8 Years Ago, Netflix Quietly Released One Of The Best Western TV Shows Of All Time

Prestige Westerns have surged in popularity over the last few decades, delivering some of the most cinematic television of the modern era. From major hits like Yellowstone and Justified to underappreciated triumphs like The English and Hell on Wheels, the genre has roared back to life with a level of ambition and artistry it hasn’t displayed in years.

Most standout Western shows of the 21st century eventually get the recognition they deserve, but a select few remain stubbornly overlooked. Among them, no series feels more unfairly ignored than a quietly released Netflix gem from 2017 that delivered everything fans of the genre could want and more.

Eight years ago, Netflix debuted Godless, a single-season miniseries that put a bold spin on the Western formula. With a stellar cast, an irresistible premise, and widespread critical acclaim, it’s surprising that Godless isn’t a more regular part of conversations about the best Western TV shows of the modern era.

What Makes Godless So Good

Godless Remains A Deeply Crafted And Uniquely Engaging Western Experience

Godless centers on outlaw Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels), whose ruthless pursuit of former protégé Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) eventually leads both men to the isolated town of La Belle. The twist: La Belle is populated almost entirely by women following a tragic mining disaster. This setup allows the series to merge traditional Western iconography with fresh, character-focused storytelling that plays directly into the genre’s greatest strengths.

The show blends sweeping frontier vistas with intimate, slow-burn tension, delivering a rare balance of scale and nuance. Fans of Westerns will instantly appreciate how confidently Godless embraces classic genre staples – gunslingers, frontier justice, moral ambiguity – while filtering them through a perspective that feels contemporary without ever betraying tradition.

One of its biggest strengths is its cast. Daniels gives one of the most chilling villain performances in recent Western TV history, crafting Frank Griffin as a complex, deeply human monster. Jack O’Connell brings a quiet intensity to antihero Roy Goode that grounds the story emotionally. Meanwhile, Michelle Dockery’s Alice Fletcher is a standout, offering a rugged, resilient depiction of frontier womanhood that expands the Western archetype rather than rewriting it.

The world-building in Godless is equally impressive. Creator Scott Frank builds La Belle into a fully realized community, investing in supporting characters like Mary Agnes (Merritt Wever) and Whitey Winn (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), whose subplots enrich the show’s emotional texture. Every corner of La Belle feels lived-in, allowing its themes like survival, reinvention, and justice, to resonate more powerfully.

Godless also embraces classic Western pacing, letting suspense, character relationships, and moral dilemmas simmer before erupting in a cathartic, beautifully staged finale. The climactic showdown is one of the most memorable modern Western battle sequences, combining emotional stakes with impressive choreography.

The miniseries format works in its favor too. With no filler episodes, every moment in Godless feels purposeful. It’s a tightly crafted, visually rich, and emotionally layered Western that rewards close attention and stands tall among the best the genre has produced in decades.

Godless Is Still An Underrated Western

The 2017 Miniseries Deserves Far More Recognition As A Modern Western Classic

Despite being released by Netflix, one of the most widely accessed streaming services in the world, Godless remains surprisingly under-discussed. For a series that earned strong reviews, including an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score and widespread critical admiration, it has never maintained the cultural foothold enjoyed by many of its Western contemporaries.

Part of its low profile stems from timing. In 2017, Netflix was releasing original content at an unprecedented rate, and smaller projects were often overshadowed by major franchise launches. Godless, a limited series without sequel potential or ongoing seasons, didn’t have the serialized longevity that keeps shows in the public eye for years.

Its one-and-done format also meant fewer opportunities for long-term fan engagement. While multi-season Westerns like Yellowstone or Longmire had years to build their followings, Godless delivered its entire story in a single burst. For a show as meticulously crafted as this one, it deserved sustained attention that the binge model didn’t allow.

There’s also the reality that prestige miniseries are often praised intensely and then quietly forgotten, but Godless stands out for how well it has aged. Its themes of resilience and community still hit hard. Its cast has only grown more prominent, making revisiting the show feel even more rewarding.

Even eight years later, it remains a hidden gem, one that Western fans frequently rediscover and champion. With its craftsmanship, scale, and emotional depth, Godless deserves to be mentioned alongside the very best modern Westerns. It may have flown under the radar, but it remains one of the genre’s most impressive TV achievements.