The Best TV Western Wasn't Gunsmoke According to Stacker - Here Are Their Picks for the Top 25

If there's a genre of television that is associated with being iconically American, the Western would be the top contender. Visions of saloon doors swinging open as a spur-spangled stranger stands in the frame. Tumbleweeds toss along the road behind him. The ominous sound of over-plucked guitar strings and the stressed-out neigh of restless horses act as the soundtrack in the background. Guns glisten and shine in the holster as they catch the eye of the audience. It's quintessential Americana, and it makes for good television. Westerns were the most popular TV genre throughout the 1950s and '60s, with classics like "Gunsmoke," "The Lone Ranger," and "Cheyenne." While Westerns faded from the spotlight during most of the '70s, '80s, and '90s, the genre was resurrected at the turn of the 21st century with shows like "Deadwood," "Longmire," and "Yellowstone." Here are Stacker's picks for the best Western series.