So much of the action and drama in this season’s Hell on Wheels has come from the arrival of unwanted guests. In most other seasons, it’s been about the disagreements and arguments fueled by the main cast, but this season the plot has required the influence of outside forces. In the first four episodes, we saw the arrival of Campbell and his troupe of men, trying to establish Cheyenne as a legitimate town by getting rid of the violence, while also bringing plenty of deceit and theft. “Life’s a Mystery” introduces two new characters to Hell on Wheels, both of whom are probably going to ramp up the show’s crazy factors even more.
The more prominent of the two new characters is Sid Snow, a soldier who fought with Cullen in the Civil War. He’s escaped a hanging in Juarez, and took the first train to Cheyenne. At this point, Sid is essentially the darker side of the Cullen we’ve seen in the past, now that Cullen is mostly peaceful and following a Mormon sensibility. Sid is all about drinking, being reckless, and dropping some n-bombs—all of which makes him easily dislikable at Cheyenne, especially by Cullen and his wife.
But what makes Sid compelling is his link to Cullen’s past, and the devastating effect that link could have on Cullen’s present. Sid shares horrifying stories from the war that shock Cullen’s wife Naomi, and force Cullen to open up more about the secrets in his life. This season, Cullen has tried his hardest to become the provider his family needs him to be, but not much else. Sid’s arrival allows him to present more of himself to his family, which could hurt his marriage—or make him more vulnerable and understandable to his wife.