5 Breathtaking Western Mini-Series You Need to Binge This Weekend
Don't know how to spend your weekends? Well, I have some great ideas for you. These 5 Westerns won't leave you bored on a Saturday night.
Mini-series really come through during those periods when I don't really want to commit to a lengthy TV show or settling for just a two-hour movie.
They are the sweet spot that give me time to fall in love with the characters without demanding weeks or even months of my life in return. And if you add a Western genre to the mix, you know you're in for a real treat.
These 5 shows pack all the good stuff you'd expect from a Western, but with the perfect binge-worthy format that won't eat up your entire schedule.
Choosing only five was more difficult than you can imagine, but these are my absolute favorites and my go-to projects when I take too long to decide what to watch.
Lonesome Dove (1989): The One That Set the Gold Standard
Every now and then, a piece of television comes along that changes the game entirely. Lonesome Dove is that kind of show.
Based on Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this epic story follows two retired Texas Rangers (Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call) on their last great adventure driving cattle to Montana.
The chemistry between Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones makes me come back time and time again. And every single time I rewatch this piece of artwork (I seriously don't think that any other wording would be appropriate), I discover more and more layers of something that I've missed the first time around.
If this isn't top-tier television, then I have no idea what is. You can catch Lonesome Dove completely free of charge right now on Plex. This is your chance to give this bad boy a first time visit or a rewatch (it's worth it!).
Hatfields & McCoys (2012): This Family Feud Just Got a Little Bit Too Real
Okay, if you're into drama just like me, this one's gonna be right up your alley. Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton bring to life America's most famous family feud and it's intense.
The series dives deep into the post-Civil War conflict between two families that basically turned into an all-out war. And I still can't fathom that this is all based on a real story. The show really gets into the why and how of this legendary rivalry.
You can watch Hatfields & McCoys right now on Fandango at Home, Amazon Video or Apple TV+.
The American West (2016): History Through Hollywood Lens
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If you're in a mood for something different, but still don't want to go far from the Western genre, this is perfect for you.
This docu-series directed by John Ealer takes a different approach to telling Western stories. Instead of going full fiction, it blends dramatic recreations with documentary elements to tell an engaging story of the American frontier from 1865 to 1890.
The show manages to keep you hooked and never get boring. But the highlights of The American West are, of course, interviews with contemporary stars like Tom Selleck and Mark Harmon talking about the Old West.
You can stream this gem completely free on Hoopla and Plex right now. It's worth your time if you want to learn something while still enjoying your Western.
The English (2022): A True Love Letter to the Western Genre
If you think that all good Westerns were filmed way back then I have to disagree. The English is the latest Western on this list and it can rival even with my favorite Lonesome Dove.
Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer star in this revenge story that follows an aristocratic Englishwoman seeking justice in 1890s America. The cinematography is absolutely stunning. Those landscapes definitely made their way into my wallpaper.
What really got me hooked was how the show manages to be both brutal and beautiful at the same time. It got this dreamy, almost mythical quality to it, but don't worry, there's still plenty of action.
You can catch The English on Prime Video. The six-episode format is perfect for a weekend binge.
Godless (2017): Women Run the Show
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Last but definitely not least on this list is the Netflix original that completely flips the traditional Western script in the best way possible.
Set in the town of La Belle, New Mexico, where most of the male population has been wiped out in a mining accident, this series follows the women who refused to let their town die. The show's got everything you want in a Western with a fresh perspective that makes it feel totally unique.
You can find Godless on Netflix. I really think you need to give this one a chance, you won't want to stop watching once you start.
