---
title: "Hell on Wheels: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels"
critics_score: 47
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Hell on Wheels (2011): what the critics said

Critics' score 47 from 8 reviews: 2 positive, 2 mixed, 4 negative.

The reviews lean towards disappointment, finding Hell on Wheels more promising in its setting and supporting cast than in its central drama. Praise clusters around the vivid secondary characters, with Christopher Heyerdahl’s Swede singled out as particularly well realised. The locations and production design also earn approval, giving the Western a persuasive physical setting. Even some sceptical notices see potential in the revenge-driven premise, though comparisons with Deadwood repeatedly work against the series.

The reservations centre on blunt character introductions, heavy-handed dialogue and a grimness that leaves little space for humour. Several critics find the storytelling flat or prone to losing momentum. The spread is wide, but the reviews cover different stages: IndieWire welcomes a more distinctive voice in the second season, while Den of Geek finds the finale satisfying and bittersweet. Those warmer assessments suggest development beyond the uncertain opening, rather than agreement about the series throughout.

## IndieWire — Alison Willmore

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2012. 

Willmore finds the series improved in its second season and recommends getting on board, while acknowledging it still falls short of Deadwood. She praises its growing distinctive voice and a haunting montage that captures the characters’ impending trouble.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/is-hell-on-wheels-worth-adding-to-your-dvr-line-up-in-its-new-season-45640/)

## The AV Club — Phil Dyess-Nugent

Rating D. 19 December 2011. 

The critic treats the episode as an accidental self-parody, with its heavy-handed writing and clumsy action outweighing its merits. He gives some credit to Durant’s satisfying revenge on a blackmailer, but singles out the episode’s unsubtle dialogue and backstory as major flaws.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/hell-on-wheels-revelations-1798170902)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 3 November 2011. 

Goodman finds the series unfocused and its pilot flat, though he sees potential in its setting and stories. He singles out Christopher Heyerdahl’s Swede as the most fully realized character.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/hell-wheels-tv-review-256904/)

## Variety — Brian Lowry

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 3 November 2011. 

Lowry finds the series only fitfully compelling and says its early episodes lose narrative momentum. He praises the vivid supporting characters but faults the grim leads and familiar Western archetypes.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/tv/reviews/hell-on-wheels-1117946512/)

## Vulture — Willa Paskin

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2018. 

The critic finds the series too earnest and says it suffers beside Deadwood. They single out its lack of humor as the clearest weakness.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2011/11/tv_review_hell_on_wheels.html)

## Den of Geek — Kendall Williams

Rating 4 out of 5. 24 July 2016. 

Williams finds the finale satisfying and bittersweet. The reviewer praises its resolution of the characters’ stories alongside completion of the railroad.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/hell-on-wheels-series-finale-review-gone/)

## Paste — Josh Jackson

Rating 7.2. 6 November 2011. 

Jackson is uncertain whether the premiere can live up to AMC’s other acclaimed series, though its revenge-driven Western premise may hold promise. He singles out the show’s blunt, archetypal character introductions as a weakness.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/hell-on-wheels-review-series-premiere)

## Collider — Ethan Anderton

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2011. 

The premiere is decent but feels like a weaker, less forceful version of Deadwood, though it shows enough promise to keep viewers interested. The critic praises the striking locations and production design, while faulting the softer drama and violence.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/hell-on-wheels-series-premiere-review/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels.md