Saddle up, load your six-shooter and hit the trail, partner. Here are the top 10 best western shows to watch on TV right now.
Keep an eye on this list as it is updated with the latest and greatest western shows, so you can be sure you’re in the loop. From Wild West Chronicles to Dark Winds, this list will help western TV show fans stay up to date on the most popular western shows available.
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Watch Guide Methodology: Using proprietary viewership data, DIRECTV Insider curates lists of the most popular TV shows and movies being watched by real people, in real time, to help you pick the best trending content to watch across networks. Our rolling data collection also allows readers to see how a trending show’s ranking has changed week over week.
TOP 10 WESTERN SHOWS TO WATCH
Let’s get started. Here are the trending western TV shows that TV-lovers just like you are enjoying right now, with all the information you need to check them out for yourself.
1. ‘Wild West Chronicles’
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The legendary sheriff Bat Masterson hangs up his badge and gun and takes up a pen and notepad to become a news reporter in order to document the truth behind the most famous stories of the American West in Wild West Chronicles.
Watch as Masterson investigates stories related to the biggest personalities in the west, including Billie the Kid, Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hickock and Butch Cassidy.
2. ‘Yellowstone’
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Yellowstone takes us to the breathtaking and sprawling Montana landscape and the trials and tribulations of the family that owns the largest ranch in America. Starring Kevin Costner, this engaging modern-western family drama follows the raw, unfiltered life on America’s largest ranch, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.
As the patriarch, Costner’s John Dutton III fights to preserve his land and family from those who aim to seize control, including aggressive land developers. Beneath the picturesque landscape lies a fierce battle for power and land ownership, dark secrets, political maneuvering and intense family dynamics.
3. ‘Walker’
↑ 2 vs. Prior Week
Walker is a fresh spin on the long-running series Walker: Texas Ranger starring the legendary Chuck Norris. This reboot modernizes the classic drama while holding true to the show’s roots.
It centers on Cordell Walker, portrayed by Jared Padalecki, a widowed father with a moral code who has returned home to Austin after being undercover for two years. Each episode skillfully combines high-octane action sequences and thrilling cases with emotional storylines around family, friends and the power of hope.
4. ‘The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger’
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The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger captures the life and exploits – whether true or exaggerated – of 19th-century frontiersman Jim Bridger, an iconic figure who shaped the history of the American West. As both a skilled trapper and a gifted storyteller, Jim Bridger’s narratives encompass encounters with wild beasts, previously settled communities and the unending challenges of the open frontier. See if you can tell which of these tales holds some of the truth and which couldn’t be farther from it on The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger.
5. ‘Elkhorn’
↑ 1 vs. Prior Week
Elkhorn follows the transformative years of Theodore Roosevelt in the rugged Dakota Territory during the late 19th century. Following the devastating losses of his wife and mother on the same day, a young Roosevelt leaves his burgeoning political career and affluent New York life behind and makes for the American Frontier to establish the Elkhorn Ranch.
There, he must face and overcome the myriad challenges of a lawless region populated by thieves and wild animals. This period dramatically shapes his character, earning him the moniker “The Cowboy President.” Elkhorn promises a mix of historical drama and adventurous Western storytelling, chronicling a rarely seen chapter of Roosevelt’s life that defines his resilience and leadership.
6. ‘Into the Wild Frontier’
↑ 1 vs. Prior Week
Venture back in time with Into the Wild Frontier and lose yourself in the untamed wilderness of the American frontier. This gripping historical drama series presents a vivid look at the rugged pioneers who blazed the trail west, embodying the spirit of adventure, resilience and bravery.
Follow iconic characters like Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark and Jedidiah Smith as they grapple with harrowing journeys, navigate brutal landscapes and stare down the constant threat of uncertainty. The raw grit and intense drama paint an intricate tapestry of American history that keeps viewers engaged episode after episode.
7. ‘Gunslingers’
↓ 4 vs. Prior Week
Step back in time with Gunslingers, an enthralling series that reveals the brutal yet intriguing life of the iconic gunslingers, outlaws and heroes of the Wild West. The show explores the lives of and little-known facts about fearless figures such as Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp and Jesse James.
Each episode explores their daring deeds, violent encounters and tumultuous personal lives, providing a riveting blend of biographical drama and action. With Gunslingers, experience the lawless frontier era like never before.
8. ‘The Cowboy’
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The Cowboy is not just any Western drama. It’s an audacious tale set in the stern and vast landscapes of the American West. The show follows the rugged character of Jake ‘Wildhorse’ Parsons, a solitary, tough as nails cowboy with a mysterious past. Through Jake’s escapades, viewers are immersed in the thrilling, possibly dangerous, everyday struggles of cowboy life.
Each episode whips up suspense, raw emotion and a deep appreciation for the cowboy culture and Western-era history. Watch as Jake grapples with adversaries and develop unexpected alliances in this compelling series, The Cowboy.
9. ‘Ultimate Cowboy Showdown’
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Get ready for a wild ride with Ultimate Cowboy Showdown. This is not your average reality show: actual working cowboys and cowgirls go head-to-head in high-stake competitions to show who’s really got what it takes to win in the world of professional rodeo.
Hosted by country music icon Trace Adkins, this intense series invites viewers into the thrilling and often unpredictable lives of America’s real-life cowboys and cowgirls.
10. ‘Dark Winds’
↑ 2 vs. Prior Week
Venture into the murky world of Dark Winds, a gritty crime drama set in the 1970s southwest United States’ Navajo County. The series follows Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, a pair of Navajo police officers as they investigate a mysterious crime spree.
It soon becomes apparent that otherworldly forces are involved, and the two officers battle evil both of this world and of another in their search for the truth. Dark Winds masterfully intertwines Navajo culture, mystic tribal legends and gruesome murder mysteries for an adrenaline-packed adventure.
And there you have it: the top 10 western TV shows to stream at home. Stay tuned for updates to come, so you can keep up with the best content available right now.
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And for even more insight into the top shows and movies to watch right now, check out these other lists:
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- Western Movies to Watch At Home
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