"Hell on Wheels"
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Premieres: November 6, 10pm on AMC
Stars: Anson Mount, Common, Colm Meaney, Dominique McElligott (more)
Plot: On a personal quest for justice, ex-Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) signs up to work on the Union Pacific Railroad’s westward construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad. But as he meets other men and women who have their own agendas, he soon realizes that his path of vengeance will not be straight or simple.
Why We're Excited: Colm Meaney plays the ruthless company man anxious to grow rich on the crushed bones and spirits of other men, and we can see tremendous potential in this series every time he's on the screen. True, he's a scenery-chewer, but that's precisely what the introduction to a show like this needs.
Why We're Not: Though well-constructed, "Hell on Wheels" has to overcome two problems in order to gain momentum with viewers. First, in a season overflowing with period dramas set in sexier eras ("Mad Men," "Boardwalk Empire," "Pan Am," "The Playboy Club") it's going to be tough to get anyone other than history buffs to immediately commit to a grimy tale of one the post-Civil War era's most miserable settings. The second can be summed up in a single word: "Deadwood." This new series does not compare well to the poetic presentation of its brilliant HBO predecessor, which is a mighty big problem. Its story also kicks off slowly, weighed down by clunky exposition and the confusing introduction of several characters whose role in the larger tale only becomes clearer at the very end of the pilot. It's at that point that we emotionally connect with Bohannon and start caring about his quest as well. Getting there takes endurance, and a willingness to sit through lots of plodding dialogue and sepia-toned, sweaty misery.
Trivia: Anson Mount was reluctant to play the role of Ben Kimble in Crossroads because he thought the movie, and the role, was too cheesy and lame. However, while working on the movie City by the Sea, co-star Robert DeNiro encouraged Mount to take the part, being that DeNiro is a big Britney Spears fan.
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