If Western lovers are looking for a perfect new miniseries, they may want to revisit a classic that has been hailed as the “greatest of all time” by fans. Inspired by the bestselling book of the same name, Lonesome Dove follows retired rangers, Augustus ‘Gus’ McCrae and Woodrow Call, as they embark on a cattle drive from a small Texas town to Montana. Gus, a womanizer and two-time widower, runs a livery in the quiet town of Lonesome Dove with Call, a strict workaholic. Set in the 1870s, the story documents their encounters with outlaws and the everyday dangers of the Old West as they gather a crew for their perilous journey.
The four-part drama premiered on CBS in 1989 and was credited for reviving both the Western and miniseries genre. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones lead the star-studded cast as Gus and Call, both earning critical acclaim for their portrayals. They appear alongside Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Robert Urich and Frederic Forrest. An instant hit with critics, Lonesome Dove earned a staggering 18 nominations at the 1989 Emmy Awards. The series took home seven gongs, including Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for director Simon Wincer.
Duvall also took home a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries, while Lonesome Dove itself claimed the award for Best Miniseries. The series has a near-perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 98% and is currently available to stream for free on YouTube.
Lonesome Dove is based on Larry McMurtry’s 1985 novel of the same name, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1986 and has since sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.
McMurtry later expanded the saga with three additional novels, the 1993 sequel Streets of Laredo, followed by two prequels, Dead Man’s Walk (1995) and Comanche Moon (1997).
Both the book and series have been lauded by fans online, with one writing: “Lonesome Dove. Probably the greatest western miniseries of all time.”
A second agreed: “Sorry but Lonesome Dove was the greatest series of all time.”
Another echoed: “Always great to see Lonesome Dove on a list. Outstanding. One of the greatest western epics ever. Gus and Call are legendary thanks to the incomparable performances from Duvall and Jones, inspired writing and direction, and a super talented complimentary cast.”
“Lonesome Dove is the greatest mini series of all time. The greatest western of all time, and the book is brilliant,” a fourth penned.
Someone else declared: “30+ years later and it’s far and away still the best Western ever made. Hands down.”
Another posted: “Lonesome Dove. Possibly the greatest dialogue for a book/tv series ever. One of the greatest novels ever written in my opinion. The show was a masterpiece as well. I reread the book once a year and rewatch the show at least twice a year. A classic that will stand the test of time.”
Another added: “Lonesome Dove is the best book I’ve ever read. Dialogue feels real and the characters are so alive. Hell of a story too.”