3 Underrated Western TV Series You Might Have Missed

3 Best Western TV Shows That You Probably Missed By  Zach Moser Published 18 minutes ago Zach Moser is a Philadelphia native who loves films, television, books, and any and all media he can get his hands on. Zach has had articles published on satirical sites such as Points In Case, Slackjaw, and McSweeney's. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

If you're looking for a new Western TV show you've never seen before, check out these three underrated series that most people have missed. It's a funny thing, for a few years at the beginning of the 21st century, people were proclaiming the death of the Western genre, and it did seem well on its way out.

Compared to the previous four decades, Western movies plunged in popularity after 2000, and it seemed like the genre was dead. It turns out, it never died, it just moved to television, and, arguably, we're in something of a golden age for Western television with shows like Yellowstone, Justified, and Godless.

With all the new Western TV shows constantly coming out on streamers, not to mention the backlog of classic Western TV shows, it can be easy to overlook some, no matter how highly regarded by critics and fans of the genre. These three shows are perfect for Western fans trying to find something they missed.

The English (2022)

Amazon Prime Video's The English is a Western miniseries starring Emily Blunt as Lady Cornelia Locke, an Englishwoman who travels to the American West in 1890 in order to kill the man she believes murdered her son. She's joined on her journey by Sgt. Eli "Wounded Wolf" Whipp (Chaske Spencer).

Eli, a member of the Pawnee Nation and a veteran of the US Army, is headed to land in Nebraska that he was awarded for his service, though everyone he meets insists the white men there won't honor his rightful claim. The six-episode series is packed with so many details that you start to get lost in them.

However, the show is so beautifully filmed that you don't mind all the sidetracking. Blunt and Spencer have fantastic chemistry, showing the different sides of people demanding justice who are aware they likely won't get it. It's harsh, powerfully told, and incredibly satisfying in how it wraps up.

Hell On Wheels (2011-2016)

One of the more underrated Western TV shows ever, and also surprisingly underseen considering it had 5 seasons, Hell on Wheels is a fictional recounting of the construction of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States, taking place just after the Civil War. The series stars Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate Colonel.

Cullen's wife and son were brutally murdered by Union soldiers, so he sets off in vengeance after them. His journey takes him to the mobile encampment that is building the railroad across the U.S., and Cullen comes to find he likes the line of work. It's thrilling and shows the West at its most grim.

Hell on Wheels does not shy away from the brutality of the era, and there's not much in the way of heroism in the show. This makes the few moments of respite and kindness all the more affecting. It's a gorgeously shot series that uses sweeping vistas and grimy work camps to really place the audience in the time period.

The Good Lord Bird (2020)

The Good Lord Bird TV-MA Western Drama Comedy History Release Date 2020 - 2020-00-00 Network Showtime Directors Kevin Hooks, Haifaa al-Mansour, Albert Hughes, Darnell Martin Writers Erika Johnson, Kristen SaBerre, Jeff Augustin

Cast

• Ethan Hawke John Brown
• Wyatt Russell J.E.B. Stuart
• Crystal Lee Brown Sibonia
• Mo Brings Plenty Ottawa Jones

Genres Western, Drama, Comedy, History Powered by Expand Collapse

Ethan Hawke stars in The Good Lord Bird as John Brown, a real historical figure, best known for his fierce opposition to slavery in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Told from the point of view of Henry "Onion" Shackleford (Joshua Caleb Johnson), a former enslaved boy, we get a first-hand look at Brown's abolitionist tactics.

The series follows Brown's personal war against slavery, beginning with "Bleeding Kansas" and ending with his failed raid on Harper's Ferry. Despite its failures, the raid accelerated the disunion of America, ultimately leading to the Civil War. It's an incredibly impactful miniseries that details an overlooked piece of American history.

Hawke is as fantastic as you would expect, but the rest of the cast is doing some of their best work as well, with excellent performances from the rest of the cast. The series plays with tone well, sometimes appearing irreverent, and other times gravely serious, but it all works in this Western's impressive efforts to shine.

• Western

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