TV shows in the Western genre have often embraced the same storylines and tropes, with a clear thread of good fighting evil. This tends to make Western TV shows a great comfort watch, but not as interesting as other genres. However, the Western revival and the neo-Westerns that define the genre have shaken up the traditional format, introducing unpredictability and surprise.
There are some fantastic action scenes in TV Westerns, from gritty bar brawls to cinematic gunfights. While the outcomes of some of these scenes were not always predictable, modern Westerns have discovered the ability to truly shock viewers. Embracing genre mixes and new ideas has led to some of the best TV Westerns of all time, and this trend looks likely to continue.
Waverly Is A Half-Angel
Wynonna Earp
Wynonna Earp is one of the most unique neo-Westerns for its genre mix of supernatural and Western elements. The descendant of the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp finds that she is haunted by the spirits of outlaws that Wyatt brought to justice. The series features demons and monsters, but Waverly was thought to be a regular person, and Wynonna’s sister.
There were hints that Waverly was different, but the truth behind the fan-favorite character doesn’t come out until later, when the identity of her father is revealed. The reveal came as a surprise, but a welcome one, as it cleared up Waverly’s questions about her identity. Waverly’s fate was one of the best Wynonna Earp character endings, after the twist transformed her character arc.
Daniel’s Death Was Emily’s Fault
Territory
Anna Torv’s short-lived neo-Western Territory begins with Daniel’s death, but the circumstances are mysterious. The show lasts for just one season, comprised of six episodes, and focuses on the battle for land that is a staple of many classic Westerns. Territory is a family drama, and while we know that there is more to Daniel’s death than meets the eye, the twist is shocking.
Territory‘s flashback scene shows how Daniel died, and his fate is much more sadistic than could be expected. Daniel had betrayed Emily, and she shot her gun to frighten him while he rode his horse. However, the shot caused him to fall to the ground, where Emily left him to die, and he was eventually killed by a wild dog pack.
Margaret Was Driving, Not Kit
Ransom Canyon
Ransom Canyon is one of the most underrated modern Western TV shows, as it introduces elements of a soap opera to the typically more rugged Western genre. The show might have attracted poor reviews from critics, but Rotten Tomatoes viewers gave it a 73% positive rating, with reviews praising its drama, romance, twisting plot, and suitability for binge-watching.
Season 1’s twist is revealed in a classic soap opera style. Kit was always assumed to be driving the truck that killed Randall, but when it was revealed that Margaret was behind the wheel, Sheriff Brigham then had to do the unthinkable and arrest his own wife. The consequences of the reveal will be explored as Ransom Canyon has been renewed for season 2.
Jamie Kills Sarah
Yellowstone
Yellowstone is a brilliant epic Western from Taylor Sheridan, and there are plenty of twists and surprising deaths scattered throughout the show’s five seasons. That said, one of the most shocking deaths in Yellowstone was Sarah Nguyen’s murder in season 2. It is one of the first murders in the show, and the scene is graphic as Jamie strangles her.
After Sarah threatens to expose his family, Jamie attacks her, apologizing over and over again as he kills her. This scene is still one of the most painful to watch in Yellowstone, as Sarah is a comparatively innocent character. Jamie is an increasingly complex character in Yellowstone‘s central Dutton family, and his actions push him from morally gray to unforgivable.
Sara And Devin Change Direction
American Primeval
American Primeval is a game-changing modern Western for its gory treatment of the time period. Rather than romanticizing the frontier, American Primeval showcases the brutality through the eyes of Sara and her son, Devin. After an epic journey made with unlikely allies and a frantic escape from the show’s villains, Sara’s final fate is one of the most unexpected moments in the show.
American Primeval set up the ending in the first episode, but it went largely unnoticed. The story focused on Sara and Devin’s quest to reach Devin’s father in Crook Springs, but when the two reach their destination, they keep traveling towards California. Viewers who missed Devin’s early comment about California were surprised by the twist, but it made sense in the context of the story.
The Swede Is The Mormon Bishop
Hell On Wheels
The Swede is one of the most iconic Western TV villains of all time, thanks to his wild-card nature and ability to reinvent himself. This unsettling characteristic forms one of the biggest twists in Hell on Wheels, as he convincingly impersonates a Mormon bishop. The Swede’s physical ability borders on supernatural, but he claims a new kind of power in this guise.
By becoming a bishop, The Swede gains more authority than he had before, which comes with the ability to command. This leaves Cullen horrified, and having to fight both the man and the greater institution behind him. The scene in which his double identity is revealed is a standout moment in Hell on Wheels, which is already a great show.
The Genre Switch
Outer Range
Outer Range is a must-watch sci-fi TV Western that hides its true genre until partway through the first episode. At first, Outer Range looks like a more typical classic Western, with a land dispute at the center of the plot. However, when the mysterious dark hole is discovered on Royal’s land, it changes everything we thought we knew about the show.
The hole’s nature is not fully explained, as Outer Range was canceled before its third season, but the change from classic Western to genre hybrid was a masterpiece in worldbuilding. Sci-fi Westerns have been made before, like Westworld and Firefly, but this appears to be the first TV show that has used this element as an intriguing twist.
Shelby Parlow Is Drew Thompson
Justified
Justified is arguably Timothy Olyphant’s best TV show, and it has an impressive 97% positive critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Justified has been compared to a modern twist on The Lone Ranger, with Olyphant’s Raylan Givens as the lawman with a strong sense of justice. The mystery of Drew Thompson is central to Justified before it hits us with a twist that nobody saw coming.
Much of Justified‘s season 4 was occupied with the idea that Drew Thompson was alive and in hiding, but when the search gets too close to home, the mild-mannered Sheriff Shelby Parlow starts acting strangely. The reveal that Shelby is Drew turns the storyline upside-down, with Raylan sympathizing with the former outlaw and offering him the chance at redemption.
Bernard Is A Host
Westworld
Season 1 of Westworld was HBO’s sci-fi Western masterpiece. While the show went downhill after its first season, Westworld is still seen by many as a fantastic Western that deserved better. The series benefited from fantastic worldbuilding, a plot so full of intrigue that each episode was as compelling as the last, and some excellent twists, including the show’s best.
Bernard was a main Westworld character that we had been following, but the show soon revealed that he was not what he seemed to be. The show’s game-changing twist showed Bernard to be a host built by Ford, but with no idea that he isn’t human. The chilling scene is a defining moment for Westworld, and the best twist in a Western TV show.
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