5 Forgotten Western TV Gems That Deserve a Revival

by

Westerns used to be incredibly popular at the movies. Stars like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood built successful careers playing cowboys, sheriffs, and outlaws, and people loved seeing their films. However, that era has passed. While movies like the 2010 remake of True Grit and Django Unchained from 2012 did well, Westerns haven’t been consistently profitable in theaters for quite some time.

Look, the Western isn’t dead by any means. It’s actually doing really well on TV! I mean, Netflix’s American Primeval was a big hit recently. But if you ask me, nothing beats Deadwood – David Milch’s show is just a brilliant, Shakespearean, and yeah, pretty sweary, masterpiece. They thankfully brought it back for a movie in 2019, which was awesome. Honestly, though, there are so many other great Western shows that people have forgotten about, and I think they really deserve another look. As a fan, I’d love to see all of them get a revival somehow!

Godless Was an Epic in Every Sense of the Word

Scott Frank, the screenwriter of Logan, created Godless, a stunning Western series released in 2017. Though he had some TV experience, Frank was mainly known for films, making Godless an unexpected venture into longer-format storytelling. It proved to be a brilliant move, and while his later shows gained more attention, Godless might be his most overlooked achievement. What makes Godless so special is its ability to feel both modern and gritty, while also capturing the classic romance of the Western genre.

The series centers on Roy Goode, played by Jack O’Connell, a quiet stranger who arrives in the isolated town of La Belle, New Mexico, while escaping the dangerous outlaw Frank Griffin and his large gang. La Belle is unusual because most of its male residents died in a mining accident, leaving it primarily populated by women. The story builds toward a major confrontation between Goode and Griffin, as the women fight to defend their town from Griffin’s violent crew. However, the show doesn’t rush to the action; a significant portion focuses on the everyday lives of the townspeople, allowing viewers to connect with them and understand their relationships. We also see a complex side to Frank Griffin, revealing him to be a much more nuanced character than a simple villain.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Was Overshadowed By Other Shows From the Sheridan-verse

When people think of Westerns on TV today, Taylor Sheridan is the name that immediately comes to mind. He’s become a major force with shows like Yellowstone and its prequels, 1883 and 1923, delivering captivating stories that blend modern and classic Western themes. However, a different Western, released on Paramount+ in November 2023, didn’t get much attention. Though Sheridan was an executive producer and it was promoted as being part of his collection of work, it didn’t achieve the same success as Yellowstone.

Despite limited connection to 1883 or perhaps due to Sheridan’s distance from the project, the show was unfortunately cancelled too soon. It offered a compelling and enjoyable look at the life of Bass Reeves, the first Black Deputy US Marshal, with standout performances from David Oyelowo, Forrest Goodluck, Barry Pepper, and Donald Sutherland in his last television appearance. The series consistently improved throughout its single season, culminating in a powerful portrayal of Reeves by Oyelowo, who captured both the character’s quiet strength and the harsh realities of the prejudice he constantly faced.

Warrior Mixed the Western, Crime, and Martial Arts Genres to Devastating Effect

After being unexpectedly canceled by Cinemax after just two seasons, fans were thrilled when HBO Max brought back Warrior. They hoped the move would finally allow the show to reach a wider audience and become the hit it deserved. Sadly, even with great reviews, the show didn’t gain much more visibility and was canceled again, this time after three seasons. Warrior is now considered one of the most overlooked shows in recent years. The series brilliantly captured the atmosphere of San Francisco in the late 1870s and offered a fascinating look into the complex world of Chinatown’s battling gangs, or Tongs. Each episode was filled with exciting action, from criminals wielding axes and intense bar fights to skilled martial artists facing off against cowboys and political schemes.

Calling Warrior simply unique doesn’t even begin to cover how special it was – that’s what made it so captivating. It brilliantly combined the elements of a historical crime drama, thrilling martial arts action, and classic Westerns. While it sounds like an unlikely combination, creator Jonathan Tropper (Banshee) skillfully blended these different genres, making each one even better. The show’s roots actually go back to 1971, when someone first imagined a martial artist in the Old West.

Joe Pickett Had the Potential to be Every Bit as Great as Justified

If you enjoyed the neo-Western series Justified, you might like Joe Pickett, which aired for two seasons (2021-2023). It’s about a Wyoming game warden and shares a similar theme: the idea that the wild, lawless spirit of the Old West hasn’t disappeared, it’s just changed. Like Justified, it shows that modern law enforcement in some parts of the US still faces incredibly dangerous situations, just as challenging as those faced by historical lawmen.

Though Joe Pickett featured its share of action and gunfights, it really stood out for its well-crafted mysteries that kept viewers hooked. The relationship between Joe and his wife, Marybeth, a former lawyer who stayed home to raise their family, was particularly endearing. Actors David Dorman and Julianna Guill delivered strong performances together, portraying a believable and genuinely connected couple, which grounded the show’s more dramatic storylines.

The English Subverted Expectations at Every Turn

“The English,” a fresh take on the Western genre, premiered on Prime Video in November 2022. The series features a strong cast, including British actors like Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, and Rafe Spall. Unlike traditional Westerns, this story focuses on an English woman from a wealthy background and a Native American man, both with compelling reasons for their journey. She’s driven by a desire for revenge after her son’s death, while he’s determined to claim the land he earned through his service in the US Army – even if it means facing those who refuse to honor his claim.

The new series, The English, offers everything you’d anticipate from a contemporary Western reimagining. It features a unforgiving landscape that constantly threatens the characters, sudden bursts of violence, and difficult scenes showing the mistreatment of people of color and women. While the story isn’t perfect, the show is carried by two outstanding performances. Emily Blunt is reliably excellent as the strong-willed, complex Lady Cornelia Locke, portraying her as both vulnerable and heroic. However, Chaske Spencer truly shines as Eli Whipp, capturing the pain of a man torn between two worlds and feeling like he doesn’t truly belong anywhere.

Read More

2025-11-06 07:37