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The Best Episodes of Hell on Wheels

Every episode of Hell on Wheels ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Hell on Wheels!

Binge this in 14h 21m•Peaking at 9.1/10

The epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on Cullen Bohannon, a Confederate soldier who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who killed his wife. His journey takes him west to Hell

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 10 - Return to Hell
    9.1/10(7 votes)

    #1 - Return to Hell

    S4:E10

    Cullen, Durant, and Campbell try to negotiate a settlement on how the streets will be policed. An act of terror strikes Cheyenne.

    Director:Billy Gierhart
    Writer:Jami O'Brien

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  2. Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 7 - Elam Ferguson
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #2 - Elam Ferguson

    S4:E7

    Cullen attempts to reconnect with Elam upon his return. Durant takes matters into his own hands while putting an old problem to rest.

    Director:Rod Lurie
    Writers:Mark Richard, Tom Brady

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  3. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 5 - The Railroad Job
    8.9/10(7 votes)

    #3 - The Railroad Job

    S2:E5

    Cullen's past catches up with him and threatens the fate of the railroad.

    Director:Michael Nankin
    Writer:Mark Richard

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  4. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 10 - Blood Moon Rising
    8.9/10(9 votes)

    #4 - Blood Moon Rising

    S2:E10

    Cullen fights to save Hell on Wheels.

    Director:John Shiban
    Writer:John Shiban

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  5. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 7 - False Prophets
    8.9/10(8 votes)

    #5 - False Prophets

    S5:E7

    Cullen and Durant meet with President Grant to discuss the future of the railroad; the Swede puts his plan against the Mormons in action.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 6 - One Less Mule
    8.8/10(8 votes)

    #6 - One Less Mule

    S3:E6

    Durant files an injunction against Union Pacific, threatening Cullen's position; Elam deals with a dangerous newcomer.

    Directors:Deran Sarafian, David Straiton
    Writers:John Wirth, Lolis Eric Elie

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Hell on Wheels

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  7. Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 2 - Escape from the Garden
    8.8/10(8 votes)

    #7 - Escape from the Garden

    S4:E2

    As Cullen plans an exit from Fort Smith, he challenges The Swede; when a new adversary arrives, Cheyenne feels his presence.

    Director:Neil LaBute
    Writer:Mark Richard

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  8. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 8 - Two Soldiers
    8.8/10(10 votes)

    #8 - Two Soldiers

    S5:E8

    The Swede's murderous rampage on the Hatch homestead results in a long overdue showdown with Cullen.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 10 - Get Behind the Mule
    8.7/10(8 votes)

    #9 - Get Behind the Mule

    S3:E10

    Cullen grapples with consequences while Elam mounts a rescue attempt. Durant receives Gen. Grant and the U.P. board in Cheyenne ahead of the deadline.

    Director:Neil LaBute
    Writers:Mark Richard, Jami O'Brien

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  10. Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 5 - Life's a Mystery
    8.6/10(8 votes)

    #10 - Life's a Mystery

    S4:E5

    Cullens's family is at risk when a stranger arrives, stirring up old feelings; The Swede faces the consequences.

    Director:David Straiton
    Writers:Mark Richard, Tom Brady

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  11. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 9 - Fathers and Sins
    8.5/10(8 votes)

    #11 - Fathers and Sins

    S3:E9

    With General Grant's deadline only two days away, a gang of riders attacks Cheyenne while Cullen and Elam pay Durant a visit.

    Director:Billy Gierhart
    Writers:Reed Steiner, John Wirth

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  12. Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 9 - Two Trains
    8.5/10(8 votes)

    #12 - Two Trains

    S4:E9

    Cullen goes head to head with the new marshal to recover his arrested railroad workers. Campbell confronts Louise over a story.

    Director:Marvin V. Rush
    Writer:Bruce Marshall Romans

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  13. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 1 - Chinatown
    8.5/10(8 votes)

    #13 - Chinatown

    S5:E1

    Cullen is in California with the Central Pacific Railroad, and must deal with the new workers.

    Director:David Straiton
    Writer:Jami O'Brien

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  14. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 9 - Blood Moon
    8.4/10(7 votes)

    #14 - Blood Moon

    S2:E9

    Cullen prepares for battle while the town celebrates.

    Director:Terry McDonough
    Writers:Mark Richard, Jami O'Brien

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  15. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 2 - Eminent Domain
    8.4/10(7 votes)

    #15 - Eminent Domain

    S3:E2

    An unexpected roadblock forces Cullen to make a difficult choice as a reporter arrives in Hell on Wheels. Elam struggles with his new boss.

    Director:Adam Davidson
    Writer:John Wirth

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  16. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 13 - Railroad Men
    8.4/10(8 votes)

    #16 - Railroad Men

    S5:E13

    The race to finish the railroad comes down to inches, forcing all parties to contemplate the end of the line, and what the future holds for them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 3 - Slaughterhouse
    8.3/10(6 votes)

    #17 - Slaughterhouse

    S2:E3

    Cullen struggles to maintain order while Mickey's and Sean's lives are endangered; Lily and Elam clean up a mess of their own doing.

    Director:Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
    Writers:Bruce Marshall Romans, Jami O'Brien, Jamie Linck O'Brien

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  18. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 6 - Purged Away with Blood
    8.3/10(6 votes)

    #18 - Purged Away with Blood

    S2:E6

    Despite fighting to save his own life, Durant must try to keep the railroad from going under. Meanwhile, Cullen comes to the aid of an old comrade.

    Director:Joe Gayton
    Writers:Tony Gayton, Tom Brady

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  19. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 4 - The Game
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #19 - The Game

    S3:E4

    Cullen and Elam try to secure a new lumber source following a railroad accident; Durant tells Louise a secret about Cullen.

    Director:Adam Davidson
    Writer:Jami O'Brien

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  20. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 8 - It Happened in Boston
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #20 - It Happened in Boston

    S3:E8

    After his workers defect to the Mormons, Cullen recruits Durant to help get them back. Meanwhile, Sean and Mickey's past comes back to haunt them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 3 - Chicken Hill
    8.3/10(9 votes)

    #21 - Chicken Hill

    S4:E3

    Cullen goes back to work on the railroad and butts heads with his new boss. Durant and Campbell battle over a valuable piece of real estate.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 3 - White Justice
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #22 - White Justice

    S5:E3

    Cullen contends with violence in Chinatown set off by disgruntled railroad workers. Meanwhile, the Swede manipulates Phineas in his plot against the Mormons.

    Director:David Straiton
    Writer:John Romano

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  23. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 5 - Elixir of Life
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #23 - Elixir of Life

    S5:E5

    Unexpected violence erupts in Chinatown during the festival of Tin Hau Don; Cullen confronts the Swede; and Durant involves Maggie in his latest scheme.

    Director:Karen Gaviola
    Writer:Michael Saltzman

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  24. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 10 - 61 Degrees
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #24 - 61 Degrees

    S5:E10

    Cullen's nitroglycerin experiment provides an explosive backdrop for the railroad life in Truckee. Durant's plan turns deadly.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 2 - Durant, Nebraska
    8.2/10(6 votes)

    #25 - Durant, Nebraska

    S2:E2

    Durant confronts a formidable threat to the rolling city, while a horrific crime leads Lily and Elam to join forces in order to attain justice.

    Director:Adam Davidson
    Writer:John Shiban

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Best Episodes Summary

"Return to Hell" is the best rated episode of "Hell on Wheels". It scored 9.1/10 based on 7 votes. Directed by Billy Gierhart and written by Jami O'Brien, it aired on 10/4/2014. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Elam Ferguson".