Hell on Wheels: Season 1, Episode 9 “Timshel” (B+)
This episode was full of monumental developments, starting with a dramatic opening sequence finishing off the battle started at the tail end of last week’s installment and featuring Joseph killing his brother. Elam’s strong desire to scalp the Indians in order to attain the reward was intriguing because it clearly pained him to commit the physical act, but his reward enabled him to be filled with confidence, ensuring that Durant didn’t shortchange him, not hiding his feelings towards Eva, and walking into a bar to have a drink with Cullen. The return of Toole was wholly unexpected, and I fully thought that Elam was going to shoot him, instead forcing him to apologize to Eva. That scene was especially well-photographed and lensed. Durant managed to see not one but two different conspiracies going on behind his back, as the Senator spoke to the Swede and Cullen flirted with Lily, the woman determined to get her way and not to be possessed by Durant. It’s interesting to note that Durant seems to trust Cullen above all, warning him of the Swede’s actions and telling him to get a head start. I would have thought that Cullen would try to expel Swede from Hell on Wheels, but it looks like he’ll be on the run again, just in time for the show to conclude its first season. Reverend Cole, who is definitely going through a hard time, has now taken the leap from zealot to violent murderer, decapitating Griggs in defense of Joseph’s life. That’s definitely going to have repercussions, but it’s not clear just what they will be yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment