10 best Western TV shows for lovers of the Wild West atmosphere

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Criminal and dramatic stories about the gold rush, clashes with Indians and more await you.

10. Klondike

• Canada, USA, 2014.
• Drama, Adventure, Western.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

1896, the time of the gold rush. Two friends who dream of getting rich quick travel from New York to Dawson, Canada on the Yukon River. All kinds of dangers await them on the way. And already on the spot, they will meet with numerous competitors who are ready to kill anyone for the sake of prey.

The series is based on the novel by Canadian Charlotte Gray, Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich in the Klondike. This is Discovery Channel's first original project. The main role is played by Richard Madden - many will remember him as Rob Stark from "Game of Thrones". The prototype of his character Bill Haskell was a real person who actually visited the Yukon in the late 19th century. As most often happens in westerns, it is not the terrible living conditions and inclement weather that are most terrible here, but other people.

9. Son

• USA, 2017–2019.
• Drama, western.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

In 1849, the Indians captured the boy, and killed his entire family. The child is raised by the Comanches, and soon becomes one of the leaders of the tribe. Later, the white young man returns to civilized life. He rebuilds the largest ranch in the area, and then oil is found on his land. So already in adulthood, this man founds a company that would later turn into an industry giant.

The series of the American channel AMC is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Philip Mayer. "Son" tells the story of three generations of a Texas family. The role of the head of the family is played by the magnificent Pierce Brosnan, who does not often appear on television. The series borrows from the book the unhurried pace of the narrative, drawing in detail the psychological portraits of the main characters.

8. Curse

• USA, 2017.
• Drama, crime, western.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

A preacher comes to a small provincial town in Iowa. He is not so much concerned with religion as with a local industrial magnate. The priest organizes protest actions of workers at the rich man's factory. The businessman hires a special person to stop the pest pastor.

The series of the American channel USA Network was broadcast worldwide by Netflix. In addition to the traditional genre shootouts between stern men in hats, "The Curse" shows the hard life of ordinary Americans during the Great Depression. The series is good with spectacular scenes and biting dialogues.

7. Hatfields and McCoys

• USA, 2012.
• Drama, melodrama, western, military, history.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

From 1863 to 1891, there was an active feud between the two families on the border of the states of West Virginia and Kentucky. More than 10 people became its victims, the same number were injured. The two men return to their families. One of them fought for the South, the other for the North. Further, there are numerous intrigues, fights and shootings. Soon everyone forgot how it all started.

The roles of the heads of the two families were played by Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton. Costner won Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his work. There are only three episodes of 90 minutes in the History channel project. Events are developing rapidly. The authorities do not intervene in the conflict, and men prefer weapons to words. As befits classic westerns, blood flows like a river.

6. Longmire

• USA, 2012-2017.
• Action, drama, crime, western.
• Duration: 6 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Walt Longmire is the sheriff of one of the counties in Wyoming. A year ago he became a widower, now he is a little lonely. His assistant is a girl who previously worked as a homicide detective in Philadelphia. She replaced the bustling streets of the metropolis with vast wilderness, but this did not reduce the work: an Indian reservation is located nearby. Native Americans try not to resort to the help of official authorities.

The first three seasons aired on the American cable channel A&E, the last three were shown by Netflix. In each episode, viewers will have a separate investigation. In fact, "Longmire" develops according to the rules of criminal projects about the everyday life of the police, where at the hour set on the air the criminal will be caught. The series is westernized by cowboys, Indians and Wyoming's nature.

5. Hell on wheels

• Canada, UK, 2011-2016.
• Drama, western.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The Civil War has just ended. A transcontinental railroad is being built in Nebraska to link the eastern and western states. "Hell on Wheels" is the name of the mobile camp for the railway builders. Here comes a man looking for his wife's killers. Once he fought for the southerners, but now he has neither a home nor a job. There is only a desire to avenge the beloved.

The AMC series vividly and convincingly portrays a world that has survived a major war. Many heroes are forced to start life from scratch and decide for themselves whether to move forward or live in the past. The railway, which leads builders to new lands, is becoming a symbol of the future, a locomotive of progress.

4. Forgotten by God

• USA, 2017.
• Western drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

In La Belle, New Mexico, women live exclusively. One day, their husbands went into the mine and did not return. Now American women do without the help of outsiders. The leader of the most terrible gang of the Wild West is pursuing his adopted son and accomplice, who stole all the spoils from the last case. The young man decides to hide in La Bella.

The original Netflix miniseries was produced by Steven Soderbergh. Forgotten by God features great dialogue, outstanding acting by Jeff Daniels, Jack O'Connell and Michelle Dockery, and an overall dark atmosphere. There are mystical and truly frightening elements in the series. In this world, there are virtually no positive characters, which means that there is no classic Western battle between good and evil.

3. Yellowstone

• USA, 2018 - present.
• Drama, western.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most visited places in the United States: millions of tourists come here every year. The head of the family, who owns a ranch on the border with the reserve, is desperately fighting off the attacks of the authorities and developers. An Indian reservation is also located nearby. The indigenous people are not very friendly towards whites.

The series for the Paramount Network was created by writer and director Taylor Sheridan. He himself directed several episodes. In the era of streaming services, it is one of the most popular projects on American cable television. The modern Western is not as bloody and cruel as its predecessors, but it is still interesting because of the clash of different cultures.

2. Deadwood

• USA, 2004-2006.
• Crime, drama, western, history.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

1876 The gold rush from California moved to South Dakota. The city of Deadwood is founded in this state. Adventurers from all over the country come here. Justice did not manage to reach these edges, so any conflicts are resolved with revolvers. The most popular places are the saloon and the shop, the owners of which are in fierce competition with each other.

The HBO project ushered in the era of Western TV series for the new century. He immediately fell in love with critics and the public for his realism in depicting reality and apt dialogues. Violence, sex, profanity and no romance. Only the harsh truth of life. Characters are based on real Wild West heroes.

1. World of the Wild West

• USA, 2016 - present.
• Western, fantasy, drama, detective.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

The futuristic Westworld park was created for the entertainment of a wealthy public. It is inhabited by robots with which visitors can do whatever they want. The androids are reprogrammed and sent back to work. The co-founder of the park decides to make changes to the firmware of the cyborgs, but they rebel against the people and take power into their own hands.

"Westworld" combines science fiction and western. The series was created by Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher Nolan) and his wife Lisa Joy. The script is based on the 1973 film of the same name by Michael Crichton, and he also owns the original idea. The project is distinguished by excellent acting work, impressive special effects and an unpredictable plot. Each season, new stars appear on the screen in addition to the old characters. For example, in the third season, they were Vincent Cassel and Aaron Paul.