Hell on Wheels

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by getbak

The only question now is how long are they going to make us wait for Elam's return? I can't imagine they would actually kill him off without some official confirmation.

I thought this as well at the end of last season, as it seemed highly unlikely that they would kill off the second principal character so abruptly, but then when I watched the season 4 premiere and Common's name was not in the opening credits it made me wonder. Turns out we are correct - Elam will be back at some point:

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/06/27/he...season-4-elam/

In the season three finale of AMC’s Hell on Wheels, Elam (Common) went searching for kidnapped Cullen (Anson Mount) and stumbled upon a bear instead. Out of bullets, he was last seen losing that battle. Considering Common’s not in the first official cast photo released for season four (click here for the full version), fans might worry he’s off the show for good. Those who caught him photographed at the cast and crew’s season 4 kickoff dinner, though, may assume Elam’s back. Exec producer John Wirth confirms it: “He survives the bear attack, but I think you will be surprised to see the manner in which he survives,” he tells EW. “The circumstances of his survival are unique.”

Can't wait to see how they do it. IMO this show is AMC's hidden gem.

[getbak]

Based on the upcoming episode descriptions on my cable box, it looks like it will be the episode that airs on September 6 where we find out what happened with Elam.

Following an attack by a bear, Elam struggles to survive in a Comanche village and find his way back to Cheyenne.

[nixon45]

Here is how I see Elam returning..

Natives nurse him back to health but have to remove the lower half of his disfigured body. Mad scientist puts him in a steam powered wheelchair... Elam leads the railroad alongside Bohannan up and over the mountain range.

[Slava]

I follow He'll on Wheels on Twitter and they haven't really hidden the idea that Elam is coming back. They were using the hash tag #Elamsearchparty a week or two ago. I think we all knew that he was alive, but I thought it was a little silly for the show to basically confirm it a couple weeks early with that.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Slava

I follow He'll on Wheels on Twitter and they haven't really hidden the idea that Elam is coming back. They were using the hash tag #Elamsearchparty a week or two ago. I think we all knew that he was alive, but I thought it was a little silly for the show to basically confirm it a couple weeks early with that.

Not when his wifey is getting all cozy with Mr. Durant...

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

I follow He'll on Wheels on Twitter and they haven't really hidden the idea that Elam is coming back. They were using the hash tag #Elamsearchparty a week or two ago. I think we all knew that he was alive, but I thought it was a little silly for the show to basically confirm it a couple weeks early with that.

I just finally got caught up this weekend and there was a spoiler at the end of the last episode regarding Elam. I have to say, as much as I like Elam this whole 'resurrection' bit seems incredibly ham-fisted. I am not looking forward to it.

Not really spoilers if you're caught up, but I thought I'd be courteous. I was 4 episodes behind so I had to abandon this thread for a bit.

Spoiler!

The show tends to lose me a bit with prolonged scenes with natives. They're not really developed almost to the point of caricature and I think they're best left as a shadowy threat.

Its been a really strong season thus far, I was hoping for some more badassery from Cullen, especially after the beating he took, I was hoping he'd kill the Marshals who did it as well as Sidney Snow after the shootout, but it shows the married and mellowed Cullen.

But I hope its just allowing Cullen's rage to collect and he starts tearing faces off soon.

Mickey is taking up the crazy rage though. Thats been fun.

[greyshep]

Well Elam is back I guess. That was certainly not one of my favorite episodes. I agree with you Locke, the prolonged scenes with the natives dont seem to work well to me.

Hopefully the writers can get back on track again soon.

[Slava]

I think that part of the problem with those scenes is that I have no idea whats going on. Obviously, he was recovering and that woman was taking care of him, and that's great. But the conflict with the other natives and things like that were kind of "meh". I also thought it was odd that he just kills a couple guys and takes a few women and a horse and just rides away. I don't know...maybe I missed something, but no one really cared that he did that?

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think that part of the problem with those scenes is that I have no idea whats going on. Obviously, he was recovering and that woman was taking care of him, and that's great. But the conflict with the other natives and things like that were kind of "meh". I also thought it was odd that he just kills a couple guys and takes a few women and a horse and just rides away. I don't know...maybe I missed something, but no one really cared that he did that?

To the tribe, he killed a bear and because of the special powers from that he can't die in battle. So, whose going to stop him? Also, and I could be wrong, those woman were claimed by the Brave that Elam killed so they became his responsibility.

[Redliner]

Love Hell on Wheels. Hated that episode. Seriously, probably the worst one of the whole series. It was just disjointed and mostly uninteresting. Hopefully things take a turn for the better next week - at least there will be more than a dozen lines of dialogue.

[Freeway]

No Ruth = no buys.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Redliner

Love Hell on Wheels. Hated that episode. Seriously, probably the worst one of the whole series. It was just disjointed and mostly uninteresting. Hopefully things take a turn for the better next week - at least there will be more than a dozen lines of dialogue.

No argument there. Elam and Natives just werent strong enough to carry a whole episode especially when you know that the natives are going to get dropped immediately and as such get zero character development.

[Hessen]

After watching the episode and then the preview for this week I wonder if they aren't moving to kill Elam off. I don't see him coming back from the crazy place he's in after the bearclaw lobotomy...

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hessen

After watching the episode and then the preview for this week I wonder if they aren't moving to kill Elam off. I don't see him coming back from the crazy place he's in after the bearclaw lobotomy...

I hope so. Honestly, that episode was terrible, episodes like that are what get marginal shows canceled and I like Hell on Wheels and want it to keep going.

But the preview for the next episode doesnt give me much hope.

'Crazy Elam?' Are they serious?

I really liked Elam's character and thought it was a great supporting role and now it just feels like its completely jumped the shark and I really dont understand why. If they're going to kill him off they should have just let the bear kill him, we all just shrug our shoulders call it cheesy and accept it.

This is just crazy.

[Slava]

I hope to be wrong, but maybe this is a "love saves the day" kind of thing and Eva jogs his memory before he gets himself killed? That was one of the problems with the last episode though; he was just back on the series and then they rode against the blue jackets, so you knew he was going to be fine there.

Regardless though, I really like Campbell and that character. Just such a great addition and the way they've written him is awesome. I still think the show will be awesome again, but this particular storyline (with crazy Elam)just has to die out one way or another.

[nixon45]

Originally Posted by Slava

Regardless though, I really like Campbell and that character. Just such a great addition and the way they've written him is awesome.

I really hate that guy... Which means both actor and writers have done a great job with the character

[Yamer]

Well, that hit a lot harder than I expected it to. And, like it or not, the moment really needed the previous episode to tie it all together and make the intended impact.

Solid episode.

[nixon45]

Just watched the episode

Spoiler!

I am glad that Elam's death came at the hands of Cullen and not Campbell and his crew. I don't really understand why he needed to shoot him though, looked like Cullen had him under control after stabbing him... Unless he already knew it was a fatal wound and wanted to end the suffering.

Elam was one of my favourite characters but I found myself rolling my eyes at so many of his antics throughout the last two episodes. Has there ever been a faker beard on television? Looked like the rail crew all shaved their pubes and glued them on to Elam's face while he slept!

Like another poster had said previously, why have Elam survive the bear attack just to have him go crazy for two episodes and then have Bohannan put some led through his chest. Strange writing in my opinion and I am really not sure where this series will go following this. Elam was a strong character before the bear attack, and that character I will miss.

Edit: I just now read that Common had asked to leave the show to focus on his music..makes things a little more clear


Good to see Durant crack some skulls...literally

Pretty good episode overall

[Slava]

I thought it was a great episode as well. The writers just have a way of making these drastic changes and yet keeping the overall show rolling along. It's really well done and while I didn't particularly love the prior episode, this one was worth the wait.

[Freeway]

I kinda like how Cullen's character arc was that he won't kill anybody anymore and has way too much blood on his hands.