A New Birth of Freedom

"A New Birth of Freedom"
Hell on Wheels episode

Cullen (Anson Mount) protects Lily (Dominique McElligott).
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 3
Directed by Phil Abraham
Written by John Shiban
Produced by Tony Gayton, Joe Gayton, Jeremy Gold, and John Shiban
Featured music Rattlin' Bones by
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
Production code 103
Original air date November 20, 2011
Guest actors
  • Christopher Heyerdahl as The Swede
  • James D. Hopkin as Senator Jordan Crane
  • Ian Tracey as Bolan
  • Diego Diablo del Mar as Dix
  • Dohn Norwood as Psalms
  • Robin McLeavy as Eva
  • Duncan Ollerenshaw as Mr. Toole
  • David Lereaney as Telegraph Operator
  • Chris Ippolito as Young Engineer
  • Kassia Warshawski as Mary Bohannon

"A New Birth of Freedom" is the third episode of the first season of American television drama series Hell on Wheels, which premiered on November 20, 2011 on AMC in the United States and on TCM in the UK. The episode was written by John Shiban and directed by Phil Abraham. Cullen Bohannon resumes his quest of vengeance by learning the name of one of the men responsible for his wife's death. His plans change when he crosses paths with Lily Bell and Joseph Black Moon. She has been wounded from a Cheyenne attack on her camp that also killed her husband. Joseph has been seeking answers from his former tribe, including his own brother, about the savage attack.

Plot

While exploring his new canvas home, Cullen (Anson Mount) comes across a photograph of now-deceased foreman Daniel Johnson, a Union captain posing with some of his regiment. Cullen reflects on previously killing three men in the picture. His eyes fixate on the last of them: Sergeant Harper. Back at work, Cullen gives his crew their cut assignment, but The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl) has other plans for them - find Lily Bell and receive $100. Cullen threatens all of them with termination should they take Swede’s offer. Elam (Common) offers that his crew of freedmen can handle the entire assignment, that the white workers can go. Before releasing the men, Cullen inquires about a Frank Harper. He’s told that Harper was westward with the logging crew.

In Nebraska, Cullen finds Joseph (Eddie Spears) with an unconscious Lily (Dominique McElligott), her wounds worsening. Once he removes a sliver of arrow from her shoulder and sees that she's stabilizing, he leaves only to later return. He knows Joseph would be killed if he brought Lily back to town. The news of the massacre has circulated and everyone would assume Joseph, an Indian, was accountable. Cullen assumes escort duty of Lily and learns of her bounty when three men try to "rescue" Lily. Cullen shoots all three men and escorts Lily to Hell on Wheels, telling her where to find a doctor there. He leaves her, without collecting the bounty as he has a higher priority in Cheyenne territory.

Durant telegraphs Senator Crane (James D. Hopkin), appealing for federal troops to help protect his railroad construction. "We must displace the savage," he tells the senator, meaning the native tribes. Senator Crane wires back about the troop request, the pacing of the construction, and Robert Bell's murder. Durant gets drunk and laments the entire project. He attends the McGinnes brothers' magic-lantern show. While viewing the slides of Ireland, Durant asks Sean (Ben Esler) why he and Mickey (Phil Burke) left there to work here on the railroad. Mickey tells him of traveling to Dublin by train as a lad. "The railroad gave you freedom," says Durant.

Reverend Cole (Tom Noonan) conducts a funeral for the massacre victims, quoting the Bible and pleading with the townsfolk not to seek revenge. Durant quotes another biblical passage, describing situations that justify war. Durant takes over the sermon, telling the funeral attendees not to let "Stone Age primitives" slow things down. Praising Joseph for adopting the white man's ways, Durant says that there may be peace if other Indians also follow. If they don't, he adds, they are the authors of their own destruction.

Reception

"A New Birth of Freedom" garnered mostly favorable reviews. Sean McKenna at TV Fanatic approved, saying "Hell On Wheels continues to chug along and unfold its grand scale filled with revenge, new beginnings, loyalty, and the perfect melting pot of men searching for purpose. The journey is still worth the ride."[1] New York Magazine's Adam Raymond thought the episode was the best of the series so far: "We’re three episodes into Hell on Wheels and things are finally starting to move. Characters are developing, motives are becoming clear, and, for me at least, expectations are lowering, making "A Birth of Freedoms" easier to enjoy than the last two episodes."[2] IGN, though, rated the show 4.5 out of 10 on their website. Seth Amitin commented: "Dull...Who knows where Hell on Wheels goes from here. By episode three, we, the viewers, should see some major plot arc forming. Hell seems more dystopic than structured and the storylines are meandering."[3]

The third episode was watched by 3.52 million viewers, and had a 1.2 rating with the 18-49 age range.[4]

Notes

The quote "a new birth of freedom" comes from U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which he delivered during the American Civil War, on Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He used the term to describe the war's effort to unify the nation and each state's rights.

References

  1. ↑ McKenna, Sean (November 20, 2011). "Hell on Wheels Review: Pride and Prejudice". TVFanatic.com. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  2. ↑ Raymond, Adam K. (November 22, 2011). "Hell on Wheels Recap: Super Cowboy". New York Magazine. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ Amitin, Seth (November 21, 2011). "Hell on Wheels: "A New Birth of Freedom" Review". IGN.com. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  4. ↑ Gorman, Bill (November 22, 2011). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Stays On Top + NASCAR Championship, 'Housewives ATL,' 'Hell On Wheels,' 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Homeland,' 'Dexter' & More". TV by the Numbers.

External links