The BEST episodes of Hell on Wheels

Every episode of Hell on Wheels ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Hell on Wheels!

Hell on Wheels tells the epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on a Confederate soldier (Mount) who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who have 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.

Last Updated: 9/23/2024Network: AMCStatus: Ended
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Blood Moon
star
8.15
1714 votes

#1 - Blood Moon

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/7/2012

Cullen prepares for battle while the town celebrates.

Directors: Terry McDonough
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Done
star
8.06
1233 votes

#2 - Done

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 7/23/2016

The golden spike, government hearings and unpredictable actions mean new beginnings and endings for the survivors.

Directors: David Von Ancken
Watch Now:Amazon
Blood Moon Rising
star
8.04
751 votes

#3 - Blood Moon Rising

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/7/2012

Cullen fights to save Hell on Wheels.

Directors: John Shiban
Writer: John Shiban
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Return to Hell
star
7.99
1322 votes

#4 - Return to Hell

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/4/2014

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

Directors: Billy Gierhart
Writer: Jami O'Brien
Watch Now:Amazon
Two Trains
star
7.97
1408 votes

#5 - Two Trains

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/27/2014

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

Directors: Marvin V. Rush
Watch Now:Amazon
Timshel
star
7.97
2497 votes

#6 - Timshel

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/8/2012

A looming railroad deadline throws Cullen and Lily together; Joseph and Elam deal with what their violent mission has wrought.

Directors: John Shiban
Writer: John Shiban
Watch Now:Amazon
God of Chaos
star
7.95
2412 votes

#7 - God of Chaos

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/15/2012

In the Season 1 finale, Cullen's past and future collide, impacting his life on the railroad.

Directors: David Von Ancken
Watch Now:Amazon
Derailed
star
7.94
2408 votes

#8 - 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.

Directors: David Von Ancken
Writer: Mark Richard
Watch Now:Amazon
False Prophets
star
7.93
1126 votes

#9 - False Prophets

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/29/2015

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

Directors: Rod Lurie
Watch Now:Amazon
The Railroad Job
star
7.92
2036 votes

#10 - The Railroad Job

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/9/2012

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

Directors: Michael Nankin
Writer: Mark Richard
Watch Now:Amazon
Revelations
star
7.92
2485 votes

#11 - Revelations

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/18/2011

With Elam's life in the balance, Cullen must decide how much he’s willing to risk. Meanwhile Durant faces financial ruin as Lily confronts the family of her late husband.

Watch Now:Amazon
Slaughterhouse
star
7.90
1915 votes

#12 - Slaughterhouse

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/26/2012

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.

Watch Now:Amazon
Eminent Domain
star
7.89
1101 votes

#13 - Eminent Domain

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/10/2013

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

Directors: Adam Davidson
Writer: John Wirth
Watch Now:Amazon
Get Behind the Mule
star
7.88
1603 votes

#14 - Get Behind the Mule

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/5/2013

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.

Directors: Neil LaBute
Watch Now:Amazon
Fathers and Sins
star
7.86
1577 votes

#15 - Fathers and Sins

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/28/2013

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

Directors: Billy Gierhart
Watch Now:Amazon
Elam Ferguson
star
7.84
1425 votes

#16 - Elam Ferguson

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/13/2014

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

Directors: Rod Lurie
Watch Now:Amazon
Immoral Mathematics
star
7.82
3003 votes

#17 - 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.

Directors: David Von Ancken
Watch Now:Amazon
The White Spirit
star
7.82
1790 votes

#18 - 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.

Directors: David Von Ancken
Watch Now:Amazon
Bread and Circuses
star
7.81
2505 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: Adam Davidson
Writer: Mark Richard
Watch Now:Amazon
Pride, Pomp and Circumstance
star
7.80
2647 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: Michael Slovis
Watch Now:Amazon
One Less Mule
star
7.80
1719 votes

#21 - One Less Mule

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/7/2013

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

Watch Now:Amazon
Railroad Men
star
7.79
1300 votes

#22 - Railroad Men

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/16/2016

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.

Directors: Jeremy Webb
Watch Now:Amazon
Big Bad Wolf
star
7.78
1722 votes

#23 - Big Bad Wolf

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/10/2013

After a hard winter, Cullen and Elam travel to New York to secure their positions on the railroad as Durant fights for his legacy from prison.

Directors: David Von Ancken
Writer: Mark Richard
Watch Now:Amazon
Purged Away With Blood
star
7.77
1920 votes

#24 - Purged Away With Blood

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/16/2012

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.

Directors: Joe Gayton
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Escape from the Garden
star
7.77
1337 votes

#25 - Escape from the Garden

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/9/2014

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

Directors: Neil LaBute
Writer: Mark Richard
Watch Now:Amazon