Long-running television always lead to some concerns. We wonder if they will deliver a complete story from start to finish or get canceled before it can tell its story the way the creative team intended. Of course, plenty of classics have proven themselves across multiple seasons. Taylor Sheridan has been a major force in defining the multi-season, expanded-universe Western epic.
Long-running series can be a treat. However, since I first became interested in the genre after watching Clint Eastwood in The Man With No Name trilogy, I have found myself drawn to the Western genre through shorter-form storytelling. Thankfully, plenty of phenomenal shows are out there. When putting this list together, I prioritized overall quality from acting to story, but also considered series that are fully self-contained. None of these series leave lingering questions after the final episode.
‘Lonesome Dove’ (1989)
The Miniseries That Established the Modern Western
Why It’s So Great: Lonesome Dove, adapted from Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, is one of the most definitive Western TV series. It was made into a four-part CBS miniseries about two aging rangers who drive a cattle herd from Texas to Montana and stars Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. It earned high praise, won a major Emmy, and received seven awards out of 18 nominations.
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: The miniseries revitalized the Western genre on TV and sparked greater interest in the miniseries format. It is easy to see why: the series has a strong, story-driven script that blends bleakness and humor as the two men make their way across Montana. It’s also immersive. It takes its time and lets us get to know Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call on a personal level through stories and banter. While Lonesome Dove spawned sequels and prequels, the original CBS show remains a self-contained story expertly woven across just four episodes.
‘Into the West’ (2005)
A Spielberg-Produced Epic Largely Forgotten
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DreamWorks Home Entertainment
Why It’s So Great: A project somewhat lost in the shuffle of time, the six-part series produced by Steven Spielberg for DreamWorks Television remains one of the most ambitious. Into the West follows two families, the Wheelers, led by Jacob Wheeler (Matthew Settle), and a Lakota family represented primarily by Loved by the Buffalo (Joseph M. Marshall III). The series portrays each family separately from 1825 to 1890, then brings them into conflict when a marriage links them.
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: Into the West does a lot right. Most notably, it avoids the cliché of portraying Indigenous people as noble victims and tells a more sincere, realistic story. This authenticity is key to the conflicts the two families face during Western expansion, amid environmental and social challenges. It received 16 Emmy nominations but only won awards for score and sound mixing. This series has six two-hour episodes, and its storytelling between the two families requires patience. If you’re willing to accept its slow pace, it’s a phenomenal series to dive into.
‘1883’ (2021)
Taylor Sheridan’s Perfect Single Season Show
Why It’s So Great: While some still hope for a second season, Taylor Sheridan stated that he set out to make 1883 “a 10-hour movie with an ending.” 1883 is part of the Yellowstone franchise and is framed by Isabel May’s character’s narration around her family’s journey West.
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: Despite being part of the Yellowstone franchise, 1883 is perfectly approachable as a standalone single-season series, and Elsa’s story delves into a dangerous frontier landscape. The family’s trek is grim and is a realistic depiction of frontier hardship. That includes a constant battle with nature. For those already tuned into Yellowstone, Sam Elliott’s Shea Brennan is at his best, and he won the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series. 1883 remains the perfectly contained single-season Western of Sheridan’s entire oeuvre.
‘Broken Trail’ (2006)
The AMC Western That Proved The Network Could Do Prestige Drama
Why It’s So Great: Long before Mad Men or Breaking Bad, this two-part Walter Hill miniseries was the network’s first scripted production. The series set ratings records and helped AMC pivot toward prestige TV. Broken Trail follows two aging drovers, played by Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church, who rescue a group of Chinese women and girls who were sold into prostitution while traversing their route.
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: Broken Trail isn’t talked about much today, despite winning Emmys for Outstanding Miniseries along with lead and supporting actor wins for Duvall and Haden Church. However, among Western TV purists, it’s beloved because it’s a tight, modern take on a familiar formula, especially when compared to Lonesome Dove. It has a similar narrative style and balances the same heart and darkness that come with an arduous trek across the Western landscape. Broken Trail was originally intended as a complete movie before AMC split it in two, and it’s the easiest binge-watch on this list.
‘Centennial’ (1978)
Twenty-Six Hours, One Fictional Colorado Town
Why It’s So Great: This one is a bit of a curveball as it’s often forgotten. Centennial, based on James Michener’s sprawling novel, spans 12 episodes and roughly 26 hours, tracing the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado, from its earliest trappers through the 1970s. It’s so impressive because it tapped a rotating cast of directors and actors. The lead ensemble includes Richard Chamberlain, Robert Conrad, and Timothy Dalton. David Janssen narrates the entire series.
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: The classic Western show makes up a substantial portion of the storytelling here, from the early frontier through the height of Western expansion. The series doesn’t stop there, however. An obvious caveat is that it spans two centuries: the characters die of old age, and the series ends in a more modern era. Still, this is a remarkable undertaking and a masterclass in scripting. It paints a picture of not just an individual’s story but explores how each person’s sacrifices and challenges make up modern Americana. While watching the series is a serious commitment that may feel more like a reading project than a weekend binge, no single-season series is more all-encompassing or complete than Centennial.
‘Godless’ (2017)
Scott Frank’s Western Masterpiece on Netflix
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Godless Netflix
Scott Frank shopped what becameGodlessas a feature script for years before Steven Soderbergh optioned it and steered it to Netflix as a seven-episode limited series. The series is set in the town of La Belle, New Mexico, primarily populated by women after a mining accident. A challenging but organized community is upended when on-the-run bandit Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) seeks shelter on Alice Fletcher’s (Michelle Dockery) ranch from the wrath of his surrogate father, outlaw leader Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels).
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: Jeff Daniels plays Frank Griffin, the ruthless leader of an outlaw gang, earning him the 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Still, the show centers on the women of La Belle rather than its gunslingers, which gives Godless its identity within the Western genre. It still carries many familiar tropes (a lone gunslinger riding into an unfamiliar town). Even so, its lived-in world and complete single-season storytelling make Godless one of the best candidates to outdo its multi-season counterparts, and it shares much of the same DNA as the previously mentioned 1883.
‘Hatfields & McCoys’ (2012)
A Family Feud Miniseries That Dominated Cable Television
Why It’s So Great: Kevin Costner tried to get a Hatfield-McCoy project made for over a decade before History finally committed to this three-night event. The dedication paid off. Hatfields & McCoys was a surprise hit for History. The finale alone drew over 14 million viewers, and the three-night run was the most-watched entertainment telecast on basic cable at the time, as reported by Variety.
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: The famous feud, often used as a punchline, gains real narrative depth through Hatfields & McCoys‘ exploration of the tragedy that befell both families. Most notably, Costner’s Devil Anse Hatfield and Bill Paxton’s Randall McCoy embody the generations-long grudge in intense, determined performances. All three episodes are equally impressive, and none feel like padding or filler. It’s a thoughtfully constructed, well-realized story that ranks among the best Westerns.
‘The English’ (2022)
Hugo Blick’s Perfect Revenge Western
Why It’s So Great: The Guardian gave The English a perfect five-star review, praising Blunt and Spencer’s chemistry as their characters recognize a kindred cruelty in one another during their quest for revenge.
Why It’s a Perfect Single-Season Series: Hugo Blick wrote, directed, and oversaw every episode of this six-episode limited series, creating the most cohesive and singular-vision entry on this list. The English follows Emily Blunt’s Lady Cornelia Locke and Chaske Spencer’s Eli Whipp, a former U.S. Army scout, as they cross paths on their own revenge quests. Anyone looking for a solid revenge story will be happy. The series is a cathartic journey backed by smart writing, wonderful performances, and plenty of Western charm.
