Although the program began with a 2020 feature film, “Blue Ridge” has found a larger audience as an INSP original television series. The action-packed Appalachian crime drama boasts the channel’s typical Western aesthetics, all while crafting episodic mysteries centered around local Sheriff Justin Wise (Johnathon Schaech). As one of the best Western-themed shows of 2026, audiences have flocked to this small-town drama, which just wrapped up its second season.
But what should you watch now that “Blue Ridge” Season 2 is over? Well, you came to the right place for an answer. With no official word as of this writing regarding a potential third season, “Blue Ridge” fans are likely craving more. Whether you love old-fashioned lawmen, contemporary horse operas, or the Appalachian region itself, there are a handful of great shows out there to hold you over between “Blue Ridge” binges.
From neo-Westerns and police procedurals to historical blood feuds and gritty crime dramas, the good news is that there are enough like-minded programs out there for fans of “Blue Ridge” to sink their teeth into. These shows may not be exactly the same as the INSP original, but you’ll certainly find some kindred TV spirits here.
Joe Pickett
For more small-town mysteries anchored in family, “Blue Ridge” fans should flock to “Joe Pickett.” The two-season neo-Western began as a Spectrum Original before migrating to Paramount+ in its second season, with each batch of episodes adapting thriller novels by author C.J. Box. Michael Dorman stars as the Wyoming game warden who takes it upon himself to investigate a web of conspiracy enveloping the mountain town of Saddlestring.
Although the titular warden’s wilderness adventures are the biggest draw here, the rest of the Picketts are just as involved in each new mystery. There’s a heartfelt emphasis on family in this neo-Western drama that stands in stark contrast to shows like “Yellowstone.” In fact, Joe himself feels like a traditional Western hero rather than a tortured lawman with a checkered past, one with old-fashioned sensibilities akin to the black-and-white horse operas of the midcentury.
Sadly, “Joe Pickett” was canceled after its second season. Despite ending on a few minor cliffhangers, the series still feels quite complete. Each serialized season emphasizes a particular mystery that Joe and his family must unravel, and our only complaint is that the Paramount+ drama didn’t last a few more years.
Hatfields & McCoys
The Appalachian setting of “Blue Ridge” likely conjures up some particular images of forested hills and blood feuds. Indeed, “Blue Ridge” is also known for its own familial rivalries, namely between the Wades and McGraths. Of course, this is only an echo of the famed historical conflict the region is already well-known for — a conflict explored in History Channel’s three-part miniseries (and first scripted drama) “Hatfields & McCoys.”
Long before he headlined “Yellowstone,” Kevin Costner starred as “Devil” Anse Hatfield, the patriarch of the Hatfield family that wages war against their neighbors the McCoys, led by Bill Paxton’s Randall McCoy. Rooted deep in the American Civil War, this conflict continues well through the Reconstruction era as these families continue to find reasons to hate and kill one another — even when members of their respective clans get married.
Although its genre status is certainly debatable, many have labeled “Hatfields & McCoys” as one of the best Western miniseries ever made. Considering the outstanding performances by Costner and Paxton, on top of the rest of the impressive cast, we can understand why. This entry is a bit more historical than “Blue Ridge” fans may be looking for, but it will offer some further context for the region’s checkered past.
Walker
If you want a multi-season series that combines some of the best elements of both aforementioned shows — the lawman drama focused on family and historical rivalries that span generations — then perhaps “Walker” should be your next post-“Blue Ridge” binge. A re-imagining of the original Chuck Norris-led “Walker, Texas Ranger,” the series follows Austin-based Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki) as he struggles to solve the murder of his wife after being brought back into the Texas Ranger fold.
“Walker” can be a bit soapy at times, but that’s part of its charm. The CW series jumped on the “Yellowstone” neo-Western craze and for four seasons churned out new season-long mysteries that fit in with the episodic police procedural style. Padalecki plays Walker a bit more tortured and distant than Norris did back in the ’90s, but if you can accept the reworking as its own thing, you’ll find yourself quickly hooked.
With a strong supporting cast and plenty of Texas-based excitement, “Walker” could have lasted a few more years. Instead, the series ended on a minor cliffhanger involving the late James Van Der Beek, but ignoring that, it’s pretty self-contained. For more adventures in this corner of the Western world, add single-season prequel “Walker: Independence” to your binge as well.
Longmire
“Blue Ridge” fans probably won’t be surprised to see “Longmire” on this list. After all, Connor McGrath actor A Martinez was a recurring force on this neo-Western crime drama as casino owner Jacob Nighthorse. Inspired by the mystery novels penned by author Craig Johnson, “Longmire” began on A&E before its third-season cancellation, leading Netflix to pick it up for three more seasons. With six seasons total, this won’t be a quick binge, but it may just hold you over for a while.
“Longmire” follows Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor) as he oversees all of Absaroka County opposite deputies Vic Moretti (Katee Sackhoff), Branch Connally (Bailey Chase), and Archie “The Ferg” Ferguson (Adam Bartley). Often accompanied by his best friend Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Philips) or his daughter Cady (Cassidy Freeman), Walt seeks to maintain law and order the only way he knows how — with honesty and integrity.
As Walt balances his duties with solving the mystery of his wife’s murder and opposing Nighthorse’s casino, “Longmire” was notable for challenging Native American stereotypes and emphasizing the hardships that come with life on the Rez. Although the neo-Western drama can be a bit dark at times, “Longmire” is the sort of series folks just can’t let go of. In fact, an annual “Longmire Days” celebration is held in Buffalo, Wyoming, every summer.
Justified
Heading back to Appalachia, if you already love “Blue Ridge” for its ability to tackle crime in this region with plenty of Western flair, pivot a little further west to the coal hills of Kentucky. Based on the short story “Fire in the Hole” by Elmore Leonard, “Justified” ran on FX for six seasons as it detailed the gun-toting adventures of U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant). This “too cool for school” lawman patrols his homeland with an itchy trigger finger and plenty of follow-through.
Often finding himself opposite local outlaw Boyd Crowder, played masterfully by Walton Goggins after he convinced the producers to make one change to the character, Raylan is the sort of sleek and stylish lawman you wouldn’t want to be standing across from. Taking down drug operations, wanted felons, and criminal enterprises is just a day in the life for this would-be Western hero, which makes “Justified” a perfect binge for those looking for more after “Blue Ridge.”
If you find yourself getting through the FX series quicker than you’d hoped, you could always revisit Raylan in the sequel miniseries “Justified: City Primeval.” It’s a bit different in style and substance than its predecessor, but it leaves the door open for more.
