The 15 Best Western TV Shows of All Time, Ranked

The West The genre has long been a touchstone of American popular fiction, with an extensive history of spawning television shows. While the genre has experienced ups and downs in popularity, like an Old West hero, the Westerns always triumphantly return, because the genre has constantly reinvented itself for each era of television. From family-friendly black-and-white half-hour adventures to modern neo-western explorations of social and political tensions, the western genre has remained relevant throughout television history.

In the same way that the greatest Western films have earned their place as cinematic classics, Western television series have carved an important place in popular culture. From long-running classics of time gone by, such as BonanzaRight up to modern genre-bending sci-fi westerns like WestworldIt was a style that always found a way to stay interesting. The best western TV shows not only told engaging stories of bandits, cowboys and outlaws, but they also addressed pressing issues around society, justice and freedom.

15

Wynonna Earp (2016-2021)

4 seasons

The Supernatural Western Series Winona Erp was Influenced by the real-life story of lawman Wyatt Earp and his infamous friend Doc HollidayAs it told the story of his elder brother Winona. Winona Erp Shown the titular hero fighting the reincarnated outlaws that Wyatt killed with the help of the still living Holiday, who was cursed with eternal youth by the stone witch, who cured his tuberculosis. As a fascinating blend of genres, Winona Erp was a gritty, often silly series that acts as a good introduction for those who don’t typically watch Westerns.

14

1883 (2021-2022)

10 episode miniseries

As the first prequel in Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expanding Yellowstone franchise, 1883 A post-Civil War generation of the Dutton family followed Undertaking the treacherous journey from Tennessee to what would eventually become the Yellowstone Ranch in Montana. With an excellent performance from Sam Elliott as Shea Brennan, this rough and tumble spin-off took viewers right into the heart of the American Old West. While the series will certainly appeal to the average western lover, it becomes even more rewarding with knowledge of the main Yellowstone Series.

13

Godless (2017)

7 episode miniseries

Jack O’Connell gave an amazing performance in this Netflix miniseries about a young gangster who finds himself in a town full of women. As a subversion of the often male-dominated Western genre, Godless was a fascinating series that boosted a cast of strong, powerful women in stark contrast to the ‘damsel in distress’ roles seen in so many other series. With an incredible cast, a strong script and a highly bingeable story, Godless was a modern western triumph.

12

Hell on Wheels (2011-2016)

5 seasons

Hell on Wheels chronicled the lives of those on the Union Pacific Railroad and was a powerful example of a show that wouldn’t exist without the influence of classic western movies. As the story of the cowboys, laborers and mercenaries who lived, worked and died on the rolling stock of the developing railroad, Hell on Wheels Showed a different side to the American Old West. Addressing topics of gender politics and racial tensions, Hell on Wheels used its Wild West setting to address contemporary social issues.

11

Westworld (2016-2022)

5 seasons

Even the later seasons of HBO Westworld Testing audiences’ patience due to its complex and convoluted narrative of overlapping timelines, Season 1 alone was enough to win the series a place among the greatest Western television shows. By combining sci-fi and western tropes, Westveld Became a fascinating and insightful look at the incoming artificial intelligence revolution that asked pressing questions about the nature of identity and existence. Although, at times, Westworld was so dense that it left viewers perplexedIt’s a deeply rewarding series that tries to ask big questions.

10

Longmire (2012-2017)

6 seasons

Longmire was an incredible western series in modern times Based on these Walt Longmire Mysteries Series of novels by Craig Johnson. After Walt Longmire, the sheriff of the fictional Absaroka County in Wyoming, whose strong sense of duty, justice and introspective nature brought to mind the heroes of classic western movies. With an engaging mix of politics, Native American mysticism and everyday drama, Longmire Modern-day Western setting tackled contemporary and timeless themes.

9

Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958-1961)

3 seasons

Before making it as one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars, Steve McQueen starred in the Western series Wanted Dead or Alive. As bounty hunter Josh Randall, McQueen was the quintessential cool protagonist whose style and charisma translated well to the Western genre. Although Western television was previously mostly family-friendly, Wanted Dead or Alive was an early example of an adult-focused Western which tackled serious themes, had an antihero star, and was more interested in action than character development.

8

The Rifleman (1958-1963)

5 seasons

Set in the 1880s in the fictional New Mexico town of North Fork, The rifleman was a trail-blazing western series, and one of the first US Starring Chuck Conners as the rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain, over the course of 168 black-and-white adventures, the series addressed serious topics such as alcoholism, single parents and the Confederacy. As a family-friendly series, The rifleman Balanced action with life-affirming messages With a level of nuance not often seen in television of this era.

7

Yellowstone (2018-present)

5 seasons

Yellowstone is the most popular Western series currently on the air, and its success has launched a whole franchise of spin-offs and prequels. Starring Western legend Kevin Costner, Yellowstone Explores the ranch-owning Dutton family And the drama that takes place between the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Yellowstone National Park, and developers. Packed with melodrama, talented actors and an engaging visual style, Yellowstone Helped revitalize and popularize the western genre on television for the modern era.

6

Lonesome Dove (1989)

4 episode miniseries

Acting legend Robert Duvall directed the extraordinary miniseries Lonesome DoveA four-part adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Larry McMurtry. Set in the late 1870s, Lonesome Dove See two former Texas Rangers rekindle their spirit for adventure when they join a cattle drive to the Montana Territory. With 18 Emmy nominations and a Rudy performance by Duvall, Lonesome Dove Strong brought McMurty’s book to life and was an excellent showcase of the epic and emotional potential of long-form small-screen adaptations that allowed the required time for his story to live and breathe.

5

Have Gun – Will Travel (1957-1963)

6 seasons

As its title suggests, Have gun – will travel Followed a gunman for hire, played by Richard Boone, through the Old West. Known by the name Paladin, the gentleman investigator would normally expect the high price of $1,000 for a job, but as a noble hero, he would often offer his services for free to the poor people in need of help. As one of the longest-running Western series ever with 225 episodes, Have gun – will travel Featuring an engaging heroCovers relevant social and political topics, and still holds up all these decades later.

4

Bonanza (1959-1973)

14 seasons

Bonanza was NBC’s longest-running western and one of the longest-running live-action television series ever produced. Following the story of the Cartwright family, Bonanza Depicts the weekly adventures of Ben and his family running their Nevada ranch and helping the local community. Although there were 431 episodes, The popularity of Bonanza Meant viewers can’t get enoughAnd the franchise returned for several TV movies in the late 1980s and early 1990s and even a prequel series called Ponderosa in 2001.

3

Deadwood (2004-2006)

3 seasons

Deadwood was an extraordinary HBO Western series that cataloged the last remnants of the Old West as law and order began to encroach on the camp of Deadwood, South Dakota, an 1870s settlement that quickly became a city. with Ian McShane as the gruff owner of the Gem Saloon Al Swearengen, Deadwood Featuring an ensemble cast, most of them are based on real historical figures. With an absorbing and well-realized world, incredible writing, and powerful themes around the way societies are formed and constructed, Deadwood was one of the most intriguing and satisfying Western series ever made.

2

Justice (2010-2015)

6 seasons

justified Stellar Timothy Olyphant as Deputy Marshal Raylan GivensA quiet loser with a dark past who played by his own rules. The neo-western series borrowed heavily from Sergio Leone’s classics like these Dollars TrilogyAnd Givens brought to mind classic anti-heroes like Clint Eastwood’s The Man With No Name. With incredible acting, writing and direction, Just right Not only ranked among the best western series, but was truly one of the best television shows ever made.

1

Gunsmoke (1955-1975)

20 seasons

Gunsmoke was the longest-running Western series of all timeWith 635 episodes over its 20-season run. Following the adventures of Marshal Matt Dillon as he tries to keep the peace in the problem-prone Wild West town of Dodge City, Gunsmoke was the number one ranked show in the late 1950s, whose dramatization of the epic legends of the American Old West acted as a powerful time capsule, catalog and homage to the United States almost mythical representation of its history and the legend of The Wild West. .

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