If You Call Yourself A Western Fan, You’ve Watched These 7 TV Shows, Right?

Western TV shows come with a lot of baggage and expectations, but almost every fan of the genre is familiar with these series and their place in the legacy of the West. The Western TV shows that changed television grapple with the tropes and stereotypes of these types of stories, as audiences and critics are well aware of the mythology of the West.

Due to these preconceived notions, it isn’t easy to find a new, original angle on the Western story. That’s what makes these TV shows so popular and memorable, as they have a distinct perspective within the context of all the iconic works that come before them. Though violence and rugged individualism are standbys of the genre, these series don’t limit themselves to these themes.

Whether these are Western TV shows set in modern times or are investigating the historical events and contexts that fuel the genre, all of them are worth watching today. One of the best parts of more contemporary series is that they’re self-aware enough to touch upon the flaws of the Western while staying true to the most thrilling elements that keep us invested.

7

Godless (2017)

Women Take Center Stage In This Propulsive Western Drama

There aren’t many Westerns in the TV or film world that center on female characters. Godless changed this in 2017 by bringing the story of a town led by strong women to life. Though the project was a miniseries, it’s still worth revisiting today, as Godless was well ahead of its time in touching upon women in the West in a historical context.

Familiar faces like Michelle Dockery, Merritt Wever, and Jack O’Connell form the ensemble cast of characters who feel vividly real, as if they just stepped out of the Wild West. Godless sees the central town of women forced to face down a group of ruthless outlaws when a defector of their posse seeks refuge there.

Though Godless doesn’t diverge from the tropes of the Western in many ways, its female-led cast helps differentiate it from the beginning, and is a reminder that the West wasn’t a one-dimensional place or populated by one type of person. Though Godless could’ve been a movie, the choice to make it into a miniseries gave the characters and story enough time and space to be truly memorable.

Godless

Release Date

2017 – 2017-00-00

Network

Netflix

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  Sam Waterston

  Marshall John Cook

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6

Hell On Wheels (2011–2016)

The Construction Of Railroads Has Never Been More Compelling Than In Hell On Wheels

The development of the railroad in the Western U.S. was one of the biggest technological innovations and economic undertakings of its time. Hell on Wheels follows the construction of the railroad, in all of its intense, violent glory, and heightens the grit and drama of this experience, leaning into the legacy of Western movies and their over-the-top perspective on what the West was like.

However, part of the fun of watching a show like Hell on Wheels is the fact that it takes liberties with history and wants to shock the viewer with thrilling twists. Though Hell on Wheels is far from perfect when it comes to representing the many different people who worked on the railroad, its large ensemble does provide a sense of scale within the context of the story.

Anson Mount’s Cullen Bohannon is the protagonist of the show, and while he begins the series on a single-minded quest for revenge, he, like the audience, gets swept up in the importance and majesty of the railroad’s creation. There’s a lot to recommend about Hell on Wheels, especially when it comes to the cast’s performances.

5

Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023)

David Oyelowo Leads This Historical Western That Deserved More Seasons

It’s not easy to portray a historical figure in a TV show, but David Oyelowo is unforgettable as Bass Reeves, who was the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. The series, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, balances its connection to the historical context with its development of Bass Reeves as a character, touching upon his relationships and work as a Marshal with equal interest.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves uses elements of the crime procedural genre to propel the story, as Bass explores the different corners of his territory and the criminals who inhabit it. The series attempts to examine the disproportionate ways criminals were treated based on race and cultural background throughout the story, giving the show a deeper sense of purpose.

Though Lawmen: Bass Reeves doesn’t have enough time to fully tackle the deeper racial and social problems that were being cemented in U.S. culture during this period, the series largely achieves what it sets out to. While it’s disappointing that there’s only one season of the show, Bass Reeves is a character well worth spending time with, growing into a compelling hero by the end of the show.

4

Yellowstone (2018–2024)

Taylor Sheridan’s Enormously Popular TV Show Can’t Be Overlooked

Though it’s likely that Westerns will never go out of style, Taylor Sheridan’s landmark neo-Western TV series, Yellowstone, significantly revived interest in the genre. Starring Kevin Costner as the patriarch John Dutton, Yellowstone follows the family as they attempt to keep hold of their vast land holdings and come into conflict with the influence of modernization.

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It’s no surprise that Yellowstone has garnered so many spinoffs, with the series 1923 and 1883 building the history and legacy of the Dutton clan. Though Yellowstone is firmly set in the present day, looking back on how the Duttons were part of every phase of the West’s evolution only uplifts the storylines in the original show, giving the characters’ actions deeper meaning.

Though the audience does root for the Duttons, Yellowstone never makes their position in history and in the town a secret, as all of the characters are deeply flawed. However, this is what makes shows like Yellowstone interesting, as the series presents its story without judgment, merely letting the Shakespearian drama of the characters unfold before the audience.

Yellowstone

7/10

Release Date

2018 – 2024

Network

Paramount Network

3

Justified (2010–2017)

Timothy Olyphant Takes The Law Into His Own Hands In Justified

Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins are at their best in the neo-Western, Justified, which follows the U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Olyphant) as he stakes his claim on his hometown by trying to remove the criminal element. It’s a hallmark of the Western genre to follow a tough and morally ambiguous lawman, and Justified‘s take on this formula defies tropes, remaining fresh all six seasons.

Goggins’ character, Boyd Crowder, is an excellent foil to Raylan, and the contentious but fruitful relationship between the two men is one of the most well-developed parts of the show. However, it’s Raylan who keeps audiences coming back for more in Justified, as his style of catching the bad guys is engaging, if not always perfectly legal.

As one of the best Western TV shows based on books, Justified takes the stories by Elmore Leonard and translates them to the screen with ease, thanks to the great characters that Raylan encounters every season. Set in the Appalachians, Justified is a little different from a typical Western, but this is what allows it to push itself.

2

Dark Winds (2022–Present)

This Crime Drama Infuses Elements Of The West Into Its Story

Loosely based on Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds takes the Western genre and blends it with classic elements of the mystery series. Westerns are well-suited to being combined with other stories, as the themes of individuality, survival, and man versus nature serve to uplift other narratives, especially crime shows.

Starring Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn and Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee, Dark Winds sees Leaphorn and Chee form an unlikely partnership. The pair solves crimes together alongside Jessica Matten’s Bernadette Manuelito, creating a compelling trio who travel across the Southwestern U.S., touching upon serious themes like violence against Indigenous people.

Within the Western genre, many of the older movies and TV shows overlook the stories of Indigenous communities. This makes it even more exciting that series like Dark Winds are being made, and are receiving the attention they deserve, as each mystery that unfolds in the show is even more intriguing than the last.

1

Deadwood (2004–2006)

HBO’s Iconic Series Is A Must-Watch Show Today

Deadwood​​​​​​’s sheriff, Seth Bullock, is one of Timothy Olyphant’s best TV characters, which is a considerable feat considering how many great characters he’s played in the Western genre alone. Loosely based on the history of the real town of Deadwood, the series follows the intersecting lives of the people who inhabit the lawless settlement.

It’s fun to watch Deadwood and compare the storylines onscreen with the lives of the historical figures who make up the ensemble of characters. Largely considered one of HBO’s best original series, Deadwood is full of violence, sex, and shocking drama, but it’s also a deeply character-driven series that reflects on the encroachment of civilization.

The definition of civilization is flexible in a series like Deadwood, as the town sits at an interesting point in time when the rugged and lawless idea of the West was starting to disappear. In many ways, Deadwood is the epitome of the Western TV show, as it’s aware that the version of the West it’s desperate to embody is a dream that’s impossible to catch.

Deadwood

Release Date

2004 – 2006-00-00

Network

HBO Max

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