There was a time when Westerns ruled the box office, and movies like Unforgiven, Tombstone, and 3:10 to Yuma rode in one after another with guns blazing. But as the silver screen shifted toward superheroes and sci-fi, the Western genre quietly retreated into the shadows. Its big moment came again from television, wearing a cowboy hat with a Dutton family crest.

In 2018, Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone arrived onto screens and changed everything. With its sprawling Montana landscapes, morally conflicted characters, and Shakespearean family drama, it proved that Westerns were evolving. Sheridan molded the genre for the streaming age and suddenly, the small screen became the new frontier.

Since Yellowstone, we have seen a surge of Western TV shows that are bold, beautiful, and brutal. Some are inclined to historical realism, others flirt with sci-fi or noir, but they all carry the spirit and soul of the genre. Without further ado, here are the best TV Westerns since Yellowstone changed the game.

10

‘That Dirty Black Bag’ (2022)

That Dirty Black Bag is set against the sun-scorched backdrop of Greenvale. It unfolds as a brutal eight-day standoff between two men whose lives are shaped by violence. Sheriff Arthur McCoy, a former outlaw turned lawman with a shaky moral compass, finds himself entangled with Red Bill, a bounty hunter infamous for decapitating his targets and storing their heads in a dirty black bag.

Western With a Darker and More Mythic Edge

Dominic Cooper and Douglas Booth lead the series, while Niv Sultan and Aidan Gillen appear in supporting turns as Eve Hoover, a brother owner with her own scars, and Butler, a cannibalistic farmer, respectively. It’s an unpolished series complete with dusty landscapes and grimy characters, but the Leone-style grit adds a modern nihilism that feels right at home. Pacing builds slowly, but by the fourth episode, it hits a fever pitch of tension and dread.

9

‘Dark Winds’ (2022)

Set in the 1970s in the Four Corners region, Dark Winds follows Navajo Tribal Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee as they investigate a series of crimes that turn into something deeper than expected. It starts as a double murder but spirals into a web of spiritual reckoning, FBI interference, and tribal tensions. Bernadette Manuelito, a sergeant, navigates both personal and professional challenges.

Most Authentic Portrayal of Indigenous Life on TV

Adapted from the acclaimed Leaphorn & Chee book series by Tony Hillerman, this one offers a nuanced perspective on the Western genre. One that is deeply rooted in the indigenous experience. Across three seasons, it builds a rich tapestry of mystery, identity, and justice. There are also crime procedural beats that balance off well with the supernatural undertones. With executive producers like Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin, the show has pedigree, but it’s the commanding performances of the cast that anchor everything.

8

‘Outer Range’ (2022)

Royal Abbott is a Wyoming rancher trying to protect his land and his family from encroaching threats, both human and cosmic. When a massive and mysterious black void appears on his property, it sets off a chain of events. Autumn, a drifter with cryptic intentions, camps out near the void, while the rival Tillerson family schemes to claim the Abbott land.

Makes Wyoming Wilderness Feel Otherworldly

Anchored by a powerhouse performance from Jack Brolin and Imogen Poots, Outer Range is a captivating and original addition to the Western TV canon. It is moody, cerebral, and occasionally bonkers, but always grounded in its Western elements like land disputes, rodeos, horseback chases, and a sheriff (Tamara Podemski) who’s more than capable. Its willingness to get weird with long takes and eerie silences is quite crazy too.

7

‘Billy the Kid’ (2022)

Michael Hirst’s Billy the Kid rebuilds the legend from the ground up. Beginning with Henry McCarty’s Irish immigrant roots, it follows his transformation into the infamous outlaw named Billy the Kid. Season 1 is all about his early years — the poverty, the drifting, and the first taste of violence. By the second season, the Lincoln County War takes center stage, with Billy caught between rival factions and his bond with Jesse Evans affecting him in unexpected ways.

Folk Hero Reimagined With Grit

There is a quiet confidence to Billy the Kid that sets it apart. Through its richly detailed storytelling and exceptional performances, it offers a fresh perspective on one of the most iconic figures in Western lore. The Alberta-shot landscapes feel vast and unforgiving, and the direction, especially in Season 2, is so tense and lived-in. The gunfights are sharp as ever, but fans have stuck around for moral ambiguity and slow-burn storytelling.

6

‘The English’ (2022)

Set in 1890, The English opens with Lady Cornelia Locke arriving in the American West armed with grief and a pistol. She is hunting the man she believes is responsible for her son’s death, but her journey gets mixed up with Eli Whipp, a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout seeking land promised to him for his military service. Together, they deal with betrayal, bloodshed, and buried truths, all while encountering Mennonite massacres and corrupt ranchers.

A Poetic Take on the Western

Written and directed by the acclaimed Hugo Blick, this is a Western doused in melancholy and dust. Brooding and lyrical, it often lets the silence and shadows do the talking. At the heart of the series is the captivating relationship between Emily Blunt’s aristocratic Englishwoman and Chaske Spencer’s world-weary Pawnee scout, who matches her beat for beat. Critics called it one of the most visually arresting Westerns in years, and rightfully so.

5

‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ (2023)

The Paramount+ series, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, introduces us to one of the most overlooked figures in frontier history. David Oyelowo plays the role of a former slave turned U.S. Marshal who arrested over 3,000 criminals without ever being wounded. As Reeves navigates a lawless landscape while balancing duty and family, the series familiarizes us with post-Civil War Arkansas and Indian Territory.

One of Genre’s Most Vital Entries

The eight-episode arc of the Western TV show blends real-life cases with dramatized confrontations, including tense standoffs with outlaw gangs and courtroom showdowns with Judge Isaac Parker. Oyelowo’s performance is commanding throughout, with the supporting cast adding texture without stealing the spotlight. While it’s not part of the Yellowstone universe, it carries the same weight of legacy and land.

4

‘American Primeval’ (2025)

The Utah Territory becomes the unforgiving backdrop of American Primeval, a Western miniseries set in 1857 that captures a volatile moment in American history — the Utah War — through the eyes of Isaac Reed, a mountain man raised by the Shoshone and haunted by personal loss. We also follow Sara Holloway, a fugitive mother traveling with her disabled son, Devin, as they find a safe haven in Crooks Springs.

Myth Meets Blood and Dust

The six-part Netflix miniseries does not hold back on brutality and weaves together a tale of survival with an unvarnished lens. There is a visceral honesty here, and a level of production values that rivals the grandest of Western films, making American Primeval a genuinely ambitious, muddy, and unrelenting entry since Yellowstone redefined the genre’s modern edge. Kudos to Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin for their layered performances.

3

‘1923’ (2022)

With 1923, Taylor Sheridan expands the Dutton saga and delivers a sweeping tale of legacy and upheaval. Set during a time of Prohibition, drought, and the early rumblings of the Great Depression, it follows Jacob Dutton and Cara Dutton as they navigate the challenges of preserving their Montana ranch against external threats. Meanwhile, Spencer Dutton, a haunted WWI veteran, journeys from Africa to America with Alexandra, his fiery companion.

Continuation of the Dutton Legacy

With two seasons and a cast that includes Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Brandon Sklenar, Timothy Dalton and Jerome Flynn, this sequel to the wildly popular Yellowstone builds upon the rich lore of the Duttons by introducing a new era of characters and conflicts that seamlessly intertwine with the pre-established narrative. The Western elements are classic: cattle wars, frontier justice, and family honor, but they’re refracted through a modern lens, which makes it all the more raw and emotional.

2

‘Landman’ (2024)

Inspired by Christian Wallace’s podcast, titled Boomtown, Landman takes place in the oil-soaked boomtowns of West Texas, trading horses for rigs but keeping the Western spirit alive. Billy Bob Thornton stars as Tommy Norris, a petroleum landman navigating corporate ambition, fractured family dynamics, and the volatile world of fossil fuel fortunes.

Modern Cowboys and Frontier Roots

Diving into the lives of roughnecks, billionaires, and lawyers, all entangled in a landscape that reshapes climate and geopolitics, this one may be set in 2024, but its soul is pure Western. Taylor Sheridan’s signature blend of masculinity and moral complexity is on full display, and Thornton nails the role of a man who is charming but worn-out. With a second season already greenlit, the show is a must-watch for fans of contemporary Westerns.

1

‘1883’ (2021)

The first of the many prequels to Sheridan’s Yellowstone, 1883 follows James Dutton, his wife Margaret, and their daughter Elsa as they join a wagon train heading west from Texas. Led by Shea Brennan, a grief-stricken Pinkerton agent, and his partner Thomas, the group faces river crossings, bandits, disease, and heartbreak as they march toward Montana, with Elsa’s coming-of-age arc anchoring the story.

Personal and Epic in Scope

1883 is the kind of Western that feels like a memory. It is aching, beautiful, and brutal, and it paints a vivid portrait of a country in flux. Sheridan’s writing is poetic and the performances of Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May, Sam Elliot, and LaMonica Garrett are uniformly strong. In the span of just ten episodes, it tells a complete and devastating story about sacrifice.

Sometimes it’s a difficult task for viewers to find worthwhile anime, even though Crunchyroll is loaded with the latest hits from recent seasons. As a result, it’s often necessary to look back and search for some of the forgotten titles that Crunchyroll has to offer, as the streaming platform has incredible anime that viewers may have missed over the years.

Some brilliant anime aren’t universally appreciated or mainstream because they don’t appeal to a wider audience. That’s why many must-watch anime are only remembered by a select group of fans. However, despite not receiving as many recommendations and flying under the radar, overshadowed by Crunchyroll’s most popular titles, these hidden anime gems offer viewers unique experiences.

Moyashimon

Microbiology has never been so funny as in Moyashimon. Moyashimon follows a college student who is able to see and communicate with microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, depicted in the most adorable way. Tadayasu Sawaki attracts the attention of a wacky professor and is forced to participate in all sorts of projects.

Moyashimon is full of hilarious situations, making it ideal for comedy lovers, and has great educational value, teaching about the uses of microbes in the manufacturing processes of many products. Furthermore, it doesn’t focus excessively on microbes, which could become boring in the long run. Instead, Moyashimon features eccentric characters that viewers will love and whose relationships develop gradually.

Undead Girl Murder Farce

One of Crunchyroll’s most underrated anime, Undead Girl Murder Farce, went unnoticed by many viewers due to its peculiar premise. Based on Yugo Aosaki’s novel, Undead Girl Murder Farce tells the story of Aya Rindo, who has been reduced to a mere head and travels with her servant in search of the culprit, collaborating with a killer hybrid human-oni.

Undead Girl Murder Farce showcases a world filled with conflict between humans and supernatural creatures, but its strong point is the diverse mysteries that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Theatrical, unexpected, and featuring protagonists completely removed from being figures of justice, Undead Girl Murder Farce is a hidden gem for enthusiasts of detective stories.

Shadows House

While Studio CloverWorks is recognized for romance anime like My Dress-Up Darling and Horimiya, it also has a lesser-known work, ideal for suspense lovers. Shadows House is an anime shrouded in mystery whose main charm lies in revealing the secrets and conventions of an enigmatic mansion inhabited by a shadow family and living dolls.

Despite having endearing characters and a beautiful gothic aesthetic, Shadows House manages to capture the dense atmosphere of a Victorian mansion that hides much more than it seems. Shadows House is full of contrasts with slice-of-life elements and dark moments, slowly revealing information about its mysterious world and succeeding in generating interest in the viewers.

Last Exile

Last Exile is an anime that flew under the radar in its time, but whose story has a lot of scope for modern viewers. Last Exile follows orphaned siblings in the world of Prester, made up of two warring kingdoms, where water is one of the most valuable assets and people travel using aerial locomotion vehicles.

Last Exile shares a similar aesthetic between steampunk and dieselpunk and has fascinating worldbuilding like Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky. Last Exile has an intriguing story full of exciting aerial battles that doesn’t fail in showing the consequences of armed conflicts, becoming one of the great works from the early 2000s that viewers shouldn’t miss.

Time of Eve

Time of Eve addresses the ethical question of artificial intelligence development and the intrusion of humanoid androids into everyday life, exploring what their proper relationship with humans should be. Despite falling into the sci-fi genre, Time of Eve is a refreshing slice-of-life that deals with a complex topic in a simple and entertaining way.

Time of Eve is set in a café where robots are treated just like regular human customers, introducing numerous interesting characters whose unique stories will captivate audiences. Additionally, Time of Eve is divided into short OVAs, making it an easy watch for viewers who enjoy futuristic stories and are looking for something different.

Chrono Crusade

When talking about exorcist anime, popular titles like D.Gray Man and Blue Exorcist stand out. However, Chrono Crusade is a must-watch shōnen series that presents a battle between light and darkness, starring Christopher Rosette, a teenage nun searching for her missing brother, who made a pact with the demon Chrono.

Chrono Crusade is packed with action and comedy, developing the strong bond between Chrono and Rosette and revealing their past without being too long or deviating from its main story. This makes Chrono Crusade a well-balanced and solid anime that has stood the test of time and has a lot to offer shōnen fans.

Record of Lodoss War

While Record of Lodoss War became one of the most important fantasies of its time, it has fallen into oblivion, being mostly unknown among the new generation of anime fans. However, Record of Lodoss War features the heroic epic journey of a group of adventurers inspired by the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons.

This high fantasy classic boasts one of the best-established worlds in anime, as Record of Lodoss War features different races, languages, customs, fantastical creatures, and politics. Furthermore, what makes Record of Lodoss War hold up despite the passage of time is its excellent character design and soundtrack, making it a great option for viewers looking to experience Crunchyroll’s retro anime.

The Heike Story

The underrated work of art from the director of the critically acclaimed film A Silent Voice, The Heike Story adapts a traditional Japanese tale with an artistic sensitivity, visual beauty, and masterful narrative filled with humanity that’s difficult to find in other anime. The Heike Story follows an orphan girl’s firsthand perspective of the fall of the influential Taira Clan.

Although The Story of Heike feels overly condensed at times, taking away the depth of some characters, it still offers a powerful take on the classical tragedy. With a stunning production and distinctive artistic style, The Story of Heike is expressive, subtle, and sorrowful, depicting the fragility of life in a moving way and leaving a profound impression on viewers.

Gungrave

Despite being based on a video game, the anime adaptation of Gungrave has sadly been forgotten. Yet, Gungrave is an excellent recommendation for seinen fans looking for an action-packed story of revenge, becoming one of the hidden gems on Crunchyroll. Gungrave is violent and full of suspense, being addictive without offering incredible plot twists.

From the creator of Trigun, Gungrave adds a sci-fi touch while remaining similar to the great mafia films by exploring emotional bonds in a world plagued by crime. Gungrave‘s greatest charm is its realistic characters, with flaws that make them feel human, and a fascinating development that keeps viewers glued to the anime.

Kyousougiga

Kyousougiga is an anime that has gone unnoticed for its unconventional, surreal story. Kyousougiga resembles Alice in Wonderland, being a chaotic and colorful anime riddled with symbolism and incredible characters. However, this anime is an ode to Japanese folklore with many mythological references and is filled to the brim with mysteries that will be slowly revealed.

Kyousougiga has fluid animation and a unique visual style that overflows with madness, taking fantasy to the limit. The way that Kyousougiga mixes the past and the present in its story makes it incredibly engaging and one of the most original anime that, despite being only 10 episodes long, will be impossible to forget.

Kyousougiga

Release Date

2012 – 2012-00-00

Network

Niconico

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  Rie Kugimiya

  Koto (voice)

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  Kenichi Suzumura

  Myoue (voice)

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  Akira Ishida

  Inari (voice)

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  Chiwa Saito

  Doctor Shōko (voice)