Ep 1. Pilot

The show Hell on Wheels is set in the year 1865, in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The first episode, known as the Pilot, introduces us to Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier, who is seeking revenge for the death of his wife. The opening scene shows Cullen with a group of fellow soldiers, who are being forced to surrender by Union soldiers. However, Cullen manages to get away, killing a Union soldier in the process.

The scene then shifts to a railroad construction site, where we meet Thomas "Doc" Durant, a businessman who is overseeing the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. He is in need of workers, and we see that many of the laborers are newly freed slaves. We also meet Elam Ferguson, a black worker who is having a difficult time with the racist attitudes of some of the other workers.

Cullen arrives at the construction site, looking for work. He is initially turned down, but eventually convinces Durant to hire him as a foreman. Along the way, we meet Lily Bell, the wife of a surveyor who has just been killed by Native Americans. Lily is now on her own, and is determined to continue her husband's work.

As the episode progresses, we see the challenges faced by the workers constructing the railroad. They face not only the difficulty of the work itself, but also the harsh environmental conditions - extreme heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night. On top of that, they have to deal with the hostility of the Native American tribes whose land they are encroaching on.

Throughout the episode, we also see flashbacks to Cullen's life before the war, and the events that led him to become a soldier. It is clear that he is a man who has experienced significant loss, and is now seeking revenge for the death of his wife.

The Pilot episode of Hell on Wheels sets the stage for what promises to be an intense and gritty drama. We are introduced to a wide range of characters, each with their own motivations and struggles. The setting of the railroad construction site is a fascinating one, and provides an opportunity to explore the themes of race, power, and revenge. The episode does an excellent job of balancing the character development with the action and suspense that we hope to see in future episodes.

Overall, the Pilot episode of Hell on Wheels is a strong start to the series. It sets the tone and establishes the main characters convincingly, and leaves us eagerly anticipating what will happen next.