TheWesterngenre has long been a touchstone of American popular fiction, with an extensive history of incredible television shows. While the genre has experienced ups and downs in popularity, like an Old West hero, Westerns always triumphantly return, as the genre has continually 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 thatthe greatest Western filmshave earned their place as cinematic classics,Western television series have carved out an important place in popular culture. From long-running classics of times gone by, such asBonanza, right up to modern genre-bending sci-fi Westerns likeWestworld, this was a style that always found a way to remain interesting. The very 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.
Wynonna Earp
Cast
Based on a comic book series by Beau Smith, Wynonna Earp tells the story of the titular heroine who is the great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp. The series follows Wynonna’s return to her hometown, where she must do battle with the reanimated criminals previously killed by Earp. Aided by her sister, her great-great-grandfather’s immortal partner Doc Holiday, and a member of the US Marshals, Wynonna works to keep Purgatory safe from the revenants.
The supernatural Western seriesWynonna Earpwasinfluenced by the real-life story of lawman Wyatt Earp and his infamous friend Doc Holliday, as it told the story of his great-great-granddaughter Wynonna.Wynonna Earpshowcased the titular hero battling the reincarnated outlaws that Wyatt had killed with the assistance of the still-living Holliday, who has been cursed with eternal youth by the Stone Witch, who cured his tuberculosis. As a fascinating blend of genres,Wynonna Earpwas a gritty, often silly, series that acts as a good introduction for those who don’t typically watch Westerns.
1883
1883 is a Western drama series set at the beginning of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise and explores the origins of the Duttons and how Yellowstone came to be. The show chronicles a generation of the Dutton family as they embark on a difficult journey to the western frontier to establish a new legacy.
As the first prequel in Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expandingYellowstonefranchise,1883followed a post-Civil War generation of the Dutton familyundertaking 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 dangerous spin-off took viewers right into the heart of the American Old West. While this series will certainly appeal to the average Western lover, it becomes even more rewarding with knowledge of the mainYellowstoneseries.
Godless
Godless, released in 2017, is a western drama series that follows a notorious outlaw seeking revenge on a former gang member. The series is set in a unique town inhabited solely by women, where the past catches up with the peaceful community amidst the harsh backdrop of the American West.
Jack O’Connell gave an astounding performance in this Netflix miniseries about a young outlaw who found himself in a town populated entirely by women. As a subversion of the often male-dominated Western genre,Godlesswas a fascinating series that boosted a cast of strong, powerful women in total opposite to the ‘damsel in distress’ roles seen in so many other series. With an incredible cast, a strong script, and a highly bingeable narrative,Godlesswas a modern Western triumph.
Hell on Wheelschronicled the lives of those on the Union Pacific Railroad and was a powerful example of a show thatwouldn’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 developing railroads’ mobile encampment,Hell on Wheelsshowcased a different side to the American Old West. Addressing themes of gender politics and racial tensions,Hell on Wheelsused its Wild West setting to address contemporary social issues.
Westworld
Westworld is a television series set in a futuristic Wild West-themed amusement park where advanced android hosts cater to human guests' desires. The series explores the themes of artificial consciousness and human morality as the lines between reality and artificiality begin to blur.
Even though the later seasons of HBO’sWestworldtested audiences’ patience due to its complex and convoluted narrative of overlapping timelines, Season 1 alone was enough to gain this series a place among the greatest Western TV shows. By combining sci-fi and Western tropes,Westworldbecame 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,Westworldwas so dense it left viewers perplexed, it’s a deeply rewarding series that attempts to ask big questions.
Longmire
Based on the novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire is a Western drama series that follows Walt Longmire, the sheriff of a rural Wyoming town who deals with several mysteries around the city and the Indian Reservation within. Longmire partners with his friend, Henry Standing Bear, to navigate the strained relationships and challenges associated with jurisdictional lines between the differing law enforcement teams and the troubles Native Americans deal with regularly.
Longmirewas an incredibleWestern series set in modern timesbased on theWalt Longmire Mysteriesseries of novels by Craig Johnson. Following 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’smodern-day Western setting tackled contemporary and timeless themes.
Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958)
Before making it as one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars, Steve McQueen starred in the Western seriesWanted Dead or Alive. As the bounty hunter Josh Randall, McQueen was the quintessential cool protagonist whose style and charisma translated well to the Western genre. Although Western television had previously been mostly family-friendly,Wanted Dead or Alivewas an early example of an adult-focused Westernthat tackled serious themes, had an antihero star, and was more interested in action than character development.
The Rifleman
The Rifleman is a Western television series starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain, a skilled marksman who raises his son Mark in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. Directed by Joseph H. Lewis, the show explores themes of justice, morality, and fatherhood against the backdrop of the American frontier.
Set in the 1880s in the fictional New Mexico town of North Fork,The Riflemanwas a trailblazing Western series, and one of the first US television shows to depict a single parent raising a child. With Chuck Conners as the rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain, over the course of 168 black-and-white adventures, this series addressed serious topics such as alcoholism, lone parenting, and the Confederacy. As a family-friendly series,The Riflemanbalanced action with life-affirming messageswith a level of nuance not often seen in television from this era.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 21, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
Yellowstoneis the most popular Western series currently on the air, and its success has launched a whole franchise of spin-offs and prequels. With Western legend Kevin Costner in a starring role,Yellowstoneexplores the ranch-owning Dutton familyand the drama that takes place among the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Yellowstone National Park, and developers. Packed with melodrama, talented actors, and an engaging visual style,Yellowstonehelped revitalize and popularize the Western genre on television for the modern era.
Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove is a television miniseries based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Larry McMurtry. It follows retired Texas Rangers Woodrow F. Call and Augustus McCrae, played by Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall, as they embark on a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Directed by Simon Wincer, the series delves into themes of friendship, adventure, and the harsh realities of life in the Old West.
Acting legendRobert Duvall led the extraordinary miniseriesLonesome Dove, a four-part adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Larry McMurtry. Set in the late 1870s,Lonesome Dovesaw two former Texas Rangers reignite their spirit for adventure as they joined a cattle drive to the Montana Territory. With 18 Emmy nominations and a rowdy performance from Duvall,Lonesome Dovepowerfully 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 its story to live and breathe.
