8 Near-Perfect Western Shows That No One Remembers Today

These days, the conversation around television Westerns typically revolves around neo-Westerns like Yellowstone or critically acclaimed HBO shows like Deadwood. Sure, the classics like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Rawhide can still be found in their entirety at your local Walmart, but otherwise there are plenty of both old-school and modern trips to the Old West that have been pushed to the wayside. Given the vast history of the genre on television, it’s a crying shame.

For those looking to tackle the genre in earnest, we’ve put together a brief list of slept-on Western shows that, while not perfect, come pretty darn close. Each has its quirks, underdeveloped aspects, or plotlines we don’t care for, but they all revel in their unique exploration of the American West during the traditional post-Civil War period (okay, except one, but we’ll get to that). So hop in the saddle and grab the reins because we’re on our way to that forgotten wild frontier.

‘How the West Was Won’ (1976–1979)

Image via ABC

After spending two decades playing Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, Western star James Arness decided that his next television project would be an epic reimagining of How the West Was Won. What started as a television film following the Macahan family as they, with help from uncle Zeb Macahan (Arness), travel west to establish themselves during the heights of the Civil War, only to venture into that initial postwar period of Western lawlessness. It certainly lives up to the high expectations of that original film.

With over two dozen 90-minute installments, each episode of How the West Was Won almost plays like a made-for-TV movie. Of course, there are serialized threads that continue throughout the whole series — such as Luke’s (Bruce Boxleitner) continual troubles with the law — but they never pull away from the main plot. It’s a shame so few remember this one.

‘Cheyenne’ (1955–1962)

Image via ABC

The first hour-long Western television series to hit the airwaves, Cheyenne ran for an impressive seven seasons back in its day, paving the way for future 60-minute programs. Featuring Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie, a drifting gunslinger who takes odd jobs across the Old West, always finding himself in the middle of whatever trouble comes along. It helped that he’s among the best Western gunslingers on television.

Cheyenne is about as traditional a TV Western as you can get, almost like the Shane of televised horse operas. The series even served as the springboard for the short-lived The Dakotas, another often slept-on series that deserves its due. Additionally, that Cheyenne theme song is just so catchy.

‘Paradise’ (1988–1991)

Image via CBS

Originally known as simply Paradise before being retitled as Guns of Paradise, this CBS program hit the airwaves at a time when viewers saw a brief resurgence of the genre on television. Shows like the equally great The Young Riders and the epic Lonesome Dove miniseries were making waves, and Guns of Paradise made some noise of its own. While it’s been left to the wayside compared to those other two programs, Paradise deserves its spot in the Western TV canon.

When Lee Horsley‘s Ethan Allen Cord, a longtime gunfighter, seeks to leave his life of violence, he settles in the titular California town to take care of his orphaned niece and nephews. Of course, upon arriving in Paradise, he falls for landowner Amelia Lawson (Sigrid Thornton), which comes with its own complications. While not listed among the best classic Western shows, Paradise is a three-season adventure worth undertaking.

‘Joe Pickett’ (2021–2023)

Image via Paramount+

Based on the series of novels by author C.J. Box, Joe Pickett is the only show on this list that is set in the modern American West. But while the show itself may not be set in the traditional genre time period, the titular hero is quite old-school himself. In fact, that’s exactly what draws us to Joe (Michael Dorman) in the first place.

Joe Pickett ran for two seasons before it was unceremoniously cancelled, with the Wyoming game warden investigating a series of mysteries in the wild lands that once humbled American explorers. While the show itself takes some liberties from its source material, it’s a stellar adaptation that is perfect for longtime fans or newcomers alike. It’s a two-season Western series perfect for a quick binge.

‘The Rebel’ (1959–1961)

Image via ABC

“Johnny Yuma was a rebel, he roamed through the west.” If you’re at all familiar with that classic Johnny Cash tune, then you already know something about The Rebel. This ABC Western followed the ex-Confederate Johnny Yuma (Nick Adams) as he, well, roamed about the Old West. Yuma got into all sorts of trouble, but it never stopped him from doing the right thing.

The Rebel ran for two long seasons, adding up to 76 episodes total — though it never quite felt so long with only half-hour installments — as Yuma rambled across the country. Like Cheyenne, The Rebel tackled many of the usual Western plots that different shows often recycled, though it always did so with Adams’ stone-faced charm. Ironically, the plot of The Hateful Eight was stolen from this show.

‘The Son’ (2017–2019)

Image via AMC

Although The Son began a year before Yellowstone, this AMC drama is often overshadowed in favor of the Dutton drama. But while The Son is also about a family ranching legacy, it spans across several time periods and multiple generations to do so. The two-season series follows patriarch Eli McCullough (Pierce Brosnan) in his old age, juxtaposing his future with his past (where he’s played by Jacob Lofland) to tell a complete story of the sacrifices made for his family.

The Son is the type of Western series perfect for the streaming era. With a concise 20-episode run that pulls from the novel of the same name by Philipp Meyer, AMC outdid themselves with this addictive Texas-based narrative that speaks firmly to the same issues Taylor Sheridan would meditate on with his multi-installment franchise. That said, The Son arguably does it better.

‘Billy the Kid’ (2022–2025)

It’s hard to say that a show that literally just ended is a “forgotten” Western series, but considering most don’t even know Billy the Kid exists, we’ll argue that it qualifies. The Epix-turned-MGM+ series followed the title American outlaw (played by Tom Blyth) as he steps in the middle of the famed Lincoln County War, only for his life to be turned completely upside down. From his tragic upbringing as his family migrated West to his “fated” ending, this show will thoroughly surprise you at every turn.

Part of the reason for that is that the show doesn’t allow itself to be shackled by complete historical accuracy. While based on Billy’s real-life exploits, the truth is that Billy the Kid departs considerably from the authentic historical account. So, if you can get over the inaccuracies and enjoy the MGM+ drama as a legendary take on the Wild West mythos, you’ll love Billy the Kid. As one of the most underrated Westerns of our day, it deserves to be remembered fondly by fans of the genre.

‘The Loner’ (1965–1966)

Image via CBS

As one of the most criminally forgotten Western shows out there, The Loner was Rod Serling‘s post-Twilight Zone adventure westward. Wanting to make an “adult” Western that appealed to the thinking men in the audience, he dreamed up former Union captain William Colton (Lloyd Bridges) who, like the typical Old West hero, drifts west and finds himself in the middle of more trouble than he bargained for. Yet, Colton is a man who can handle such difficulties with a cool, enrapturing ease.

The Loner only ran for a single 26-episode season, but it’s a show that still holds up after all this time. Serling’s creative vision for the genre is certainly unique, and though quite different from the various Twilight Zone Westerns he tackled over the years, it still feels undeniably Serling in its approach. It wasn’t all about gunfights or action, but it did aim for a realism not reached by many horse operas at the time.