Entertainment
Netflix’s 7-Part Miniseries Western Still Outshines Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Yellowstone’ Universe
Westerns have experienced a major resurgence on television in recent years, and much of that revival has been dominated by Taylor Sheridan’s expansive Yellowstone universe, including its growing lineup of spin-offs. However, before the Paramount franchise existed, Netflix delivered a female-driven masterpiece that perfected the Western formula for modern TV. Titled Godless, the series has quietly remained one of the most compelling Westerns of the streaming era since its debut, even as the Yellowstone universe continues to expand.
Godless arrived on November 22, 2017, and soon became a standout example of what Westerns can accomplish within a more focused format. The gripping miniseries delivers a complete story in just seven episodes, centered on the notorious criminal Frank Griffin and his gang of outlaws, who are seeking to exact revenge on Roy Goode. Having betrayed the brotherhood. Roy is on the run, seeking refuge in a mining town run mainly by women. Nearly a decade later, the show’s approach to the Western genre still feels refreshingly distinct—and in some ways, it continues to outshine the larger television universe that came to define the genre.
‘Godless’ Proves a Western Doesn’t Need a Franchise to Work
Without relying on the kind of sprawling franchise structure that has come to define Yellowstone, Godless effectively tells a complete Western story, delivering a fully realized narrative arc. The drama begins with an outlaw’s brutal reign of terror and ends with a climactic reckoning in the isolated mining town of La Belle. It is a story that feels purposeful and tightly constructed, avoiding excessive elaboration that can sometimes emerge when a series is designed to run indefinitely.
In the case of Yellowstone, the original series, which premiered on June 20, 2018, has since grown into an entire television empire under the guidance of Sheridan, who has ambitious plans for the franchise’s future. Between flagship entries and multiple spin-offs, including 1883, 1923, and the recently released Marshals, Yellowstone has become one of television’s most recognizable Western brands. However, that franchise model requires storylines to stretch across multiple seasons and series, sometimes prioritizing long-term expansion over tightly focused storytelling.
By comparison, Godless benefits immensely from its self-contained structure. Every character arc—from the quiet resilience of La Belle’s residents to the relentless pursuit of justice driving the central conflict—moves toward a satisfying, definitive endpoint. Because the series was designed as a limited one, it avoids the narrative drag and extended subplots that can come with multi-season storytelling. Now, years after its release, the show remains a reminder that the Western genre can thrive on television without becoming a large-scale franchise.
‘Godless’ Delivers a Grittier Character-Driven Western
Godless strongly emphasizes atmosphere, character, and cinematic craft—qualities that series creator Scott Frank used to deliver a grittier, more classic Western feel. Frank has previously worked on similarly acclaimed projects with one-of-a-kind storylines, including The Queen’s Gambit and, more recently, Dept. Q. With those distinctive qualities and an 83% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, the miniseries approaches the genre with a deliberate pacing that often feels closer to a prestige Western film.
Godless’ narrative is anchored in quieter but deeply compelling character journeys, from the mysterious outlaw Roy Goode to the resilient women who run the town of La Belle after a mining disaster leaves the community largely without men. Performances from actors such as Jeff Daniels, Michelle Dockery, and Jack O’Connell also ground the series in emotional realism while still delivering the tension and spectacle expected from a Western.
Godless’ approach differs noticeably from the tone that drives much of the Yellowstone universe. Shows within the franchise—starting with the original itself—frequently lean into family power struggles, corporate intrigue, and emotionally charged confrontations that resemble modern prestige soap operas set against a Western backdrop, albeit with higher production values. The entries all focus on the Dutton family’s intersecting storylines, creating high-stakes drama that often puts characters in life-or-death scenarios.
Furthermore, characters often remain in fixed roles with limited evolution in Yellowstone, despite the high drama—much like daytime soap operas. This is evident in Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), Governor/Senator Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz), and even Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), who is getting his own spin-off with Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly).
Godless offers a compelling alternative to Yellowstone within the modern Western revival, especially in a time defined by expanding franchises and interconnected spin-offs. By delivering a tightly constructed seven-episode story with gritty ambition and deeply layered characters, it captures the essence of the genre in a way that feels both classic and modern. Therefore, the Netflix limited series proves that sometimes the most memorable stories are the ones that know exactly when—and how—to end.
Godless streams on Netflix.
- Release Date
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2017 – 2017-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Scott Frank