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Sorry Yellowstone, The Best Neo-Western Show Of All Time Aired On FX 10 Years Ago

By Tom Russell

Published 2 days ago

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Paramount’s spin-off spawning epic may have reignited the Neo-Western genre for modern audiences, but a much older show hits the same notes much harder than Yellowstone. Taylor Sheridan’s hit series about the Dutton family’s fight to hold onto their Montana ranch has become a pop culture juggernaut, earning praise for its sweeping landscapes, political intrigue, and slow-burn storytelling. Its blend of family drama and frontier justice is compelling, and there’s no denying that Yellowstone has captured something uniquely American in its exploration of power, loyalty, and survival in the modern West.

However, Yellowstone wasn’t the first show to blend six-shooter justice with morally complex characters and modern-day dilemmas. A decade before Yellowstone ever hit the air, another TV drama delivered a masterclass in Neo-Western storytelling - one with sharper writing, a more nuanced lead, and arguably the greatest antagonist in the genre’s entire history. It didn't have the massive marketing machine behind it, but it had grit, charm, and a style all its own. The show in question is FX’s Justified, and despite airing a decade earlier, it’s still the best Neo-Western TV show to hit screens so far - even compared to Yellowstone.

Justified Was Already The Perfect Neo-Western Show A Decade Before Yellowstone

Justified Perfected The Neo-Western Format Long Before Yellowstone Ever Hit Screens

While Yellowstone has become the defining Neo-Western of the 2020s, Justified set that standard in the early 2010s. Airing on FX from 2010 to 2015, Justified was based on an Elmore Leonard short story and starred Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens, a U.S. Marshal with a fast draw and an even faster wit. The show’s six-season run masterfully balanced gun-slinging action with sharply written dialogue, compelling characters, and a deep-rooted sense of place. Set in the backwoods of Harlan County, Kentucky, Justified merged modern law enforcement with old-school outlaw justice in a way that felt organic and endlessly entertaining.

Justified holds a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The core difference between the two shows lies in execution. Where Yellowstone often builds drama through slow, sweeping story arcs and family tension, Justified thrives on immediacy. Every episode offers a payoff, whether it’s a perfectly timed one-liner, a jaw-dropping standoff, or a character moment that hits harder than a shotgun blast. Plus, while Yellowstone can get bogged down in its sprawling cast and political plotting, Justified stays lean and laser-focused. It knows exactly what it is, and doesn’t try to be anything else.

It’s no knock on Yellowstone to say Justified simply does it better. Both series explore moral ambiguity and the changing face of American justice, but Justified does so with more style, more bite, and far more economy. For fans looking for a series that’s better shown than Yellowstone, FX already gave it to us years ago - and it’s still streaming as sharp as ever.

Why Raylan Givens Is A Better Western Antihero Than John Dutton

Raylan Givens Has More Charisma, Complexity, And Cowboy Cool Than The Dutton Patriarch

Kevin Costner’s John Dutton might be the patriarch of TV’s most iconic ranch, but Timothy Olyphant’s Raylan Givens is the Neo-Western’s true gunslinging king. From the moment he walks on screen in Justified, Raylan embodies everything the genre thrives on - grace under pressure, a deeply rooted moral code, and just enough unpredictability to keep you guessing. He’s a lawman who plays by his own rules, but unlike Dutton, Raylan’s charm doesn’t hide darkness, it wrestles with it in every scene.

These layers make Raylan more relatable and more human, compared to the mythic weight Yellowstone places on John Dutton’s shoulders.

Where John Dutton is often stoic to a fault, Raylan is effortlessly charismatic, even when he’s being lethal. His battles are just as personal, but Justified gives Raylan more room to breathe as a fully-formed character. We see his flaws, his regrets, and his complicated relationships, especially with his ex-wife Winona (Natalie Zea) and his criminal father Arlo (Raymond J. Barry). These layers make Raylan more relatable and more human, compared to the mythic weight Yellowstone places on John Dutton’s shoulders.

Blended image of Raylan Givens and Robert Quarles in Justified

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Plus, frankly, Raylan is more fun to watch. Whether he’s disarming a thug with his words or ending a standoff with a single, impossibly fast shot, he owns every scene. His swagger never feels forced - it’s earned. For anyone craving a lead who’s more compelling than even Yellowstone's John Dutton, Raylan Givens delivers a cooler, smarter, and more emotionally satisfying take on the modern cowboy.

Walton Goggins Is More Memorable Than Any Yellowstone Villain

Boyd Crowder Is The Neo-Western’s Ultimate Outlaw, Outshining All Of Yellowstone’s Foes

Yellowstone has introduced plenty of antagonists across its seasons - from hedge fund villains to corrupt politicians - but none have left the kind of impact that Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) did in Justified. Originally meant to die in the pilot, Boyd’s electric performance and magnetic personality made him a series regular, and the show was better for it. His blend of menace, intelligence, and sheer unpredictability made him more than a villain, he was a dark mirror to Raylan himself.

Boyd wasn’t evil in the traditional sense. He was philosophical, articulate, and strangely principled in his own twisted way. He could quote the Bible in one breath and set off an explosion in the next. Unlike Yellowstone's many power-hungry rivals, Boyd’s motivations weren’t always about land or money - they were about identity, legacy, and pride. That made his character resonate far beyond any single scheme or crime.

IMDB's Highest Rated Episodes of Justified
Episode Number	Title	IMDB Score
S6.E13	The Promise	9.6
S6.E11	Fugitive Number One	9.3
S2.E13	Bloody Harlan	9.2
S1.E13	Bulletville	9.1
S4.E11	Decoy	9.1

While Yellowstone's villains can sometimes feel like obstacles for the Dutton's to overcome, Boyd was always a presence - a living, breathing symbol of the show’s themes. His chemistry with Raylan was explosive and unpredictable, and every scene they shared crackled with tension. For those looking for a villain better shown than Yellowstone's entire rogue’s gallery, Boyd Crowder remains untouchable.

Yellowstone