‘Hell on Wheels’ season 4, episode 7 reaction: Robin McLeavy, Anson Mount on ‘Elam Ferguson’ aftermath
Tonight’s episode of “Hell on Wheels” can only be described in one word: Devastating. “Elam Ferguson” was the hardest episode to watch quite possibly of the entire series. (Caution: Spoilers ahead!)
This episode brought us to an emotional place, largely because we had the end to a character in Elam Ferguson who was beloved by so many. He was a man who Cullen desperately tried to save, to find a way to pull out that humanity from within him. Unfortunately, we learned by the time that these end credits rolled that there was really no way he was going to be able to do that. He had to kill his longtime friend, and not only do that, but do it almost in front of everyone in Cheyenne, including the woman who loved Elam more than anyone in Eva.
In the video below, Anson Mount, Robin McLeavy, and the show’s producers discuss the two separate angles and reactions to what happened here. For Robin, she explains that despite the motivation, Eva will “never forgive” Cullen for what he did in killing Elam. You could almost tell that from the moment she screamed. Meanwhile, Mount points out the moment of his character sobbing at the end of the episode, one of the first times that we have ever seen the character break down like that.
Obviously, there are still many episodes ahead on the series, and the show will inevitably go on. That does not mean that it is easy, or that we will not have it on the brain for a while. We’re sure that for these characters, they will hold onto that pain and anguish even longer.
If you missed our review of tonight’s “Hell on Wheels” episode, you can do so now over at the link here. Also, sign up today to get further TV updates right now courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter.
Photo: AMC
bigheadbaby
September 19, 2014 @ 12:06 am
Common’s reference to his women being good baby breeders filled me with dread. Very ominous words, indeed. It harkened back to slavery times, when the slave dealer would say something very like this about black slave women for sale. That this black ex-slave would utter such a thing demonstrates how gone his mind really was.
Josie
September 16, 2014 @ 12:23 am
Good acting. Interesting metaphor used. Disappointed in the loss of a strong character. To me Elam’s ‘insanity’ represented the internalized pain of the character’s life of living with racism and slavery. His acquiring of his ‘slaves,’ his talking to Psalms about the “big house,’ are all suppressed bad experiences that he has let out in his altered state.
It shows the pain he lived all his life. The anger suppressed from this life. Not being kind to Cullen and Eva but kind to Psalms indicates his disappointment in Cullen and Eva. Cullen, due to his lack of understanding of what Elam went through contributed to Elam’s demise and not just when he killed him and Eva’s misguided decision to let her child go.
Cullen consistently thought he was better than Elam and only in Elam’s death did he realize he was sorely mistaken. Elam made Cullen into a better man but Cullen did not benefit Elam at all.
I think Cullen was crying more for himself than Elam because he let down one of his only true friends; someone who gave him so many gifts while he gave very little.
RIP Elam
Ric
September 16, 2014 @ 3:10 pm
A very good perspective and one I found very credible from someone who is not a show insider. It was “spot on”!
Milton Toran
September 14, 2014 @ 4:07 pm
I agree with Keldan. It would’ve been better off to let Elam die after last season’s bear attack. They brought him back just to let him die in such a humiliating way? He was one of the show’s strongest characters. No disrespect to the producers, but this really sucks! Unless Common (Elam) wanted to be killed off due to other future endeavors, this was truly heartbreaking! From now on, my Saturday nights will be spent watching college football!
Clifford Thibodeau
September 15, 2014 @ 12:44 am
Common did want it to end this way. As hard as the decision was, he wants to focus on his music career.
keldan
September 14, 2014 @ 7:22 am
I’d rather the bear had won!
keldan
September 14, 2014 @ 7:19 am
I’m upset…..This was my favorite show on TV. Elam was a fantastic character. Keeping my interest after this will be difficult. Very disappointed!
krib
September 14, 2014 @ 4:49 am
wow I just have to say this episode really upset me. they took one of the stronger main characters and the only black male character who was breaking the stereotypical box that most of the black characters were trapped in, and killed him off in such a humiliating and offensive way. Basically after leaving his story a cliffhanger for several episodes bring him back as a violent raving madman, who then after dragging 3 women into town especially as a former slave tries to sell them in a public market? the whole time crowd of people jeering and laughing at him. to top it off he’s basically put down like a vicious animal by none other than his friend Bohannon ,which that whole scene seemed to reek of an analogy to Old Yeller. i dunno that just really left me with a bitter feeling and i’m not sure i can get over this
FL_BigFoot
September 14, 2014 @ 2:44 am
While I don’t agree with the death of Elam (in general), this had to be one of the most incredible and moving episodes of the entire series. Cullen had to put Elam out of his misery and now will pay a very heavy price for the rest of his life. Cullen took the responsibility, as opposed to letting a stranger do it. When Psalms asked Cullen, “What gave you the right?”, I wish Cullen would have said, “Because he was my friend.”. Excellent show.
Diane Mercado
September 14, 2014 @ 2:26 am
Episode was powerful