Paramount’s neo-Western series with 20 episodes deserves all the critical acclaim it has received in the years since its premiere. Paramount+ has no shortage of Westerns, particularly neo-Westerns. Taylor Sheridan has seen to that with his extended Yellowstone universe.
On first glance, it might seem that the neo-Westerns on Paramount+ are all part and parcel, a result of mostly being a part of the same universe and having the same creative hand maneuvering them. However, they’re all different, willing to explore the huge breadth of ideas and tones that fall under that large genre umbrella.
If you want something far different from the Sheridan offerings, Joe Pickett is the show for you. With two seasons combining for a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s far more well-reviewed than anything Sheridan has put out. Premiering on Spectrum in 2021 before moving to Paramount+ for season 2, Joe Pickett stars Michael Dorman as the titular character.
Joe Pickett is based on the character created by author C.J. Box, the lead character in 26 novels. In the show, game warden Joe Pickett moves his wife Marybeth (JUlianna Guill) and their two daughters to Saddlestring, Wyoming when Joe earns a job managing the game land that surrounds Yellowstone National Park.
Once there, Joe’s hopes for a tranquil job in the wilderness are continually upended by bad actors, conspiracies, dangerous outlaws, and corrupt businessmen and politicians. From protecting endangered species to investigating suspicious land deals, Joe has his work cut out for him in this thrilling Western saga.
Joe Pickett Is Deserving Of Its 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Joe Pickett is well-deserving of its 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s a shame that that wasn’t enough to keep it from getting canceled. The series is filled with excellent performances, in particular from Dorman, who is doing some of his best work in the role. The cast grows as the season goes on, bringing it characters and actors who slot in perfectly to the story and the tone.
The series is a true neo-Western, with Joe being firmly stuck between the old way of the West, with his dedication to the land and desire to do good in the face of evil, but he’s also a modern man, exemplified by his job. Joe isn’t a detective or a sheriff, he’s a game warden. As so many gunslingers say, he doesn’t want any trouble, and his career indicates he means it.
Joe is an exceedingly likable character. He’s not necessarily the best at anything. He doesn’t really want much, but he’s not so content as to be a stoic guardian of the forest. He’s very much just a guy, one you can relate to on any level. As he solves the compelling mysteries of the show, you always feel like he’s just barely managing to stay a step ahead.
How Joe Pickett Compares Against Other Neo-Western Shows
Joe Pickett is firmly in the neo-Western genre, with its modern setting and sensibilities and its many throwbacks to old Westerns with its style and characters. One of the major aspects of the show that separates it from other series in the packed genre is its excellent sense of humor.
Joe Pickett is a very funny show. It’s not a comedy by any means, but the script is clever and the actors all have the chops to turn the many gags and goofs in the writing into legitimately funny fare. It gives the series a more realistic feel, helping it escape the operatic, overly-dramatic story-style that defines a lot of other shows in the genre.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
