'Deadwood' Remains the Gold Standard for Modern Western TV Shows

5 days ago 9

Published Jan 29, 2026, 7:10 PM EST

Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 126 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

There's no question that Taylor Sheridan has created an impressive empire of modern Western television shows. Series like Landman, 1883, 1923, and, of course, his crown jewel, Yellowstone, have all introduced contemporary audiences to the classic genre. These shows feature so much more than just a lone cowboy riding into a small town, but the truth is that Sheridan's "prestige" dramas have never come close to the HBO series that truly jump-started the Western back in 2004.

What Is 'Deadwood' About?

Deadwood has been off the air for decades, but still somehow manages to stand the test of time as one of the greatest Western television series ever made (and perhaps one of the greatest series in general). The drama depicts a rough-and-tumble town in the 1870s that actually existed. By including both fictional characters and ones based on real people (including Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, and Calamity Jane), Deadwood injects historical accuracy and gripping drama into all 36 episodes.

Much of the action centers around Sheriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), who is tasked with trying to bring some order to the lawless town, and he has his work cut out for him. Many times, Bullock clashes with Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), who runs the local saloon but is truly pulling the strings behind the scenes, often through brutal acts of violence. Both Bullock and Swearengen cross paths with Alma Garret (Molly Parker), a refined woman who is dismayed to find herself in a muddy, dusty, chaotic town, and is one of the characters who vividly illustrates the complications of being a woman in that time period. There is no shortage of danger in Deadwood, whether it's the men who will murder over a bad card game or the deadly illnesses that course through a nineteenth-century town.

Deadwood not only includes adrenaline-inducing storylines of murder and mayhem, but also quieter character studies that offer intriguing glimpses of a fascinating time in history. The storytelling is thrilling, consistently gritty, and raw. The series aired for three seasons, with HBO announcing its cancellation in 2006. By the time it went off the air, the Western series had become a critical darling and Emmy winner while also boosting the careers of several of its stars. Fans were dismayed at the cancellation, but it made sense that HBO couldn't quite keep up with the massive production costs tied to recreating an entire Western town. In fact, it has become one of the most expensive television series ever filmed. Years later, while fans were still lamenting the fact that their time in Deadwood had been cut short, HBO and creator David Milch brought the series back with Deadwood: The Movie in 2019. This project allowed viewers to reunite with their favorite characters after a significant time jump and gave the series a proper swan song after its unexpected cancellation.

Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock in 'Deadwood'

The 10 Greatest 'Deadwood' Episodes, Ranked

"The world ends when you’re dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store."

Taylor Sheridan's Shows Just Can't Compete With 'Deadwood'

Although Sheridan's projects are immensely popular and always entertaining, they can't hold a candle to Deadwood. Many aspects of Sheridan's shows feel unrealistic, leading to a general feeling of inauthenticity. Because the characters and storylines aren't grounded in truth, they can tread into hokey territory.

In Yellowstone in particular, some storylines go nowhere and are abandoned before they can be resolved, and many of the billionaire characters are just too darn unlikable. Even though there are some downright unethical characters in Deadwood, you'll still likely find yourself rooting for them to survive. Sheridan's shows often feature raucous, bloody fistfights and surprising deaths merely to provide shock value instead of thoughtful storytelling, whereas Deadwood includes compelling narrative twists and turns in ways that serve the characters and make for genuinely authentic writing.

That's not to say that Sheridan's shows don't offer fun, easy viewing experiences, but not one of his Westerns has matched Deadwood's raw, honest portrayal of the Western genre. If you decide to binge-watch Deadwood, you might discover it a little difficult to go back to Sheridan's world.