- Godless, the 2017 Western miniseries on Netflix, has been named one of the greatest Western series of the 21st century by Collider.
- The show, created by Scott Frank, follows outlaw Roy Goode as he hides in a New Mexico town populated by women, pursued by his former gang leader.
- Godless offers a brutal and historically accurate depiction of frontier life, appealing to fans of Taylor Sheridan’s Western dramas.
Fans of Taylor Sheridan’s Westerns looking for something new to watch on Netflix may want to go back nearly a decade.
Godless, the 2017 Western miniseries starring Jack O’Connell, Jeff Daniels, and Michelle Dockery, has been named one of Netflix’s greatest Western series of the 21st century. Collider included the seven-episode series on its list of the best modern Westerns, while other critics have praised the show for its brutal depiction of life on the frontier.
The series isn’t part of Sheridan’s growing television universe, but it has many of the elements that have made shows such as Yellowstone and 1883 popular: complicated characters, violence, sweeping Western landscapes, and a story built around survival.
‘Godless’ Is One of Netflix’s Greatest 21st-Century Westerns
Godless arrived on Netflix in 2017 as a seven-episode limited series created by Scott Frank, who wrote and directed the entire series.
Collider has called it one of the greatest Western series of the 21st century, praising its performances, visuals, and approach to a familiar genre. Ultimately, the publication considers the show Netflix’s best Western. The series currently holds an 83 percent critics score and an 8.2 rating on IMDb
The story takes place in 1884 and follows Roy Goode, an outlaw who turns against his former gang and ends up hiding in a small New Mexico mining town that is populated primarily by women.
That puts him directly in the path of Frank Griffin, the ruthless gang leader who raised him and is determined to find him.
The resulting conflict gives Godless the kind of sprawling Western story that has become increasingly popular on television, while keeping the entire narrative contained within seven episodes.
‘Godless’ Is a Brutal Western With a Different Kind of Story
The series doesn’t exactly offer a romantic version of the Old West. But that’s part of its appeal, and a huge part of why it’s praised for its historical accuracy.
Frank Griffin and his gang leave a trail of violence behind them as they search for Roy, while the residents of the isolated town of La Belle are forced to prepare for an attack.
That brutality is one reason Godless has continued to attract attention years after its Netflix debut. CBR has described the series as a brutal and underrated Western masterpiece, pointing to the show’s willingness to embrace the darker side of frontier life.
At the same time, the series isn’t simply built around violence. Much of the story focuses on the people living in La Belle and how they respond when they realize a dangerous gang is coming for them.
That gives Godless an ensemble quality that separates it from the traditional lone-gunslinger Western.
‘Godless’ Has Plenty for Taylor Sheridan Fans
While Sheridan had nothing to do with Godless, viewers who have become fans of his Western dramas may find plenty to like.
Sheridan’s Yellowstone helped bring the modern Western back into the television spotlight, while 1883 went further back into the Dutton family’s history and presented a much harsher version of frontier life.
Godless takes a similar interest in the people trying to survive in an unforgiving landscape, making it a seamless transition from the world of 1883.
There are also some familiar themes for Sheridan fans: competing ideas of power, violence as a means of survival, morally complicated characters, and communities forced to defend themselves.
The biggest difference is that Godless tells its story in just seven episodes. Rather than building an ongoing television universe, Frank’s miniseries has a beginning, middle, and end.
That makes it an especially easy watch for anyone who wants a substantial Western story without committing to multiple seasons.
‘Godless’ Is Still Streaming on Netflix
Nearly a decade after its debut, Godless remains one of Netflix’s notable modern Westerns.
The series was released in November 2017 and received strong reviews from critics, earning 12 Emmy nominations and three wins. Collider has also highlighted its sweeping landscapes and stylized violence as part of what makes the miniseries stand out within the Western genre.
For viewers who discovered Western television through Yellowstone, 1883, or another of Sheridan’s series, Godless offers a different take on the genre while delivering many of the same ingredients that make modern Western dramas so compelling.
This story was originally published byMen’s Journalon Sep 21, 2026, where it first appeared in theEntertainmentsection. Add Men’s Journal as aPreferred
