This Forgotten 5-Season Western Series Still Makes 'Yellowstone' Look Tame

Published Jul 26, 2026, 1:58 PM EDT Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next. She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie. Modern Westerns have offered television viewers a look at a fascinating, lawless aspect of America, while also updating the action with even more heart-pumping drama. But some of them, like Paramount+'s Yellowstone, have earned just as much criticism for their over-the-top artifice as they've been praised for reinvigorating the genre. For those looking for a quality Western that actually predates Yellowstone, look no further than a fantastic, forgotten, five-season series, now streaming on both AMC+ and Paramount+. What Is 'Hell on Wheels' About? Hell on Wheels, which aired from 2011 to 2016 on AMC, takes place during a real-life, tumultuous time in American history. Between 1865 and 1869, the Union Pacific Railroad was laying tracks westward, and as each mile was constructed, a mobile encampment traveled along with it. This camp was nicknamed "Hell on Wheels" because of its rough-and-tumble and often violent population. The protagonist of the series is Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), a former Confederate soldier who has joined the project because he's determined to find the Union soldiers who murdered his wife and son during the Civil War, and has reason to believe they're part of the Hell on Wheels crew. Cullen meets several people who have a huge impact on his journey, including a former slave named Elam Ferguson (Common); an Irish brothel worker named Eva Toole (Robin McLeavy), and a surveyor's widow named Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott). Cullen's willingness to get his hands dirty makes him invaluable to the First Transcontinental Railroad project, but the biggest villain of the show is Thomas "Doc" Durant (Colm Meaney), the investor behind the construction. Doc is a wealthy, privileged businessman who is willing to stop at nothing to achieve his goal. He even hires a ruthless head of security, Thor Gundersen, aka "The Swede" (Christopher Heyerdahl), who is arguably one of the scariest villains ever depicted onscreen. All of these intriguing characters help to make Hell on Wheels a compelling and thrilling show. 'Hell on Wheels' Is a Gritty, Must-Watch Western Hell on Wheels is arguably a more successful Western than Yellowstone because the conflicts that transpire between characters amidst the no-holds-barred, grimy environment feel incredibly authentic. The characters in Hell on Wheels might be fighting for survival, but many of them are also working towards an idealistic future for the whole country. The series also offers a unique perspective on the class and gender roles that were more prominent during this time period, which only makes the narrative more complex. Hell on Wheels excels through all five seasons because of Mount's complete dedication to playing Cullen. His gruff exterior and damaged psyche make for a morally ambiguous hero, yet someone who still feels worthy of rooting for. The series was also a great vehicle for launching Common's acting career. While he had been more well-known for his music career before this, Hell on Wheels provided him a chance to showcase his versatility. Meaney and Heyerdahl also offer villains that only add to the show's terrifying realism. Instead of being caricatures of evil, they depict two men who, unfortunately, feel all too real in their cutthroat ways. As the seasons progress, both of the actors are allowed to push the boundaries of their characters' villainy even further, which results in constant twists and turns within the story. By the end of Season 5, Hell on Wheels had reached a natural conclusion. The best part is that the writers knew ahead of time that the show would be coming to a close, so they were able to tie up the story in a satisfying way. Although Hell on Wheels has elements of what made Yellowstone popular, its gritty setting, violence, and attention to historical detail are far more riveting to watch. Hell on Wheels Release Date 2012 - 2016-00-00 Cast Christopher Heyerdahl The Swede