When Hell on Wheels: Season Five - Volume 2 opens, Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) is deep into his work with the Central Pacific Railroad out west, having left the Union Pacific mostly due to his ongoing, but unsuccessful, search for his wife, Naomi (MacKenzie Porter) and their infant son. Instead of masses of Irishmen, the CP depends mostly on Chinese workers supplied by a ruthless man named Mr. Chang (Byron Mann) who skims profits off of his workers' pay and runs the local Chinese whorehouse and opium den. His foreman, Mr. Tao (Tzi Ma), speaks English and is aware of the wrongdoings, but his meek protestations only make him more unpopular with Chang, whereas his young son Fong (Angela Zhou) is much more outspoken. However, Fong needs to keep under the radar because he has his own secrets. Fong eventually becomes invaluable to Bohannon as a translator and will become pivotal when Cullen goes head to head with Chang.
Meanwhile, the Swede/Thor Gunderson (Christopher Heyerdahl, True Blood) continues to plague Cullen, as he works the CP railroad line with the rest of the Mormon workers provided by Reverend Brigham Young (Gregg Henry, The Following, Guardians of the Galaxy). But the Swede is wily and is whispering in Young's son Phineas' (Josh Caras) ear in an attempt to form a coup against Brigham. Things will finally come to a violent climax between the Swede and Cullen when both get word of his family's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, back at the Union Pacific, Doc Durant (Colm Meaney, Star Trek: TNG, Murdoch Mysteries: The Movies) is doing some nasty wheeling and dealing in changing the hub of the railroad between different cities to drive the land prices up and down to his benefit. His practices not only make him so unpopular that some ranchers want him dead, but they also financially destroy Cheyenne hotel owner Maggie Palmer (Chelah Horsdal), who then later joins him in his schemes, both financial and romantic. However, Durant just can't stop his scheming, no matter how much Maggie protests and one final scheme will not end the way he had hoped.
Mickey McGinnes (Phil Burke) has created quite an empire between his saloon and whorehouse, now run by tattoo-faced Eva (Robin McLeavy) and his violent cousin Dandy Johnny Shea (Andrew Howard), but he wants more and approaches Durant about purchasing railroad stocks. McGinnis should know by now that getting into bed with Durant never ends well for anyone but him...
As the Union Pacific and Central Pacific race each other to the coal fields of Ogden, each one hoping to drive the first spike into the city, thereby claiming it along with its vast resources, there is constant infighting and drama between the warring railroad leaders Durant and Collis Huntington (Tim Guinee). However, when the final tracks are laid on each side and a winner declared, it is a beautiful moment between all of the men who suffered to build this great advancement for civilization. As the show winds to an end, we see the potential for a happy future for Cullen, somewhere far away from the transcontinental railroad, and that's a very good thing.
Included with Hell on Wheels: Season Five - Volume 2 are Inside the Episode featurettes for each of the seven episodes, as well as a handful of bonus featurettes on the wrap-up, this group of final episodes, and the Golden Spike itself. If you haven't been investing in the series, Hell on Wheels: Season Five - Volume 2 isn't the place to start, but it is a series with plenty of lush and beautiful scenery, so if you do buy, go for Hell on Wheels: The Complete Series and go Blu-ray.
Overall, Hell on Wheels is just a fantastic show and if you have never seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it from the beginning on Netflix. While I never really considered myself a fan of Westerns, shows like Hell on Wheels and Jericho have definitely changed that viewpoint. Hell on Wheels: Season Five - Volume 2 is a great way to wrap up an excellent show with superior actors, great writing and a show that is based on history. If you enjoy period drama, just watch it. You won't be sorry you did.
