‘Hell on Wheels’ season 4 spoilers: What is the premiere title?
Sometimes, you can try to read a lot into something as small as an episode’s title, and that is precisely what we are going to do today while discussing “Hell on Wheels” season 4 and the just-announced name of its first episode back.
AMC has announced that “The Elusive Eden” is the name for the first episode airing on Saturday, August 2, and we feel like it’s pretty awesome and representative of a certain cultural movement of the time. Remember here Cullen Bohannon’s present situation: He is in a Mormon community that has clearly set itself up as representing a certain ideal, and separated itself from the rest of the world. It most likely wants to think of itself as its own Eden, but you know already what happened in the story of Adam and Eve. The question you will have to wonder here is who is the real corrupting influence of the place: Cullen, the Swede, or the idea of the establishment itself.
We cannot really imagine the title being in reference to anything else, given that the title itself is a reference to life on the railroad. We’re sure the juxtaposition between “Hell on Wheels” as a name and “The Elusive Eden” was not lost on showrunner John Wirth or the writers when they were coming up with all of this.
As for when Cullen could finally get away from this town and back to some of the other well-known characters, we’d be shocked if he was there more than a few episodes. This is a series about an ensemble, and splitting everyone up forever would not be a good thing for anybody.
What do you think about the “Hell on Wheels” premiere title? Share your thoughts with a comment, and head over here if you want to check out some more news related to the show. Also, be sure to sign up to get some other TV updates on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter.
Photo: AMC
Matt (Native Floridian)
July 7, 2014 @ 10:00 pm
Frankly, Cullen’s story arc should not be as a married man in an arranged marriage in a Morman (cult) setting. He’s far too cagy to be roped in like this. I do not like the direction the producers took him at the end of the last season.
I hope he comes to his senses and goes back to being single again. Kill the demon Swede and have the marriage annulled.
Mark Richard
July 6, 2014 @ 6:26 pm
when i came up with the title “elusive eden” i was thinking of more than just the mormon settlement, you’re right. the elusive eden extends to the railroad, the opportunities it seemingly offers newcomers to the new world, and new beginnings for the recently enfranchised. unfortunately, this eden displaces others’ eden in the process, i.e. the native peoples. eden proves elusive for everyone. and yes, cullen and naomi can be seen as an adam and eve, and we know how that story played out. i’ve had fun playing with biblical tropes these last four seasons. faulkner said to become a writer you only had to read the bible and shakespeare, and i’ve tried to bring both to hell. i hope you enjoy this season and thank you for your support of the show.
mark richard, executive producer