The Swede is a fictional character portrayed by Christopher Heyerdahl in the TV series Hell on Wheels.
In the first episode they appeared in, titled Immoral Mathematics (season 1), they were 48 years old.
They appear in 40 episodes out of a total of 57 aired and have accumulated 1214 positive votes.
Episodes40
Immoral Mathematics
episode S1.E2 november 2011Cullen fights for his life as he answers for his deadly actions. Lily struggles to survive in the wilderness, as Durant attempts to spin tragedy for political gain.
A New Birth of Freedom
episode S1.E3 november 2011Cullen's search for the sergeant is diverted by an unexpected obstacle. Durant organizes a search party to retrieve the missing Lily Bell.
Jamais je ne t'oublierai
episode S1.E4 november 2011Cullen closes in on the Sergeant. Durant pursues a hidden agenda while helping Lily recuperate.
Bread and Circuses
episode S1.E5 december 2011Joseph Black Moon and Reverend Nathaniel Cole travel into Cheyenne territory in hopes of a peace talk. Lily Bell and Thomas Durant discuss the future of the railroad construction. Cullen Bohannon and Elam settle their differences in a public fight.
Pride, Pomp and Circumstance
episode S1.E6 december 2011Durant attempts to end ongoing negotiations with the Cheyenne by challenging them to a competition.
Revelations
episode S1.E7 december 2011Durant and Lily travel to Chicago - he, to further discuss the railroad with Senator Crane; she, to meet with her deceased husband's family. The Irishmen from Hell On Wheels prepare to hang Elam. Cullen interferes and helps him escape.
Derailed
episode S1.E8 january 2012A train is derailed by the Cheyenne. Durant orders Cullen to lead a team to track them. Lily moves out of Durant's coach and into her own tent beside the brothel. Tension mounts for Cullen's team in the pursuit of the renegade Indian tribe.
Timshel
episode S1.E9 january 2012Cullen and the search party find the natives who attacked the surveyor's camp and later derailed a train; Elam and Eva discuss their future, before getting a strange visitor; and the railroad crew reaches the important 40-mile mark.
God of Chaos
episode S1.E10 january 2012Durant and Lily conspire to gain investors' interests. Sean and Mickey McGinnes exact their own revenge on The Swede. Elam and Eva each begin to see the future differently. Cullen tracks down the elusive Sergeant Harper.
Viva La Mexico
episode S2.E1 august 2012Cullen and Elam find themselves on opposite sides of the law as Durant and Lily push the railroad further west.
Durant, Nebraska
episode S2.E2 august 2012Durant must confront a dangerous threat to Hell On Wheels. Meanwhile, a horrible crime forces Lily and Elam to strike a deal to bring justice.
Slaughterhouse
episode S2.E3 august 2012Mickey and Sean's life hangs in the balance as Cullen tries to keep order.
Scabs
episode S2.E4 september 2012After tragedy strikes one of their own, Cullen must diffuse an internal threat to the railroad.
The Railroad Job
episode S2.E5 september 2012Cullen's past haunts Hell on Wheels, leaving the fate of the railroad hanging in the balance.
Purged Away with Blood
episode S2.E6 september 2012Durant must save the railroad while fighting for his own life. Meanwhile Cullen fights to save an old friend.
The White Spirit
episode S2.E7 september 2012Cullen seeks justice in the aftermath of tragedy.
The Lord's Day
episode S2.E8 september 2012A new arrival in Hell on Wheels creates turmoil.
Blood Moon
episode S2.E9 october 2012As the town celebrates, Cullen prepares for battle and then fights to save the railroad.
Blood Moon Rising
episode S2.E10 october 2012As the town celebrates, Cullen prepares for battle and then fights to save the railroad.
Range War
episode S3.E3 august 2013Cullen and Elam search for their stolen food on the prairie; a stranger's arrival threatens Elam's family.
The Game
episode S3.E4 august 2013Cullen and Elam try to secure a new lumber source following a railroad accident; Durant tells Louise a secret about Cullen.
Searchers
episode S3.E5 august 2013Cullen helps Elam track down a dangerous criminal; the town prepares to move down the tracks.
One Less Mule
episode S3.E6 september 2013Durant files an injunction against Union Pacific, threatening Cullen's position; Elam deals with a dangerous newcomer.
Cholera
episode S3.E7 september 2013A cholera epidemic breaks; Cullen must locate fresh water before his employees perish; Durant faces political fallout.
Get Behind the Mule
episode S3.E10 october 2013Cullen deals with consequences; Elam mounts a rescue attempt; Durant receives the U.P. board ahead of the deadline.
The Elusive Eden
episode S4.E1 august 2014Cullen awaits the birth of his baby, laboring under The Swede's thumb at Fort Smith. Durant deals with the fallout from a railroad accident.
Escape from the Garden
episode S4.E2 august 2014Cullen challenges The Swede as he plans his exit from Fort Smith. A new adversary arrives and makes his presence felt in Cheyenne.
Reckoning
episode S4.E4 august 2014Cullen attempts to find a way for the railroad to pass over the mountains for Durant. As a Mormon, Naomi has her own struggles settling into Cheyenne. Brother Hatch continues to suspect the Swede of fraud and murder.
Life's a Mystery
episode S4.E5 august 2014The arrival of a dangerous stranger stirs up old feelings in Cullen and puts his family at risk. The Swede faces consequences at Fort Smith.
Under Color of Law
episode S4.E8 september 2014Naomi's unrest forces Cullen to take her and William back to the Mormon settlement at Ft. Smith. Campbell deputizes several undesirables in response to the deaths of his Marshals. The Swede is forgiven for his wrong-doings.
Return to Hell
episode S4.E10 october 2014Cullen, Durant and Campbell come together in order to discuss a means by which to provide protection to the citizens of Cheyenne. They must return a sense of well-being to the town after a disturbing act of violence takes place.
Further West
episode S4.E13 november 2014As the railroad prepares to leave Cheyenne behind after Sherman Peak; Cullen returns to Fort Smith to get his family.
Chinatown
episode S5.E1 july 2015Cullen finds a route through the mountains to Ogden, Utah.
Mei Mei
episode S5.E2 july 2015Cullen enlists new workers to help him move a locomotive on a sled; Cullen and Fong must work together; Swede and Phineas fight for survival after being banished to the high country.
White Justice
episode S5.E3 august 2015Cullen contends with violence in Chinatown set off by disgruntled railroad workers. The Swede manipulates Phineas in his plot against the Mormons.
Struck
episode S5.E4 august 2015In the wake of the violence, Cullen solves a Chinese labor strike; Mickey is pulled deeper into Union Pacific Business.
Elixir of Life
episode S5.E5 august 2015Unexpected violence strikes during the festival of Tin Hau Don in Chinatown. Cullen confronts The Swede. Durant involves Maggie in his latest scheme.
Hungry Ghosts
episode S5.E6 august 2015Cullen and Mei take a dangerous journey through the California wilderness, escorting precious cargo. Eva nurses Louise back to health.
False Prophets
episode S5.E7 august 2015Cullen and Durant discuss with President Grant what will be the future of the railroad; The Swede goes ahead with his plan against the Mormons.
Two Soldiers
episode S5.E8 june 2016The premiere sees the Swede's murderous rampage on the Hatch homestead resulting in a long overdue showdown with Cullen.
- Immoral Mathematics
- A New Birth of Freedom
- Jamais je ne t'oublierai
- Bread and Circuses
- Pride, Pomp and Circumstance
- Revelations
- Derailed
- Timshel
- God of Chaos
- Viva La Mexico
- Durant, Nebraska
- Slaughterhouse
- Scabs
- The Railroad Job
- Purged Away with Blood
- The White Spirit
- The Lord's Day
- Blood Moon
- Blood Moon Rising
- Range War
- The Game
- Searchers
- One Less Mule
- Cholera
- Get Behind the Mule
- The Elusive Eden
- Escape from the Garden
- Reckoning
- Life's a Mystery
- Under Color of Law
- Return to Hell
- Further West
- Chinatown
- Mei Mei
- White Justice
- Struck
- Elixir of Life
- Hungry Ghosts
- False Prophets
- Two Soldiers
Best moments10
- The premiere sees the Swede's murderous rampage on the Hatch homestead resulting in a long overdue showdown with Cullen.
- Cullen and Elam search for their stolen food on the prairie; a stranger's arrival threatens Elam's family.
- Unexpected violence strikes during the festival of Tin Hau Don in Chinatown. Cullen confronts The Swede. Durant involves Maggie in his latest scheme.
- Cullen contends with violence in Chinatown set off by disgruntled railroad workers. The Swede manipulates Phineas in his plot against the Mormons.
- Durant attempts to end ongoing negotiations with the Cheyenne by challenging them to a competition.
- Cullen awaits the birth of his baby, laboring under The Swede's thumb at Fort Smith. Durant deals with the fallout from a railroad accident.
- Durant files an injunction against Union Pacific, threatening Cullen's position; Elam deals with a dangerous newcomer.
- Cullen deals with consequences; Elam mounts a rescue attempt; Durant receives the U.P. board ahead of the deadline.
- As the town celebrates, Cullen prepares for battle and then fights to save the railroad.
- Cullen seeks justice in the aftermath of tragedy.
- Two Soldiers
- Range War
- Elixir of Life
- White Justice
- Pride, Pomp and Circumstance
- The Elusive Eden
- One Less Mule
- Get Behind the Mule
- Blood Moon Rising
- The White Spirit