The western is a staple of the American entertainment industry and has been filling dime novels and radio plays since long before there were televisions but like most worthwhile things the great westerns have stories that are timeless. Here are some of my favorite westerns for you to check out.
- Longmire- In modern-day Wyoming, one sheriff has a lot of territory to cover and a precarious relationship with the nearby Native American community and its shiny new casino.
- Justified- Another modern western about an old-school lawman. Big hats and gunfights aplenty for this series about a U.S Marshall who gets assigned to his Kentucky hometown.
- Hell on Wheels- Anson Mount was born to play the amoral gunslinger out for revenge. Add Star Trek’s Colm Meaney and rapper Common’s imposing figure, you’ve got yourself an ensemble that is not to be messed with. If you want an old school western with modern sensibilities this series is for you.
- Maverick– This is a bit of an odd series. The leads are a bunch of brothers with the surname Maverick. But most episodes feature only one of the brothers at a time. Basically, it’s the same show with a rotating cast of leads. But why do you want to watch? Two of the Mavericks are played by James Garner and Roger Moore.
- Gunsmoke- The longest-running live-action, primetime show in history until the Law & Order franchise came along. And that longevity was earned with great storytelling and enduring characters. This is one of the foundational shows that built American television as we know it today.
- Deadwood- One of my all-time favorites. This is one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled. Shakespearean in conception and execution. And there are more than a few executions in this brutal and bloody drama.
- The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.- Bruce Campbell is always enjoyable and he is hilariously charming again in this short-lived comedy western. The show is a little steampunk/weird west and there are a lot of laughs to be had. It’s a very ‘90s western.
- Kung Fu: A Shaolin monk wanders the old west looking for his half-brother and uses his skills and his wisdom to help people and solve problems along the way. If you feel like adding martial arts to your westerns, this is for you.
- Bonanza- Four hundred and thirty-one episodes are nothing to sneeze at if you’re looking for a new binge and this series is more than just a campy weekly adventure series. It tackled difficult issues and created moral dilemmas for its characters that couldn’t be solved with a gunfight. A beloved classic of the genre.
- Rawhide- You’ve undoubtedly heard the theme song ant some point but did you know this western series starred Clint Eastwood before he became a big-name movie star? That’s right if you like the “Man with No Name” Trilogy you’ve got 200 episodes of Eastwood western just waiting for you.