Hulu’s 6-Part Western Series Is One Of Its Best

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Hulu’s Justified is considered one of the greatest Western TV shows ever made, but many people might not realize it fits into that genre. Westerns were incredibly popular on early television, with shows like Rawhide and Bonanza being some of the first big hits. However, the genre’s popularity on TV decreased starting in the 1970s.

For many years after the 1970s, Westerns weren’t among the most popular TV shows, with a few exceptions like Dallas and Deadwood. Cop shows, especially police procedurals, became the dominant force in network television. However, shows like Justified signaled a resurgence of the Western genre.

Justified Is One Of The Best Neo-Western Shows Ever

Graham Yost’s 2010 FX series, Justified, stands out for its fresh take on the Western genre. Inspired by the stories of crime novelist Elmore Leonard and set in modern times, the show was a critical darling across its six seasons and 78 episodes. At its heart, Justified follows the compelling character of Raylan Givens, a no-nonsense US Marshal played by Timothy Olyphant.

Though each season featured a new set of criminals for the tough, world-weary hero to face – ranging from drug manufacturers to extremist groups – the show often felt like a standard police drama. But what really set Justified apart was its clever reimagining of the protagonist as a modern-day Wild West lawman, willing to stretch the rules to bring justice.

Justified Only Got Better Throughout Its Six Seasons

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

Though all seasons of Justified were excellent, the show really shined in its later seasons and with the spinoff Justified: City Primeval by fully embracing its Western roots. Rather than simply looking back at the Old West, Justified cleverly adapted its themes and the complex morality often found in Westerns to a contemporary setting.

Justified stood out from most police shows and classic Westerns because it was grittier, more complex, and less predictable. It skillfully combined the raw, violent style of later Westerns – think directors like Sam Peckinpah – with the innovative, morally ambiguous approach to police dramas seen in shows like The Shield and The Wire, all while staying true to the spirit of Elmore Leonard’s writing.

Justified Started A Major TV Trend

Paramount Network (via MovieStillsDb)

Classic police dramas usually presented a clear-cut view of right and wrong, with police officers as heroes and criminals as villains – a simple storyline borrowed from old Western movies. However, the show Justified challenged this formula by portraying cops who were flawed and criminals who were often understandable, creating a more complex and nuanced story.

The show Justified brought Westerns back to television, directly influencing the success of the Yellowstone universe and establishing Taylor Sheridan as a major TV creator. Without Justified, we might not have seen popular shows like Dark Winds, Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown, Yellowstone, Landman, and others that followed in its footsteps.

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2026-03-09 22:48