Neo-Western TV shows are now a big hit as they have good storylines and many action-packed scenes. Most TV series in this genre feature intriguing plots that manage to keep the viewers wanting more.
Joe Pickett is a popular Western TV series based on the novel of the same name written by author C.J. Box. The storyline revolves around Joe Pickett and his family, who live in rural Wyoming. Pickett works as a game warden and has frequent disputes with local hunters.
Things become complicated for the Pickett family when they discover the dead body of a local hunter and the presence of an endangered species on their property. The discovery of political conspiracies and the involvement of private corporations create further complications for the Pickett family. How the Picketts manage to save themselves from getting criminally implicated in the murders forms the gist of the story.
12 Shows Like Joe Pickett That You Should Add To Your Watchlist
If you are looking for TV shows based on Western settings, then this is the perfect place for you. Here are 12 TV shows that can satisfy your desire for Western dramas.
Yellowstone (2018-2023)
This popular series follows the lives of the members of the Dutton family, who are the owners of the largest ranch in Montana. The series follows the struggles of the Dutton family as they try to manage their ranch and resolve disputes with their neighbors.
Kevin Costner plays the lead role of John Dutton – the head of the Dutton family. The Yellowstone ranch, which is the cattle ranch of the Dutton family, shares its borders with the Broken Rock Indian Reservation and Yellowstone National Park. Several land developers also have their eye on the ranch as it is a prime property. The plot revolves around the struggles of the Dutton family as they try to save their ranch from corrupt politicians and land developers. The intense storyline manages to hold the viewer’s attention and keep them hooked to the show.
- Cast: Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes
- Watch On: Paramount Network
- Premiere Date: Jun 20, 2018
- Rating: 8.7/10 (IMDb)
Longmire (2012-2017)
This TV series is based on the Walt Longmire mystery novels written by author Craig Johnson. This Western crime drama follows the life of a Wyoming sheriff as he struggles with obstacles in his personal and professional life.
Robert Taylor plays Walt Longmire, who works as a sheriff in Wyoming. The show follows Longmire’s emotional journey as he struggles to overcome his grief over losing his wife. With encouragement from his daughter Cady, Walt returns to work in an attempt to move on. He finds also support from his new female deputy Vic, and contests for re-election. The show follows Walt’s journey of self-discovery and healing while fighting crime.
- Cast: Robert Taylor, Katie Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips
- Watch On: A&E, Netflix
- Premiere Date: Jun 3, 2012
- Rating: 8.3/10 (IMDb)
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001)
This iconic Western TV series has a lot of fans even though it aired in 1993. Chuck Norris, who played the lead role as Ranger Cordell Walker became a household name with this series. The storyline of this series is inspired by the film ‘Lone Wolf McQuade’ which also featured Chuck Norris as a Texas Ranger.
The series, Walker Texas Ranger, is a Western crime thriller that narrates the adventures of Walker and his colleagues who work as Texas Rangers. Each episode in this series deals with a fresh episode of crime committed in Texas and ends with the Rangers bringing the criminals to justice. Walker’s martial arts skills and his banter with his colleague Trivette made the series popular among the viewers. The storyline also portrays the emotional side of Walker as he tries to come to terms with his own personal demons.
- Cast: Chuck Norris, Clarence Gilyard
- Watch On: YouTubeTV
- Premiere Date: Apr 21, 1993
- Rating: 5.6/10
1883 (2021-2022)
This Western drama series is a prequel to the hugely popular series ‘Yellowstone’. This mini-series traces the origins of the Dutton family and follows their journey across Montana.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill play the lead roles of James and Margaret Dutton. The viewers are taken on a journey across the harsh landscapes of Montana as the Dutton family travel to the untamed side of the country. The Dutton family seeks to make a better life for themselves in Montana by establishing their own ranch. How the family manages to secure their land and establish their ranch form the gist of the storyline. Tom Hanks and Billy Bob Thorton also make appearances in this mini-series in flashback scenes.
- Cast: Isabelle May, Tim McGraw, Sam Elliot
- Watch On: Paramount+ (TBA)
- Premiere Date: Dec 19, 2021
- Rating: 8.7/10
Deadwood (2004-2006)
Set in the 1800s, this Western TV series revolves around the people living in Deadwood, South Dakota. The series is based on the real town of Deadwood and its then-residents who moved to the mining in search of better prospects.
Seth Bullock, played by Timothy Olyphant, and his friend Sol Star, played by John Hawkes, travel to Deadwood and set up a hardware business. Although it is a gold-mining town, Deadwood does not have a proper law and order situation. In Season 1 of the show, the residents manage to form a municipal government and deal with a smallpox outbreak efficiently. How the residents manage to earn their livelihoods and establish a lawful society among themselves forms the gist of the story.
- Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Robin Weigert
- Watch On: Hulu
- Premiere Date: Mar 21, 2004
- Rating: 8.6/10 (IMDb)
The English (2022)
This Western TV series is a revenge drama set in 1890. The series tells the tale of a mother who is seeking revenge for her son’s murder.
Emily Blunt plays the role of an aristocratic English mother, Lady Cornelia Locke, who sets out to get her son’s murderer. On her journey across the Wild West, she meets Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer), an ex-cavalry scout of the Pawnee Nation. Eli is on a journey to Nebraska to try and claim land that is owed to him for his service in the US Army. The pair team up when they realize that they have a shared history and make their journey together across the lawless lands.
- Cast: Emily Blunt, Chaske Spencer, Rafe Spall
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
- Premiere Date: Nov 10, 2022
- Rating: 7.8/10
Bonanza (1959-1973)
This Western TV series has the distinction of being NBC’s longest-running Western TV show. Over 430 episodes of this series have been shot over 14 seasons.
Bonanza is set in the 1890s, and the story is centered around the adventures of the wealthy Cartwright family, who live in a ranch house near Virginia City, Nevada. Lorne Greene plays the role of the patriarch, Ben Cartwright, while Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon play the role of the three sons – Adam, Eric and Joseph. The show depicts the family life of the Cartwrights, their relationships with their neighbours, and how they resolve their moral dilemmas.
- Cast: Pernell Roberts, Michael Landon
- Watch On: YouTubeTV
- Premiere Date: Sept 12, 1959
- Rating: 7.3/10
The Ranch (2016-2020)
This American sitcom gives a mild funny take on the life of an aged-out pro footballer who returns home to help run his family’s ranch.
Sam Elliot plays the role of Beau Bennet who is the patriarch of the family. He runs his ranch with the help of his older son Rooster Bennet played by Danny Masterson and his wife Maggie played by Debra Winger. The story follows the journey of Beau’s younger son Colt (Ashton Kutcher) as he makes his way back home following the end of his sporting career. The series follows Colt’s journey of self-discovery and realisation of how things have changed in his absence. How Colt finds his place in the family and how he amends his relationships with everyone around him forms the gist of the storyline.
- Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Sam Elliott, Danny Masterson
- Watch On: Netflix
- Premiere Date: April 1, 2016
- Rating: 7.5/10
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023-)
This upcoming Western series is a part of the Yellowstone franchise and is based on the life of the first Black Deputy Marshall, Bass Reeves, who served in Mississipi.
David Oyelowo plays the role of the main protagonist Bass Reeves in this Western drama. This series is expected to premiere by the end of 2023, there is already a huge buzz around this show. The plot is expected to be supportive of the plot of the 1883 TV series, which reveals the struggles of the Dutton family in their attempts to establish the Yellowstone Ranch.
Although the storyline hasn’t been revealed much, viewers are expecting to see a proper Western drama with lots of thrilling scenes.
- Cast: David Oyelowo, Lauren E Banks, Forrest Goodluck
- Watch On: Paramount + (TBA)
- Premiere Date: TBA
- Rating: –
The Son (2017-2019)
This TV series captures the rise of America through the multi-generational struggles of a Texan family for establishing their oil empire.
Pierce Brosnan plays the protagonist Eli McCullough, who gets kidnapped at a young age by the Comanches. The series traces his journey from his ordeal and justifies his personal struggles as he tries to overcome his trauma. The storyline takes the viewers on a beautiful journey that exposes them to the Comanche way of life and explains why Eli remembers the Chief with gratitude. Eli’s complex character and how he navigates his personal relations while establishing his oil empire form the gist of the plot.
- Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Jacob Lofland
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
- Premiere Date: April 8, 2017
- Rating: 7.5/10
Wynonna Earp (2016-2021)
This Western supernatural horror TV series is a great pick for viewers who want to watch something that is a little different than the usual Westerns. This series follows legendary Wyatt Earp’s granddaughter, Wynonna Earp, as she battles demonic entities in the Wild West.
Melanie Scrofano essays the role of Wynonna Earp, who fights demonic entities with her special abilities. Tim Rozon plays the role of Doc Holiday, an immortal who helps Wynonna, along with other allies who possess unique abilities. Wynonna and her friends use their abilities together to bring supernatural criminals to justice. This TV series is a great pick for viewers who are fans of supernatural shows.
- Cast: Melanie Scrofano, Dominique Provost-Chalkley, Katherine Barrell
- Watch On: Netflix
- Premiere Date: April 1, 2016
- Rating: 7.4/10
The Virginian (1962-1971)
This classic Western is based on the popular novel ‘The Virginian: Horseman of the Plains’ written by Owen Wister in 1902.
The Virginian (Credit: Revue Studios)Veteran actor James Drury plays the titular role of The Virginian in this classic Western TV series. The storyline reveals how a mysterious man establishes law and order in rural Wyoming. Drury works as a ranch foreman in the Shiloh Ranch, Wyoming. He takes the initiative to establish ensure that proper law and order are established in the ranch and in the countryside. The storyline of this series revolves around how Drury manages to remain anonymous as The Virginian while establishing law and order.
- Cast: James Drury, Doug McClure
- Watch On: Hulu
- Premiere Date: Sept 19, 1962
- Rating: 7.6/10
