: A Two Way Rail

The biggest talking point from this season of the show was the introduction of the Central Pacific Railroad. At the end of the fourth season, Cullen Bohannon left the Union Pacific, where he had been since the beginning, to join Collis P. Huntington in California, building the opposing railway. He did this in return for help in finding his wife and child. There, Cullen interacted with the residents of Truckee, the Central Pacific town in which building was taking place. And, for the first time practically ever on dramatic television, we explored the Asian workers on the railroad. We saw the way the social order worked on that side of the coin, observing several new characters.

TV's newest villain named Chang, in a show where TV's oldest hero named Chang is also present.

First and foremost, we had our new villain: Mr. Chang, an ex-Chinese soldier who now sells workers, prostitutes, weapons, and drugs. He speaks fluent English, and seeks to become a partner in the railroad along with the white men. Not only was Byron Mann, the actor who portrayed Chang fantastic, but the entire idea of the character was great. We needed an interim villain while the Swede was off doing his own thing, and moreover, we needed someone to bridge the gap between high class Asian and Americans. Though we rooted against Chang, we also saw his point of view. He was more integral to the railroad's success than almost any white partner, yet due to his ethnicity, was unable to achieve that which he sought. He had dirty ways of playing his game of conquest, but in the end, Chang was a man driven by power and money, just like Huntington, Durant, Brigham Young, or any of the powerful white barons we see throughout the series. Chang survived the half season and though he didn't show up in the final episode, is sure to be featured heavily in the final run, one more antagonist for Cullen to dispatch on his road to redemption and peace.

Next, there was Fong and Tao, the kind Chinese father/daughter duo that helped out Cullen, until the death of Tao. These characters were mostly required to show the plight of the everyday worker, and the fact that Fong had to disguise herself as a man in order to work illustrated an interesting social dynamic during the period. However, while Tao worked perfectly as a perfectly nice old man, constantly supporting Cullen until his murder by Chang, Fong got a little lost as a character. Though interesting as a bit of a sidekick, Fong had a bit of a mentor/student relationship with Bohannon, while at the same time flirting with him and suggesting a future romance, even while he searched in vain for his lost wife. This was nothing terrible, but once Cullen was forced to depart for Salt Lake City and leave the Chinese plot behind for the final episode, we were left a bit unsure as to whether he meant to go back and be with Fong romantically or to use her as a friend and translator. 

Also, last note on Tao, it's interesting that Tzi Ma of all people was cast in this role. As the evil Cheng on 24, it was surprising to see him as a kindly old man instead of the similarly named Chang. However, it only proved how versatile Ma is as an actor.

Aside from the new Chinese characters, we also took a closer look at the owner of the Central Pacific, Collis P. Huntington, along with a new character, the foreman of the railroad, James Strobridge. Huntington was fantastic, being played as a parallel to our old favorite, Durant. What was fascinating about these two railroad magnates were their huge similarities, despite their opposition to one another. Though Durant strikes me as slightly smarter, more capable, and more devious, Huntington is equally as ambitious, and cares about virtually the same things. Bohannon has now worked for both men, and though in his heart of hearts probably still prefers Durant, he has seen both sides of the coin, and now understands the kind of man that it takes for the job. A kind of man that, for all his talents, Bohannon is not.

Strobridge was a little more of a non-factor. He was Bohannon's ostensible equal in the operations of the Central Pacific, but never really had a huge point in being on the show. He was a friend to Cullen and was a little racist, but never seemed to actually impact the plot in any large way. It's nice to have a more filled out Truckee cast, but there could have been a little more to Strobridge in character and in plot purpose.

Back with the Union Pacific, we saw all of our old favorites after moving to Laramie, their new hub of transportation. Here, we most notably got to see Durant at work without Bohannon, wiring information from an informant at the Central Pacific, and politicking with the Maggie Palmer, his partner back in Cheyenne. This made for excellent television, as other than Cullen and the Swede, Durant was always the best character on the show, with the most well drawn intentions. And, without the drama that Cullen brings with him, all that remains for Durant is business, expansion, and the railroad race announced at the end of season 5A. Will the Lion eat the Gazelle? In seven episodes we'll truly know.

However, also at the Union Pacific came the biggest problem with the season: our other old favorites. Eva, Mickey, Psalms, and Louise Ellison were all central characters for most of the show, but as the story really covers the railroad race and Cullen's current life, they had no real place in the state that the show is currently in. Drama surrounding Mickey's saloon, Eva's whores, Louise's pregnancy, and Psalm's land purchase never got enough screentime to properly develop into anything compelling, and we were mostly left with filler plot just meant to keep us watching the characters we've seen for so long. Though I hate to say it, these characters are just not important enough to be followed anymore, and with the expansive direction the show has headed, don't have a purpose anymore. 

Finally, we have the best part of the show, Thor Gundersen, "The Swede." Working at the Central Pacific, The Swede is plotting with Brigham Young's son, Phineas Young, to overthrow his father and take the full Mormon kingdom for himself. However, when this idea backfires at the end of the season, it's time for him to go to where Cullen's family is, hopefully ending his war with our central protagonist once and for all. Though there were only a few, the scenes between Gundersen and Bohannon were absolutely electric, and when we finally see their final showdown, taking place in a storm at Cullen's wife's new farm, the episode is sure to be all we've hooped for. Ever since his introduction, Christopher Heyerdahl has been knocking it out every second he's on the screen, and continues to do this seamlessly. 

Overall, though sadly short, I enjoyed the hell out of Hell on Wheels. The new direction and new world view of both railroads competing during the micro-story of Cullen Bohannon made for stellar television, and even with some of the clunkers, like the Union Pacific town people and James Strobridge, was still some of the best viewing during the Summer. I can't believe we have to wait a year to see the conclusion of the show, but after such a long wait, the final seven episodes will be all the more intense and intriguing.