Even though Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstonehas grown into a franchise of its own, the best show to watch after its ending isn’t one of its spinoffs; it’s Timothy Olyphant’s classic 2010 Western. Theending ofYellowstoneseason 5left a lot of fans with a big hole in their watch lists. While the story of the Dutton family isn’t ending - there are alreadyseveral newYellowstoneshows in the works- many viewers may be looking for something else to watch in the meantime. There are, of course, also theYellowstonespinoff shows1883and1923ready to watch, but they don’t scratch the same itch.
Part of the reason why1883and1923aren’t perfect replacements forYellowstoneis because they’re traditional Westerns.Yellowstoneis a neo-Western due to its setting in the modern day, and there just aren’t many great neo-Western shows out there. There is, however, one neo-Western starring Timothy Olyphant that works as a perfect replacement forYellowstone, and it’s modern setting makes it even more similar than1883and1923. It’s actually one of thebest Western TV showsever made, and anyYellowstonefan is basically guaranteed to find something to love aboutJustified.
Justified Is A Great Neo-Western That Yellowstone Fans Will Love
Justified Is A Fantastic Neo-Western Story That Has So Much To Offer To Yellowstone Fans
If you’re looking for something to watch now thatYellowstoneis over, Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins’Justifiedis the perfect choice.Justifiedfollows U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Olyphant) as he returns to his old hometown and clashes with the local criminal element there, including his childhood friend and occasional ally Boyd Crowder (Goggins).Justifiedis essentially the prototypical neo-Western: Raylan might as well be a sheriff in the Old West, but he’s hunting drug dealers and escaped convicts instead of bandits and train robbers. There’s plenty of intrigue, mystery, and action, andJustifiedis actually very similar toYellowstonein a number of ways.
How Justified Compares To Yellowstone (And Which Is The Better Neo-Western)
Justified & Yellowstone Both Feature Western Action, Settings, & Drama, But Justified Is A More Consistent Show
The clearest similarity betweenYellowstoneandJustifiedis in their genres. Both shows focus on characters who were seemingly born too late trying to find a way in a world that has passed them by.Raylan would function a lot better if he could just kill the fugitives he hunts, whileYellowstonecharacters like John Dutton II (Kevin Costner) would love a world where cattle ranchers could just kill anyone who wanted to take his land. They also get into a lot of trouble because of their old approaches to life, and there’s plenty of drama in each.
WhileJustifiedandYellowstonedo feature a lot of Western action, from gunfights to bar brawls and more, there’s a bigger similarity that makes the former a great replacement for the latter.JustifiedandYellowstoneboth have a strong focus on the complicated relationships of their main characters, and there’s always a lot of interpersonal drama to keep things moving in the absence of action. Raylan and Boyd’s dynamic is just as antagonistic and enthralling as Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Jamie’s (Wes Bentley) is inYellowstone. They also both focus on highlighting the beauty of rural America, even thoughJustifiedtakes place in Kentucky instead of Montana.
As for which show is better, it’s hard to say definitively.Yellowstonecertainly leans more into the soap-opera side of things, where family dramas become the main focus of the show.Justified, on the other hand, starts off as much more of a detective procedural with an overarching story happening in the background, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.It comes down to personal preference, but on paper,Justifiedis probably a better show thanYellowstone.Justifiedwas much more consistently good throughout its six seasons - and it’s spinoff,Justified: City Primeval- and it didn’t have the pacing problemsYellowstoneand its spinoffs often suffer from.
Justified Showed How To Do Neo-Western On TV Before Yellowstone
Without Justified, Yellowstone Probably Never Would Have Happened
Regardless of which is the better show - which is mostly a matter of opinion, anyway - it’s clear thatYellowstoneowes a lot toJustified. BeforeJustified, the only Western TV shows were classics likeGunsmokeor more traditional revisionist Westerns likeDeadwood.Justifiedpaved the way for neo-Westerns to make it to the small screen, and it’s probably fair to say thatYellowstonewouldn’t be possible ifJustifiedhadn’t come first. The genre just wouldn’t have been popular enough for Taylor Sheridan to writeYellowstoneor his movies, likeHell or High Water.
Taylor Sheridan’s Upcoming and Potential Series and Movies
6666 Yellowstone spinoff
Mayor of Kingstown season 4
Tulsa King season 3
Landman season 2
1944 Yellowstone spinoff
Lioness season 3
F.A.S.T.
TBD
It’s also not just thatJustifiedhelped prime audiences to neo-Westerns on television, but that it basically nailed the serialized neo-Western formula right off the bat. Every storyline is perfectly tailored to play off Raylan’s gray morality, off of Boyd’s memorable antics, and off of the very setting of the show, in rural Kentucky.Justifiedis almost perfectly paced throughout its run, it knew what its audience wanted to see and delivered that with almost every episode, and it’s an almost perfect example of the neo-Western genre. Basically, if you likedYellowstone, you’re going to loveJustified.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on July 19, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
Justified
Justified: Justified is a character drama series based on Elmore Leonard’s 2001 short story “Fire in the Hole.” Premiering in 2010, it follows U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in Kentucky, as he navigates his high-stakes job and tumultuous relationships with his ex-wife and father.
