The Virginian

Series Similar to The Virginian

If you enjoyed The Virginian, these series share similar themes, tone, and quality. Each recommendation is scored on genre overlap, tonal match, and critical acclaim.

1. Bonanza

   1959 · Drama, Action, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Western profile, also on NBC.

   Bonanza chronicles the weekly adventures of the Cartwright family, headed by the thrice-widowed patriarch Ben Cartwright. He had three sons, each by a different wife: the eldest was the urbane architect Adam Cartwright who built the ranch house; the second was the warm and lovable giant Eric "Hoss" Cartwright; and the youngest was the hotheaded and impetuous Joseph or "Little Joe". The family's cook was the Chinese immigrant Hop Sing.

2. Lonesome Dove

   1989 · Drama, Adventure, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Adventure / Western profile, highly rated (8).

   Retired Texas Rangers Gus McRae and Woodrow Call are content to live out their remaining years in the tiny Texas town of Lonesome Dove. Then their old friend Jake comes to town, and tells them about the incredible opportunities for cattle ranching in Montana. Encouraged by this, Call convinces Gus and many other townspeople to go on a perilous cattle drive to Montana. Gus has another agenda though: his former sweetheart now lives in Nebraska, and he hopes for a second chance with her. As the drive goes on it takes on an epic scale, ultimately becoming what could well be called the central event in the lives of all involved.

3. Gunsmoke

   1955 · Action, Adventure, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Adventure profile.

   Marshall Matt Dillon is responsible for keeping the law and respectability in Dodge City in this western action-drama. Gunsmoke captured the courage, character and spirit of the Western Frontier.

4. Texas Rising

   2015 · Drama, Action, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Western profile.

   Texas Rising is an 8-hour miniseries that details the Texas Revolution and the rise of the Texas Rangers.In 1836, west of the Mississippi was considered the Wild West and the Texas frontier was viewed as hell on earth. Crushed from the outside by Mexican armadas and attacked from within by ferocious Comanche tribes—no one was safe. But this was a time of bravery, a time to die for what you believed in and a time to stand tall against the cruel rule of the Mexican General Santa Anna. The heroic General Sam Houston, the rag tag Rangers and the legendary "Yellow Rose of Texas" lead this story of the human will to win against insurmountable odds. At the end, the Texas flags stood tall and victorious, claiming a piece of history for all eternity.

5. The Rifleman

   1958 · Action, Adventure, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Adventure profile.

   Lucas McCain is an ex-soldier who loses his wife after the birth of one son, Mark. Lucas and Mark move to North Fork and attempt to make a living as farmers. However, outlaws and criminals ride into North Fork regularly, and Lucas' past comes back to haunt him from time to time. Inevitably, Lucas has to pick up his rifle and uses his marksmanship skills to deal with trouble.

6. The Wild Wild West

   1965 · Action, Adventure, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Adventure profile, highly rated (8).

   James West and Artemus Gordon are two Secret Service agents of President Grant who take their splendidly appointed private train through the west to fight evil. Half science fiction and half western, Artemus designs a series of interesting gadgets for James and is a master of disguise.

7. Arctic Air

   2012 · Drama, Action, Adventure · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Adventure profile.

   Arctic Air is a one-hour adventure series set in the booming Arctic, about a maverick airline and the unconventional family who runs it. That world is Yellowknife, and the High Arctic that lies beyond. The vast terrain and unforgiving climate mean the stakes are sky-high. This is life without a safety net.

8. Rawhide

   1959 · Action, Adventure, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Adventure profile, highly rated (8).

   Gil Favor is trail boss of a continuous cattle drive; he is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way.

9. Maverick

   1957 · Action, Adventure, Western · ended

   Recommended for similar Action / Adventure profile, highly rated (8).

   In this light-hearted Western, brothers Bart and Bret Maverick are descended from a long line of poker players and conmen. Together or separately, they travel the Old West looking to make money without totally compromising their... rather loose scruples. Later, their English cousin Beau arrives in England. The series mostly alternates between the adventures of Bart and Brett, with Beau taking Bret's place when series star James Garner left over a contract dispute. A third brother, Brent, was briefly seen in the fourth season. Sometimes Bart and Bret will join forces to con a particularly difficult mark, or find themselves at odds over an attractive woman.

10. Cheyenne

    1955 · Action, Adventure, Western · ended

    Recommended for similar Action / Adventure profile, highly rated (8).

    Cheyenne Bodie was a big man, a former army scout who went west after the American Civil War and drifted from job to job, here a cowboy, there a lawman, and always a larger-than-life hero.