‘Hell on Wheels’ season 5, episode 7 (midseason finale) preview: Durant and Ulysses S. Grant

Saturday night marks the end of “Hell on Wheels” season 5A, and there are clearly several interesting stories that will be uncovered. More important than any other may be one of the first true meetings of the minds revolving around several people of particular power in the railroad industry. You have Thomas Durant with the Union Pacific, you have Collis Huntington with the Central Pacific, and then of course you have Brigham Young, a man under certain assumption that Salt Lake City will be the terminus point for the two.

We are getting near the time when these two opposing forces have to figure out where to connect, but in some ways the great lake is not the ideal spot. There are logistical challenges, and more than that there could be political challenges in ensuring that every single person ultimately gets what they want. This truly qualifies as one of those easier-said-than-done scenarios.

This sneak peek brings us one of our first looks in some time of President Ulysses S. Grant, and he at least makes it fairly clear what he wants: A solution, and one before all parties depart the city. He has made promises to the American people, and he wants to ensure that these are kept.

For Cullen Bohannon, this meeting must be a very interesting place to be a fly on the wall. It’s fascinating to think about how, in one way or another, all of the men mentioned here are connected to him. Even someone like Young shares a religion with his wife Naomi, a woman he is still seeking out.