We wouldn’t have the greatest Western TV shows airing today without the classics of the genre that remain timeless and rewatchable today. Of course, there are dated elements within the series from the 20th century that can’t be ignored today. However, these works helped define and establish the best aspects of the genre that contemporary shows are still trying to recapture today.

Many classic Western movies are better than the films being made today, as modern takes on the genre prioritize the aesthetics of the Old West without preserving the emotional and social storylines that make it so enduring. Of course, we keep returning to the Western genre for the action and adventure, but the best parts of these projects are the carefully developed characters and their relationships with each other.

7

Rawhide (1959–1965)

Like almost every Western TV show of its era, Rawhide is set against the backdrop of the Old West, and this TV series has a lot in common with some of the greatest Western movies coming out at the time. Starring Clint Eastwood, one of the biggest names in the genre to this day, Rawhide follows Eastwood and Eric Fleming in its lead roles.

Though we’re used to seeing Eastwood as the classic, lonesome gunslinger who plays by his own rules, his character, Rowdy Yates, is a youngster still learning the ropes. Yates and Gil Favor (Fleming) were part of a cattle drive that traversed the American West, running into serious social and territorial conflicts in the years following the Civil War.

With an enormous amount of guest stars appearing across the series’ eight seasons, Rawhide thrived on the structure of its stories, keeping the characters in constant motion and interacting with interesting newcomers. Even today, hearing the first bars of the iconic theme song will remind viewers of how thrilling it is to revisit Rawhide.

6

The Rifleman (1958–1963)

The Rifleman is a Western TV show we can’t live without for many reasons, not just the fact that it broke tradition and taboo in the portrayal of family life on TV. Sometimes, series set in the Old West, like The Rifleman, were able to broach subjects, like single parenthood, more effectively than shows that took place in the modern era because it felt more acceptable.

As an early show centered on the relationship between a single parent and their child, The Rifleman saw Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford play the father and son, Lucas and Mark McCain. Balancing his role as a father with his new life as a rancher and his conflicts with the people drifting in and out of town, Connors helps to anchor the series.

The Rifleman distinguished itself from other Western TV shows that were airing at the same time through the use of the titular rifle, which created different situations both visually and in terms of the choreography of the action. Family dynamics often take center stage in contemporary Western shows, but The Rifleman struck a positive balance between the relational arcs and the physical conflicts.

5

Have Gun – Will Travel (1957–1963)

The title, Have Gun – Will Travel, might sound familiar to audiences, even those who haven’t watched the 1957 series. Running for six seasons from 1957 to 1963, Have Gun – Will Travel focused primarily on its lead character, following him as he hired out his services as a gunslinger and investigator. Unsurprisingly, Have Gun – Will Travel relied heavily on its leading man.

Richard Boone stars in Have Gun – Will Travel as Paladin, a classic gun-for-hire with a heart of gold that the audience can’t stop rooting for. Though Paladin is a tough character, he’s defined by his connection to the rules and social niceties of a gentleman, which juxtapose the traditional rough-riding cowboy types that often populate screens.

Paladin can easily be described as suave, chic, and highly educated, but that doesn’t mean the character is afraid to get his hands dirty or provide his services for those in need. This type of gentleman sleuth or hero can be found everywhere throughout literature and media, but Have Gun – Will Travel finds a way to make this type of story fresh.

4

Maverick (1957–1962)

James Garner led the case of Maverick as Bret Maverick, but the beloved TV show soon added and lost many members of the Maverick family who would come to star in the series. Bret and his brothers and cousin, who joined the cast over the years, were poker players traveling across the American West in search of money, claiming they were only out for themselves and their best interests.

If Maverick had aired today, the main characters might have been genuinely amoral and in conversation with the antihero archetype. However, the Mavericks, who take center stage throughout the show, are closer to traditional heroes than they might like to admit, even if they’re a little more roguish than usual. The fact that they weren’t cowboys or ranchers instantly set the series apart.

Maverick struck a memorable balance between touching upon the morally ambiguous archetype that some Western heroes can embody, while also portraying its protagonists as ultimately dedicated to doing what’s right. Though Maverick doesn’t have as many seasons as some of its counterparts, this doesn’t make it any less worth watching. Each actor who played a Maverick kept the story interesting, bringing something new to the table.

3

Wagon Train (1957–1965)

The structure of Wagon Train is a familiar one for many TV watchers, as the series sees its characters constantly on the move, interacting with a revolving cast of guest stars. Most Western shows of the era were firmly set in one place, taking place after the characters had reached the territory they intended to settle. However, Wagon Train followed a group of settlers on the road heading west.

This kept the series fresh, as the protagonists were constantly on the move, meeting new people who were fellow travelers or in towns the train passed through. Leaning into its episodic format, but anchoring itself with the central figures of the Wagon Master and Scout, Wagon Train helped popularize a type of storytelling that prioritized travel and the introduction of exciting new characters.

Wagon Train inspired many iconic TV shows, both within and outside the Western genre, including the beloved sci-fi classic, Star Trek (via Collider). The numerous crossovers between Westerns and sci-fi projects have maintained a conversation between series within these genres for many years, with many contemporary projects blending the narrative elements and aesthetics. Wagon Train‘s long-term influence can’t be overlooked.

2

Bonanza (1959–1973)

Every Western fan should watch TV shows like Bonanza, as it’s one of the longest-running series of the genre, and has a unique perspective on the legacy of the American West. Set against the familiar backdrop of a sprawling ranch in Nevada, Bonanza grappled not only with the everyday struggles of tending the land but with its core relationships. It achieved this by centering on the Cartwright family.

It wasn’t uncommon for TV shows premiering in the post-war era to focus on family dynamics and uplift the nuclear family unit, but Bonanza did this through the lens of the Western landscape and period setting. The cultural conversations that Bonanza grapples with might not seem groundbreaking by today’s standards, but the show was cutting-edge compared to other series.

Each of the Cartwrights fulfilled a different niche within the story, but their bond as a family was a vital part of the narrative’s longevity. Touching upon plotlines that revolved around defending the ranch, the mining town of Virginia City, and the way the Cartwrights related to each other, Bonanza subverted expectations without alienating audiences.

1

Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

Gunsmoke is one of the quintessential Western TV shows that every fan of the genre is familiar with. Running for twenty years from 1955 to 1975, few scripted series were successful enough to warrant such a long run in the 20th century. Starring James Arness as the U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke followed his adventures in Dodge City and the surrounding territories.

Though the show was largely episodic, this doesn’t make Gunsmoke any less thrilling than some of the more serialized Westerns airing today. Gunsmoke effectively differentiated itself from popular Western movies of the era by digging into who Dillon was as a character and mining his relationships for drama in addition to the justice he doled out as a Marshal.

The tropes and archetypes of the Western are all present in Gunsmoke, but the series wasn’t afraid to evolve throughout its run. There’s excitement to be found in every episode of Gunsmoke, but the nuance and complexity of Dodge City and Dillon’s role as the city’s first line of defense have rarely been repeated today.