Hell on Wheels "Thirteen Steps" Review: The Whole Ruth and Nothing But the Ruth

Hell on Wheels S04E12: "Thirteen Steps"

I feel silly for even asking this, but has anyone here ever been hanged before? Was it like how Ruth's went down? Was the hangman all gentlemanly? Did he have his boy in tow, and did that boy have a top hat and a boy ponytail? I only wonder because television has a history of exaggerating real life for the sake of entertainment. And because the point-of-view shot of Ruth's untimely demise was my favorite moment of “Thirteen Steps,” not because I wanted her dead, but because of the emotional impact delivered via simple visuals. The excellent penultimate episode in what's been yet another uneven season of Hell on Wheels (which the show now delivers so regularly that maybe “uneven” seasons are technically “even” ones?), was entirely dedicated to the wanted church lady's unwanted life, and benefited from focusing on her final moments.

Yes my dearies, Ruth Cole ultimately found herself dancing the hangman's waltz (dying). No one thought it was right, and the law gave her every possible chance to escape her fate. Yet and still, the heavily righteous Ruth saw herself as a guilty individual, refusing meatball pleas that would get her out of all this, refusing pardons offered up by Governor Campbell himself, even refusing a straight-up jailbreak set into motion by Cullen himself. Anyway you sliced it, this woman wanted to die.

So as all things pertain to Cullen in this town, it was up to the railman to talk her out of it, or at least to keep her company during what had to be the world's saddest sleepover. First he tried scaring her by describing a hanging he'd witnessed in D.C. He specified that the sentence was read to the accused with a conversational tone—and it was this sort of mundane detail that made "Thirteen Steps" all the more chilling. The constant hammering of Ruth's gallows being built carried on through the night, while Cullen and Ruth shared some nonchalant human moments that were simultaneously heartbreaking in their tragic context. Tales of falling in horse shit and Cullen enjoying one of maybe four laughs in as many seasons of Hell seemed like they might be enough to shake Ruth out of her death wish, but like most pre-capital punishment heart-to-hearts, things got really real pretty fast and not in the good way.

The conversation shifted to Ruth's feelings for Cullen and how depressed she was when he came back with Naomi and a baby this season. Ruth chided herself for not being more overt with Cullen and asked him if he loved her. He did—in a fashion—but it was apparent that his feelings weren't of the romantic persuasion. More like an "I love being around you" sort of deal. Can't fault a man for being honest, I guess. The whole thing was pretty messed up, especially when Ruth admitted that she'd stayed in town at Cullen's urging, and if he pretended to be interested in the church lady to save her life, what kind of sham would that become? Answer: one that would end in tears.

I mean, it's a shame that Ruth couldn't just see the value of living beyond the death of Ezra, but it was a different time filled with less options. Like if I lived in the Hell on Wheels days, instead of shouting at strangers on the internet for $3.50 and some wet coupons to Rite-Aid (my current stipend), my only available paths in life would be something like separating muck from manure or dancing for whiskey shots. Wait, that's not all that different from my current life... #YOLO!

Anyway, her parting words about family being the braver choice were debatable as general advice—but on a show that's always had family at its center (Cullen's was murdered and that sent him on his path of revenge, plus every relationship he's ever had seems to be "playing house”), they were pretty much marching orders for the railman. Go figure out your family stuff, Cullen! You only have two half-length seasons left to do it in!

The hangman's kid (hangboy?) further reminded us of how everyone's got loved ones, and I'm sure his little ponytailed presence didn't do any favors for the grieving Ruth. But Ruth dying wasn't ALL that "Thirteen Steps" had to offer. Durant was a buddy again to Cullen, advising him to be with Ruth in her hour of need. Mickey and Dandy Johnny Shea threatened Governor Campbell. And Louise Ellison WAS GOING TO PRINT HER STORY. Also life went on for the last part of the hour, as Cullen got his steam contraption to work and then promptly quit the railroad (sure Cullen, we've heard that one before!).

Okay, yeah basically the whole episode was about Ruth going to be with the Lord. I said last week that I'd be mad if Hell on Wheels killed Ruth off just as she was becoming awesome, and I still am a little miffed that Kasha Kropinski had to wait this long to carry the show, but hey she did awesome and I'm sure she has a bright future. 

Now, in honor of the dearly departed, please enjoy Iron Maiden's gallows-centric hit, "Hallowed Be Thy Name."

What did you think of “Thirteen Steps”?