re: "Hell on Wheels"

Yeah, I just felt the characters were so poorly drawn that there was no saving the show. I think my issues were summed up best by having the main character be a Southern slaveowner... who voluntarily freed his slaves. I think they took an internal struggle of a man that could have been interesting (coming to terms with owning people and seeing everyone's humanity) and just eliminated it right away because they were manipulating the audience into siding with the hero. Sure, he has a "dark" side, but not too dark.

It was a cop out. Had it been just the one, I'd let it slide, but that's pretty much how the whole show operates. And the railroad owner practically twirled his moustache in every seen.