Yellowstonehas the perfect replacement on Netflix, and while it’s an underrated gem, you can catch up with this one-of-a-kind Western series from 2017 in just seven hours. Taylor Sheridan’s flagship neo-Western show ended in 2024 withYellowstoneseason 5. That said, Sheridan will continue expanding John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) universe with several upcoming spinoffs.
Of course, there are other amazingWestern TV showsout there beyond Sheridan’s universe. So if you’re tired of theYellowstonehype, or just looking for something that packs the same punch while waiting for its spinoff shows, the answer you’re looking for isGodless.Godlessis a Netflix original Western drama miniseries set in 1884that preceded Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstone.
Godless Is A Rare Female-Driven Western Series
Godless Is Set In 1884
LikeYellowstone,Godlessstands out because it is subversive, aiming to tell a different kind of Western story than what we’re used to seeing.Godlessis driven by female leads, with an enticing plot that sets up a town of women existing in La Belle, New Mexico, almost entirely on their own, leading to robust character development and unique storylines.
Despite its female-driven premise,Godlessdoes not compromise on a single moment of action or violence. Moreover, I would say thatGodlessis more gruesome and gory than any of Taylor Sheridan’s Dutton-driven narratives. Many of the women who driveGodlessprove as resourceful and gritty as the men, while realistically accomplishing the reversal of traditional gender roles.
In particular, Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery) and Mary Agnes McNue (Merritt Wever) bring something special to the series. Both women have been forced to take unconventional paths due to tragic circumstances claiming their partners’ lives. When the story begins, both have risen to the challenge of surviving alone in the American West, forging compelling leads.
Why Yellowstone Fans Will Love Godless
Godless Is A Lot Like 1883
Yellowstonefans will loveGodlessbecause, like Sheridan’s Western shows, it rethinks what’s possible for a Western.Godlesssubverts the traditional genre tropes by putting women at the forefront, and with guns, grit, and backbone. Beyond just that, it explores the various reactions that women have had to losing all the men in their town to a tragic accident.
Moreover,while it aligns with many of the positives across all of Sheridan’sYellowstoneshows,Godlessis the most like1883.Considered by some, including this writer, to be Sheridan’s bestYellowstonesaga,1883follows the earliest-known members of theDutton family treeas they make a journey on the Oregon Trail from Texas to Paradise Valley, Montana.
Godless presents a slightly different aspect of life in the American West, depicting those who didn’t aim to reach Oregon but stopped along the way.
Godlesstakes place just a year after1883,with its characters living in a mining town in New Mexico in 1884. That said,Godlesspresents a slightly different aspect of life in the American West,depicting those who didn’t aim to reach Oregon but stopped along the way to establish mining towns around a wealth of natural resources.
It’s a fair bet that anyone who liked1883will enjoyGodless.It depicts the same pivotal time in American history, and like1883,it does so from a different lens. Moreover, I would say that many aspects ofGodlessare superior toYellowstone.It features more female leads and greater diversity, while adhering more closely to traditional Western motifs.
Godless
Cast
Godless, released in 2017, is a western drama series that follows a notorious outlaw seeking revenge on a former gang member. The series is set in a unique town inhabited solely by women, where the past catches up with the peaceful community amidst the harsh backdrop of the American West.
