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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!

Worst episode
S4E6 Bear Man
7.4861 votes
Best episode
S5E8 Two Soldiers
8.9866 votes
Top season
Season 4
8.3avg
Binge time
1d 15h
57 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons5

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 6 - Bear Man
    7.4/10(861 votes)

    S4:E6

    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

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  2. Hell on Wheels Season 1 Episode 4 - Jamais je ne t'oublierai
    7.6/10(983 votes)

    S1:E4

    Cullen's search for the sergeant nears its end; Durant keeps to his hidden agenda while assisting in Lily's recuperation.

    Director:Alex Zakrzewski
    Writers:Jamie Linck O'Brien, Jami O'Brien

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  3. Hell on Wheels Season 1 Episode 3 - A New Birth of Freedom
    7.7/10(1049 votes)

    S1:E3

    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

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  4. Hell on Wheels Season 1 Episode 6 - Pride, Pomp and Circumstance
    7.7/10(935 votes)

    S1:E6

    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

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  5. Hell on Wheels Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.8/10(1543 votes)

    S1:E1

    A former confederate soldier journeys to the transcontinental railroad to seek vengeance.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writers:Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton

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  6. Hell on Wheels Season 1 Episode 5 - Bread and Circuses
    7.8/10(986 votes)

    S1:E5

    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

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  7. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 6 - Hungry Ghosts
    7.8/10(597 votes)

    S5:E6

    Cullen and Mei escort precious cargo through the California wilderness; Eva nurses Louise back to health.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Hell on Wheels Season 1 Episode 2 - Immoral Mathematics
    7.9/10(1161 votes)

    S1:E2

    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
    Writers:Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton

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  9. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 5 - Searchers
    7.9/10(684 votes)

    S3:E5

    Cullen helps Elam track down a dangerous criminal; the town prepares to move down the tracks.

    Director:Neil LaBute
    Writer:Bruce Marshall Romans

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  10. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 3 - White Justice
    7.9/10(584 votes)

    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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  11. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 7 - The White Spirit
    8.0/10(755 votes)

    S2:E7

    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
    Writers:Bruce Marshall Romans, Jami O'Brien

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  12. Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 1 - The Elusive Eden
    8.0/10(739 votes)

    S4:E1

    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

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  13. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 1 - Chinatown
    8.0/10(688 votes)

    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 3 Episode 4 - The Game
    8.0/10(686 votes)

    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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  15. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 7 - Cholera
    8.0/10(679 votes)

    S3:E7

    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

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  16. Hell on Wheels Season 4 Episode 4 - Reckoning
    8.0/10(671 votes)

    S4:E4

    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

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  17. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 8 - It Happened in Boston
    8.0/10(667 votes)

    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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  18. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 4 - Struck
    8.0/10(586 votes)

    S5:E4

    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

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  19. Hell on Wheels Season 5 Episode 9 - Return to the Garden
    8.0/10(579 votes)

    S5:E9

    Cullen faces life-changing decisions in Utah as Truckee adapts to life without him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Hell on Wheels Season 1 Episode 8 - Derailed
    8.1/10(929 votes)

    S1:E8

    Durant dispatches Cullen and Elam on a mission of vengeance. Lily struggles to find her place.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writer:Mark Richard

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  21. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 2 - Durant, Nebraska
    8.1/10(801 votes)

    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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  22. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 1 - Viva La Mexico
    8.1/10(784 votes)

    S2:E1

    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
    Writers:Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton

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  23. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 4 - Scabs
    8.1/10(761 votes)

    S2:E4

    A tragedy leads Cullen to defuse an internal threat to the railroad.

    Director:Catherine Hardwicke
    Writer:Chris Mundy

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  24. Hell on Wheels Season 2 Episode 8 - The Lord's Day
    8.1/10(755 votes)

    S2:E8

    A new arrival stirs things up in Hell on Wheels, while Eva gets caught between Elam and Mr. Toole.

    Director:Rod Lurie
    Writers:Mark Richard, Chris Mundy

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  25. Hell on Wheels Season 3 Episode 3 - Range War
    8.1/10(686 votes)

    S3:E3

    Cullen and Elam search for their stolen food on the prairie; a stranger's arrival threatens Elam's family.

    Director:Dennie Gordon
    Writers:Mark Richard, Reed Steiner

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Bear Man" is the worst rated episode of Hell on Wheels. It scored 7.4/10 from 861 votes. Directed by Clark Johnson and written by Max Hurwitz, it aired on September 6, 2014. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Jamais je ne t'oublierai".

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