Hell
On Wheels: Season Four (2015/E1 Blu-ray Set)
Picture:
A- Sound: A Extras: C+ Episodes: B
Hell
On Wheels is another one of the AMC Network's shows that I
enjoy watching every week, but is still kind of the underdog when
compared to Mad Men,
The Walking Dead,
Breaking Bad, etc.
I'll admit it is not for everyone, because not everyone enjoys
watching Westerns, and that's what this show is, a Western. Hell
On Wheels gives us a lot more than Cowboys
and Indians (Native Americans). It has drama, action, romance, and
yes, even some comedic moments. This Western series also shows us
the harsh conditions of the times and how it gets increasingly worse
as the show progresses.
In
this Fourth Season, we start to see more of the toll working
on this railroad takes on its characters and how the past comes to
haunt them. It follows the brutal winter of 1868 and the railroad is
at a standstill and restless. The workers wreak havoc on Cheyenne.
Cullen Bohannon is trapped in a fort with a pregnant wife, Thomas
Durant is broke, and Elam Ferguson is presumed dead. The task of
uniting America still is unfinished and everything seems to be
getting worse.
My
favorite relationship in the series is between Cullen and Elam, but
Common (The actor that plays Elam) had already stated that he would
not be returning after Season Four, which brings me to why I
did not rate the thirteen episodes on this 3-disc set as high as I
would normally for a show I enjoy. The episodes are The Elusive
Eden, Escape from the Garden, Chicken Hill, Reckoning, Life's a
Mystery, Bear Man, Elam Ferguson, Under Color Law, Two Trains, Return
to Hell, Bleeding Kansas, Thirteen Steps, and Further West.
Bear Man and Elam Ferguson are the two episodes that
stand out the most here, but not in a good way. They are the
episodes that show the removal of Elam's character, which seemed a
little forced and frankly did not make a whole lot of sense in the
world that they created.
The
1080p Digital High Definition Blu-ray presentations (in an 1.78:1
aspect ratio) looks much better than watching it live on television.
When shooting a western the wide open landscapes are a crucial part
and seeing the crisp colors in HD is a big plus. Not to mention, the
lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (and lesser, lossy Dolby Digital 5.1
if you choose) that surrounds your room and makes it appear that a
train is passing behind you.
Extras
on the disc include: A Look at Season 4, The New Characters of
Season 4, Cheyenne Set Tour, On the Set with Colm Meaney, On the Set
with Jake Weber, Episode Featurettes, Anson Mount Retrospective.
You can see more coverage of previous seasons elsewhere on this
site.
This
is one show that I recommend sticking with, because of how well it is
shot stylistically and the content within. If you're a Western fan,
then it doesn't disappoint.
-
Jordan Whiteko
