Hell on Wheels airs on Sundance Channel

"Blood will be spilled, Lives will be lost, Men will be ruined"

With such a strong tagline,  Hell on Wheels, the epic, new drama series about the American West, follows the construction of the transcontinental railroad just after the American Civil War circa 1865. The US premiere of Hell on Wheels on Sundance Channel’s sister network AMC attracted 4.4 million viewers, becoming the network’s second highest original series premiere in its history.

 The premiere of Hell on Wheels on Sundance Channel highlights the network’s commitment to delivering bold and uncompromising original programming, films, documentaries and specials to audiences in Malaysia. The series is created and written by Joe and Tony Gayton who also serve as executive producers along with Endemol’s Jeremy Gold and John Shiban. Entertainment One (eOne) produces the series.

The drama transports audiences back to post Civil War America and examines the struggles and hardships of rebuilding and repairing the country after the bloodiest war on American soil. The series examines the railroad's institutionalised greed and corruption, the immigrant experience, the plight of the newly emancipated African-Americans during Reconstruction, and the ravaging of the Native American land and people, in the name of progress.

Cullen Bohannon (played by Anson Mount), the main dude

So what is Hell on Wheels all about?
Hell on Wheels focuses on Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) and his quest to avenge the murder of his wife. The series chronicles a potent turning point in American history, and how uncivilized the business of civilization can be. It is an epic story told up-close, carried out by characters and the people making it happen on the ground. What really brings through is the tenacity, the boldness, and the sheer courage of what people did in order to complete the task at hand. There was death around every corner, but they continued on.

Thomas "Doc" Duran (played by Colm Meaney). The bad guy. His character is based on a real life person!

Based on true historical events, the series is shot in rural Alberta, Canada, using the province’s extensive natural beauty to capture the feel of the American frontier. Hell on Wheels is led by a cast that includes Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannon; Grammy Award winning musician and actor Common as Elam Ferguson, an emancipated slave working to achieve true freedom in a world entrenched in prejudice; Dominique McElligott as Lily Bell, a newly widowed woman trying to survive in a man’s world; Colm Meaney as Thomas “Doc” Durant, a greedy entrepreneur taking full advantage of the changing times; Ben Esler as Sean McGinnes and Philip Burke as Mickey McGinnes, two young brothers looking to find their fortune in the new West, and Eddie Spears as Joseph Black Moon, a Native American man torn between his culture and the changing world around him.

Lily Bell (played by Dominique McElligott), the lady trying her best to survive in a man's world

When the series debuted in the US, the New York Daily News called it “a dark, complex and intense drama, while Daily Variety said the show “offers an unflinching glimpse at what's undeniably a fascinating period.” USA Today said, “the show aims for ‘hellish’ and it achieves it,” and The Wall Street Journal said, “railroads may not seem sexy, but this series brings a ‘There Will Be Blood’ aesthetic to episodic TV.”

Elam Ferguson (played by Common), the comsummate freedom fighter

Looking at this star studded cast, I'm excited to see how the series will be like. There has not been many TV series done during this period, and it will be interesting to watch how the situation is like during this era. Will there be too much bloodshed, considering the tagline? Or will it be a slow one with only pockets of drama in between? Either way, it promises to be an thrilling series, so don't forget to catch it!

Hell on Wheels will broadcast exclusively on Sundance Channel starting 21 July at 8:00pm, and will air every Saturda. Sundance Channel HD can be accessed on Astro b.yond on channel 438.