The Worst Episodes of Hell on Wheels
Every episode of Hell on Wheels ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Hell on Wheels!
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 on Wheels, a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot of a town that travels with and services the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, an engineering feat unprecedented for its time.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Hell on Wheels" is "Bear Man", rated 7.4/10 from 759 user votes. It was directed by Clark Johnson and written by Max Hurwitz. "Bear Man" aired on 9/6/2014 and is rated 0.2 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Jamais je ne t'oublierai".
7.4/10 759 votes#1 - Bear Man
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 9/6/2014
Following an attack by a bear, Elam struggles to survive in a Comanche village and find his way back to Cheyenne.
Director: Clark Johnson
Writer: Max Hurwitz
7.6/10 869 votes#2 - Jamais je ne t'oublierai
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/27/2011
Cullen's search for the sergeant nears its end; Durant keeps to his hidden agenda while assisting in Lily's recuperation.
Director: Alex Zakrzewski
Writer: Jamie Linck O'Brien, Jami O'Brien
7.7/10 921 votes#3 - A New Birth of Freedom
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/20/2011
When Lily goes missing, Durant organizes a search party. A subsidiary request prevents Cullen from his continued search for the sergeant involved in the murder of his wife.
Director: Phil Abraham
Writer: John Shiban
7.7/10 869 votes#4 - Bread and Circuses
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 12/4/2011
A bare-knuckle brouhaha between Elam and Cullen is spurred by Durant's latest attempt to deal with the railroad's financial crisis.
Director: Adam Davidson
Writer: Mark Richard
7.7/10 826 votes#5 - Pride, Pomp and Circumstance
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/11/2011
Durant challenges the Cheyenne to a competition in an effort to bring a halt to ongoing negotiations. Meanwhile, Elam and Cullen try to prevent bloodshed in town.
Director: Michael Slovis
Writer: Bruce Marshall Romans
7.8/10 1,369 votes#6 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 11/6/2011
A former confederate soldier journeys to the transcontinental railroad to seek vengeance.
Director: David Von Ancken
Writer: Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
7.8/10 597 votes#7 - Searchers
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 8/31/2013
Cullen helps Elam track down a dangerous criminal; the town prepares to move down the tracks.
Director: Neil LaBute
Writer: Bruce Marshall Romans
7.8/10 518 votes#8 - Hungry Ghosts
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 8/22/2015
Cullen and Mei escort precious cargo through the California wilderness; Eva nurses Louise back to health.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10 1,029 votes#9 - Immoral Mathematics
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/13/2011
Lily encounters natives in the wilderness. Cullen is questioned in regards to his recent actions against others. Meanwhile, Durant continues his push for political gain through his persuasions.
Director: David Von Ancken
Writer: Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
7.9/10 596 votes#10 - Cholera
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 9/14/2013
When a cholera epidemic hits Hell on Wheels, Cullen must find fresh water before his workers die. Durant faces political fallout.
Director: Deran Sarafian
Writer: Tom Brady
7.9/10 584 votes#11 - It Happened in Boston
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 9/21/2013
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10 507 votes#12 - White Justice
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 8/1/2015
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
8.0/10 667 votes#13 - The White Spirit
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 9/23/2012
In the aftermath of tragedy, Lily and Cullen struggle to maintain order in Hell on Wheels. Meanwhile, Elam makes plans for the future.
Director: David Von Ancken
Writer: Bruce Marshall Romans, Jami O'Brien
8.0/10 598 votes#14 - The Game
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 8/24/2013
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
8.0/10 652 votes#15 - The Elusive Eden
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 8/2/2014
Cullen awaits the birth of his baby, laboring under The Swede's thumb at Fort Smith. Durant deals with the fallout from a railroad accident.
Director: Neil LaBute
Writer: Mark Richard
8.0/10 585 votes#16 - Reckoning
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 8/23/2014
Cullen deals with trouble at home as he takes railroad matters into his own hands. Campbell makes a move against Durant and Mickey.
Director: Dennie Gordon
Writer: Jennifer Cecil
8.0/10 558 votes#17 - Further West
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 11/22/2014
As the railroad prepares to leave Cheyenne behind in the Season 4 finale, Cullen returns to Fort Smith to retrieve his family.
Director: Adam Davidson
Writer: N/A
8.0/10 599 votes#18 - Chinatown
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 7/18/2015
Cullen is in California with the Central Pacific Railroad, and must deal with the new workers.
Director: David Straiton
Writer: Jami O'Brien
8.0/10 509 votes#19 - Struck
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 8/8/2015
Cullen solves a Chinese labor strike in the wake of violence. Meanwhile, Durant pulls Mickey deeper into Union Pacific business.
Director: Clark Johnson
Writer: Max Hurwitz
8.0/10 505 votes#20 - Return to the Garden
Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 6/18/2016
Cullen faces life-changing decisions in Utah as Truckee adapts to life without him.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/10 824 votes#21 - Derailed
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1/1/2012
Durant dispatches Cullen and Elam on a mission of vengeance. Lily struggles to find her place.
Director: David Von Ancken
Writer: Mark Richard
8.1/10 692 votes#22 - Viva La Mexico
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 8/12/2012
In the Season 2 premiere, Durant and Lily steer the railroad further west, while Cullen and Elam land on opposite sides of the law.
Director: David Von Ancken
Writer: Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
8.1/10 709 votes#23 - Durant, Nebraska
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 8/19/2012
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
8.1/10 676 votes#24 - Scabs
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 9/2/2012
A tragedy leads Cullen to defuse an internal threat to the railroad.
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Writer: Chris Mundy
8.1/10 664 votes#25 - The Lord's Day
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 9/30/2012
A new arrival stirs things up in Hell on Wheels, while Eva gets caught between Elam and Mr. Toole.
Director: Rod Lurie
Writer: Chris Mundy, Mark Richard