By John McGran
Key Takeaways
We hear it all the time. When you, an ultimate aficionado of all-things Old West, stumbled upon INSP, you rightfully felt like you struck the mother lode of timeless and original Western TV shows and movies. Let’s face it, asking loyal viewers like you to declare a magnificent seven series is like asking a mother to name a favorite child.
We wouldn’t put you on the spot—even though we know you secretly love Matt more than Ben, Victoria or Cheyenne. So, we’re here to deliver the magnificent seven series screening right here, right now on INSP. We’re singling out the shows that have everything we adore about our favorite television genre: dashing and deep leading men, brainy and beautiful love interests, dastardly despicable villains, and edge-of-your-seat plots that prove good will ultimately triumph over evil.
Now it’s time to cue the heart-stirring soundtrack music and cut to the chase. Our magnificent seven must-watch Westerns are Gunsmoke … The Young Riders … Bonanza, The Lost Episodes … Tales of Wells Fargo … The Big Valley … Cheyenne … and Laramie.
GUNSMOKE
No other Western has ever been able to get the draw on this iconic long-running series set in dusty Dodge City, Kansas and starring James Arness as poker-faced U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon.
From gunslingers with a grudge to unscrupulous con men and cattle rustlers, many a most-wanted outlaw met justice at the smoking end of Dillon’s long-barreled Colt .45.
Gunsmoke, a radio program before it premiered on television in 1955, quickly became a ratings juggernaut. The show that racked up 39 episodes in Season 1—and 635 overall during its monumental 20-year run—amassed an army of loyal viewers and remains popular in syndication. It’s not unusual to walk into a VFW or other small-town watering hole across America at just about any hour of the day and encounter Matt, Kitty, Doc or Festus splayed across the small screen.
Considered the first TV Western that took aim at adult viewers and depicted life as it might have been in a frontier town, Gunsmoke proved popular with critics as well. The series that ran through 1975 garnered 25 Emmy nominations and notched five Primetime Emmys and 15 wins overall.
The amazing success of Gunsmoke leans heavily on its unforgettable and relatable posse of characters.
Standing tall in the saddle—literally and figuratively—is Marshall Dillon who is always at the ready to keep Dodge City and its citizens safe. The sheriff is not your average frontier lawman. Rather than reaching for his six-shooter, he prefers to keep the peace via non-violent means. But make no mistake, Dillon will lean on his lightning-fast reflexes to enforce the law in an often lawless environment.
Rounding out an eclectic core group of unforgettable characters:
— Kitty Russell, owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Many a villain has made the foolish and often fatal mistake of treating Miss Kitty as “just another pretty face.” Once this Kitty bares her claws, it’s lights out at the Long Branch. She is as tough as she is lovely, but a better friend you couldn’t find. She does have a soft spot in her heart, and it belongs to Matt.
— Chester Goode, Matt’s high-strung assistant. The man many refer to as a deputy wears no badge or gun is featured only throughout the early seasons. While Chester sports a distinct limp—presumable from an old war wound—and is often seen cleaning the jail, running errands and making coffee, he does walk tall while helping Matt apprehend outlaws.
— Festus Haggen, Matt’s deputy marshal who first appears in the Season 8 episode “Us Haggens.” Festus is considered a Tennessee mountain man who comes from a family of questionable repute. Festus and Matt forge an unwavering friendship while chasing down the man who left Festus’ twin brother for dead after a botched bank robbery.
— Dr. Galen Adams, town physician. Doc and Matt are close friends, often exchanging witty banter and good-natured teasing. In addition to his top-notch surgical and medical skills, Doc proves a good listener who can dole out valuable advice when Matt is stuck on a case. He’s a natty dresser and a God-fearing man whose doctor bag contains a bible.