5 Western TV Shows Better Than Yellowstone’s Dutton Ranch Drama

With “Dutton Ranch” currently dominating Paramount+, “Yellowstone” devotees have a fresh chapter to follow as Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) trade Montana for Texas. But as the first season nears its finale — and a second season has already been confirmed — fans will need a few worthy alternatives to fill the gap until the neo-Western returns.

The Western genre, and especially its modern neo-Western branch, offers no shortage of compelling dramas built around family, land, loyalty and survival. For viewers looking for shows with a similar contemporary edge to “Dutton Ranch” — and, in some cases, even stronger storytelling — five series stand out. From additional Taylor Sheridan dramas to stranger takes on the West and more classically rooted frontier tales, these picks should help ease the wait.

One note: this list does not include other entries from the “Yellowstone” universe, so don’t expect to see the franchise’s familiar faces here. Instead, the focus is largely on neo-Westerns — stories set in and around the modern American West that echo the tone of “Dutton Ranch” while offering their own distinct strengths. That said, a few selections may still drift back toward more traditional frontier territory. Either way, these Western series are well worth saddling up for.

To be fair, “The Madison” is not a conventional Western, nor is it a straightforward neo-Western. Ranching and cowboy culture exist on the margins, but they are not the heart of the story, and the series does not center on the familiar gunslinger-style heroes often associated with the genre. Instead, this Taylor Sheridan drama examines grief through the eyes of Stacy Clyburn (Michelle Pfeiffer), a progressive New York matriarch who travels to Montana after her husband, Preston (Kurt Russell), is killed in a sudden plane crash in the Rocky Mountains.

Rather than leaning on outlaw showdowns, cattle drives or other high-stakes Western staples, “The Madison” uses Montana’s vast landscape as the backdrop for a more intimate story about love, loss and starting over. As the Clyburn family encounters the more conservative, rural communities of the Treasure State, the series explores cultural divides with a quieter, more reflective approach than Sheridan’s usual fare. Anchored by powerful performances from Pfeiffer and Russell — with Pfeiffer especially commanding attention — it may be one of Sheridan’s most emotionally devastating works to date.

Though it was first introduced as a “Yellowstone” sequel or spinoff, “The Madison” ultimately stands apart from that world. Set in remote Madison County, more than an hour from Bozeman, the series follows the Clyburns as they confront an unfamiliar future and attempt to rebuild their lives. It is not a typical shoot-’em-up neo-Western, but it shows Sheridan working in a more restrained and mature register.

For viewers who want a family-driven story with a stronger connection to traditional Western themes, “Joe Pickett” is an easy recommendation. Originally launched as a Spectrum original before moving to Paramount+ for its second — and ultimately final — season, the neo-Western mystery series is based on C.J. Box’s acclaimed novels. It stars Michael Dorman as Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden who repeatedly finds himself pulled into dangerous, season-long investigations that threaten his home, his community and the wilderness he is sworn to protect.

The first season closely adapts Box’s debut Pickett novel, “Open Season,” while weaving in elements from “Winterkill.” Season 2 takes more liberties, blending pieces from multiple books in the series. Still, newcomers should have no trouble diving in. “Joe Pickett” is rich with Western tradition, following a principled hero determined to defend his family and the natural world from those who would exploit or destroy them — though without the extreme brutality associated with the Dutton clan.

Although the popularity of “Yellowstone” sparked the wildfire that got “Joe Pickett” greenlit in the first place, the budding genre resurgence wasn’t enough to keep the series around for too long. Sadly, this Paramount+ drama is one of those Western TV shows canceled far too soon. Still, “Joe Pickett” is a thrilling piece of crime television that deserves high praise for the way it balances family and mystery — and thankfully, Box still puts out a new book every year for those hoping for more.

Heading back to the Lone Star State, “The Son” is the only show on this list that could genuinely be considered a Western as much as it is a neo-Western. While the typical “Western genre” period ranges from around the time of the American Civil War to the late 1890s, this AMC drama covers not just one, but several time periods: the 1850s, 1915, and even the 1980s. In exploring these different eras of the American West, “The Son” deals with issues of legacy in ways that “Yellowstone” never quite could.

Based on the novel of the same name by Philipp Meyer, who developed the series alongside Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy, the two-season drama follows the story of Eli McCullough (played by Jacob Lofland as a young man and later by Pierce Brosnan), from his abduction by a local Comanche tribe and coming-of-age to his later years as a cattle baron and oilman. Not only do we get to follow his story, but Season 2 even flashes forward to his granddaughter in her old age, who continues the family legacy well into the ’80s.

“The Son” premiered a year before “Yellowstone” and ended after 20 stellar episodes that tell the complete story of the McCullough family. Those looking for something reminiscent of the family drama and Texas aesthetics of “Dutton Ranch” will no doubt enjoy this thematic companion piece. Brosnan, in particular, is frighteningly good as the battle-worn McCullough patriarch.

Another neo-Western that blends in more classical interpretations of the Western genre, “Outer Range” is also the most “out there” of all the shows on this list. A “Weird Western” to its core, this Prime Video series follows Wyoming rancher Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) who stumbles upon a black hole that’s sprouted in the west pasture of his family’s land. But there’s more to this oddity than meets the eye, as it doubles as a portal through time — one that has a mind of its own.

“Outer Range” is probably the most psychedelic neo-Western on television or streaming. The show gets incredibly bizarre, yet despite that, you’ll find yourself glued to the screen from the beginning to the end. This strange sci-fi Western is a blast, and Brolin and co-star Lili Taylor (who plays Royal’s wife Cecilia) steal the show as they struggle to keep their family together while their lives are threatened by the mysterious Autumn (Imogen Poots) and the threats of the neighboring Tillerson family.

Admittedly, “Outer Range” ends on a pretty massive cliffhanger as Prime Video axed the series before it had the chance to properly wrap up — but don’t let that dissuade you. The show is a thrilling revision of the genre that goes so far as to mash its past and present together into something quite unprecedented. Despite the lack of definitive answers, the questions will keep you watching.

Based on the popular neo-Western mystery novels by Craig Johnson, “Longmire” follows the eponymous character as he patrols the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming. A modern-day lawman with traditional values, Sheriff Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor) represents “honesty and integrity” as he deals with threats from all sides. From local outlaws and reservation politics to East Coast gangs and corrupt real estate magnates, Walt struggles to do what’s right in a world that runs increasingly wrong.

With a strong supporting cast and excellent writing, “Longmire” is one of those Western-style procedurals that hits the nail on the head with just about every new development — it was also a trailblazer for Native American representation in modern television. The show was quite popular in its day, quickly becoming A&E’s highest-rated original drama before the network canceled the show after its third season. However, fans everywhere rejoiced when Netflix picked the show up, producing three more seasons for its streaming platform.

It may take a rewatch or two for you to notice all the small details on “Longmire,” but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a shot. With 63 episodes, this neo-Western drama is one you’ll find yourself revisiting again and again. It’s a bit more straight-laced than “Dutton Ranch” or anything in the Yellowstone universe, but it also predated it by several years.