Ep 6. Pride, Pomp and Circumstance

As the sixth episode of the first season of the western TV series "Hell on Wheels," "Pride, Pomp and Circumstance" carries on with the story of the building of the Union Pacific Railroad. The show is set in the late 1860s, around the time of the Civil War's end, and centers on the character of Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier who is now working for the Union Pacific railroad company.

In this episode, Bohannon is tasked with overseeing the construction of a new section of track in the Nebraska territory. He is joined by a group of Irish workers who are brought in from Chicago to help complete the task. However, the Irish workers soon find themselves clashing with the other workers on the crew, specifically a group of Swede workers who have been on the project longer.

Meanwhile, back at Hell on Wheels, the makeshift town that has sprung up around the railroad construction site, Mrs. Lily Bell, the widow of one of the railroad company's founders, is planning a charity ball to raise money for the families of workers who have been killed on the job. However, her plans are met with resistance by some of the other town residents, who feel that such a celebration would be inappropriate given the number of men who have died building the railroad.

As tensions rise both in the Nebraska territory and in Hell on Wheels, Bohannon is forced to confront his own prejudices and loyalty to his former Confederate beliefs when he finds himself caught in the middle of the conflict between the Irish and Swedish workers. Meanwhile, Lily Bell must navigate the political and social minefield of the town in order to raise the necessary funds for her charity ball.

Overall, "Pride, Pomp and Circumstance" is a tense and compelling episode of "Hell on Wheels" that explores themes of loyalty, prejudice, and class conflict during a pivotal period of American history. With strong performances from the ensemble cast and sharp writing that captures the rough-and-tumble spirit of the frontier, it's no wonder why this show has become a fan favorite among viewers who love their westerns with a healthy dose of drama.