Ep 5. Bread and Circuses

In the fifth episode of Hell on Wheels season one, entitled "Bread and Circuses," tensions continue to rise between the workers of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Cheyenne Indians. Cullen Bohannon, the foreman of the railroad, is tasked with keeping the peace by negotiating a deal with Chief Many Horses.

Meanwhile, Doc Durant, the owner of the railroad, is determined to distract the workers from their troubles by putting on a grand spectacle for their entertainment. He hires a troupe of performers, including a snake charmer and a sharpshooter, to put on a show in the camp.

As the performers arrive and begin to set up, tensions grow between them and the workers. Many of the workers view them as a distraction from the real issues at hand and are suspicious of their motives.

One of the performers, a beautiful woman named Eva, catches the eye of several of the workers, including Cullen. Despite their initial distrust of her, they begin to be won over by her charm and her talent as a singer.

Meanwhile, Joseph Black Moon, a Cheyenne Indian who has been living in the camp, begins to feel conflicted about his loyalties. He is torn between his duty to his people and his desire to be accepted by the white settlers.

As the evening of the performance approaches, tensions reach a boiling point. The Cheyenne Indians show up at the camp, demanding that Chief Many Horses be released from captivity. The workers, already on edge from the presence of the performers, are quick to see this as a threat.

In the midst of all this chaos, Cullen and Eva share a tender moment, as he opens up to her about the guilt he feels over his past actions and she reveals her own troubled history.

By the end of the episode, the tensions have not yet been resolved. The workers are still on edge, the Cheyenne Indians are still demanding justice, and Doc Durant is still determined to distract the masses with his grand spectacles.

"Bread and Circuses" is a thrilling and suspenseful episode, filled with action, drama, and romance. It offers a nuanced portrayal of the conflict between white settlers and Native Americans during the building of the transcontinental railroad, as well as the challenges faced by those caught in the middle.