The incredible back catalog of Western-style books being adapted for the small screen.

Some of the long-running Western series used an author's work as the initial inspiration for a show before expanding upon those characters and their world across hundreds of episodes. As a lover of Western television, I find that it’s always enjoyable to go back and read the source material to see where it all started.

8 Longmire (2012 - 2017)

Based on the Walt Longmire Mysteries by Craig Johnson

The A&E and later Netflix Western drama Longmire adapted the Walt Longmire Mysteries series of novels by Craig Johnson for a contemporary exploration of a Wyoming sheriff. Starring Robert Taylor as the titular lawman, this officer’s strong sense of duty, justice, and introspection captured the essence of classic Western heroes. With a deep sense of grief casting a dark shadow over Longmire’s widowed character, this series explored the moral complexities of law enforcement.

With an insightful mix of politics, Native American mysticism, and small-town drama at its core, Longmire was about the clash between old-school values and modern ways of life. As a deeply engaging series with a compelling ensemble cast, Longmire captured the essence of Johnson’s original novels, of which he has authored over 20. With plenty of wit and high-stakes emotional drama, Longmire showcased the continued popularity of Westerns on television.

7 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956 - 1961)

Based on novels by Zane Grey

The anthology Western series Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre used the novels of Zane Grey as inspiration for many of its episodes. With shifting casts and ever-changing storylines, it was impressive how each episode managed to condense down the complexities of Grey’s action-packed stories into half-hour adventures. The series host, Dick Powell, even commented (via Hartford Courant) on the challenge of trying to “compress” a novel into such a short span of time.

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre told all kinds of stories over its 146 episodes, although most centered on characters being put into moral conundrums and forced to make tough decisions between what’s right and what’s easy. With classic Western themes of justice and fortitude, while not every episode was based on Grey’s work, they all capture the core of his writing style and values.

6 The Virginian (1962 - 1971)

Based on The Virginian by Owen Wister

It’s incredible to think that the 1902 novel The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister served as the basis for one of the longest-running Western TV shows of all time, which had 249 episodes across its nine-season run. With James Drury starring as the Virginian, the tough foreman of the Shiloh Ranch, other actors like John Dehner, Charles Bickford, John McIntire, and Stewart Granger all ed the cast as various main characters over the years.

While The Virginian was initially based on Wister’s novel, it only used it as loose inspiration and went off in its own direction, incorporating characters not seen in the book. As television’s first 90-minute Western, the extended adventures in The Virginian made it one of the most popular TV shows of its time. One episode of The Virginian even served as a backdoor pilot for the spin-off series Laredo, which ran for two seasons.

5 Ransom Canyon (2025 - Present)

Based on Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas

The romantic Western Ransom Canyon adapted the novel by Texan author Jodi Thomas to tell a story of love, loss, and loyalty in the striking landscape of Texas Hill Country. Featuring three rancher families all locked into a contest to control the land, these once feuding forces find common ground when outsider forces threaten their way of life. As a contemporary Western story, Ransom Canyon mixed classic themes and old-school cowboy stories with soap opera-style drama.

While Ransom Canyon received mixed reviews from critics, it was an enjoyable adaptation of Thomas’s novel that will serve as a guilty pleasure for those who like their Westerns with a bit of spice. Through its compelling ensemble cast, beautiful setting, and interesting character relationships, Ransom Canyon ticked all the right boxes for an enjoyable, bingeable Netflix romantic Western.

4 Dead Man's Walk (1996)

Based on Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry

The Lonesome Dove prequel, Dead Man’s Walk, adapted Larry McMurtry’s novel to tell the story of two young men ing the Texas Rangers unit on a mission to annex Santa Fe. With just three episodes, the script was adapted by McMurtry along with the future Brokeback Mountain screenwriter Diana Ossana. As an old-fashioned adventure that sees its characters traversing the American frontier, while Dead Man’s Walk doesn’t quite live up to the outstanding legacy of Lonesome Dove, it still remains an impressive miniseries.

With a stacked cast that included F. Murray Abraham, Keith Carradine, and Harry Dean Stanton, Dead Man’s Walk stayed true to its source material as it showcased Texas Rangers facing off against Comanche warriors. As just one of many adaptations of McMurtry’s series, those who loved Lonesome Dove should check out Dead Man’s Walk as well as Comanche Moon, which adapted the last novel in the series.

3 The Son (2017 - 2019)

Based on The Son by Philipp Meyer

The Son was a novel and later TV series by Philipp Meyer that expanded the author’s exploration of the American myth seen in his previous novel, American Rust. With an epic generation-spanning narrative, The Son tells the powerful story of Eli McCullough, who, as a boy, was abducted by Comanches and raised as their adoptive son before growing up to become a ruthless cattle baron turned oilman. With Pierce Brosnan as the adult Eli, the series explored thought-provoking themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and survival.

Over the course of just two seasons, The Son painted a vivid portrait of Eli and stood as a moving and complex character study. By switching between Eli’s violent early life and later endeavors as an older man, it’s fascinating to witness how our upbringing shapes the person we eventually become and how trauma impacts this. With stunning visuals and a great performance from Brosnan, The Son was a worthy adaptation of Meyer’s book.

2 Lonesome Dove (1989)

Based on Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry was adapted into an all-time great Western miniseries in 1989. With acting legend Robert Duvall taking the lead, this story of two former Texas Rangers reigniting their spirit for adventure as they ed a cattle drive to the Montana Territory was a masterclass in powerful storytelling. With just four episodes, Lonesome Dove captured the power of the novel with an epic and inspired depiction.

Lonesome Dove received overwhelming critical acclaim, with Duvall’s performance being particularly praised. As the recipient of 18 Emmy nominations, it took home awards for its casting, makeup, costumes, music, sound, and directing. By powerfully bringing McMurtry’s book to life on the small screen, the choice to adapt Lonesome Dove as a miniseries rather than a movie was a stroke of genius, as it allowed the required time needed to tell the entire epic tale.

1 Justified (2010 - 2015)

Based on Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard

Justified was not only the best Western series of modern times, but it also stands out as one of the greatest shows ever made. This neo-Western series starred Timothy Olyphant as Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens, the quiet lawman with a dark past who plays by his own rules. Based on stories by Elmore Leonard, this violent drama brought to mind the stylish appeal and mature themes of classic Western movies from times past.

As a modern-day Western that featured Givens forced to confront his past after he was sent back to work in his hometown, the tension-filled storylines, fantastic characters, and high-stakes drama of Justified were truly engrossing. With a cast that includes a standout performance from Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder, Justified kept its quality high throughout its six seasons. While the show finished its run in 2015, it did return for the limited sequel series Justified: City Primeval, which saw Olyphant return as Givens.

Source: Hartford Courant