This Western Series Is a Basic Cable Ratings Hit You Probably Haven’t Watched Yet

With Westerns all the rage these days, there's no shortage of Old West-inspired content out there. These historical period dramas are often among Hollywood's most compelling narratives, and those charmed by the mythic American West can relive this fascinating period in United States history from the comfort of their own homes. Of course, not all Westerns are created equal, nor are all Western television productions historically reliable, but since 2020, the INSP Network has fought hard to bring a new kind of horse opera to the screen — one you've likely never heard of. If you're looking for a period-accurate look at Old West history, don't sleep on Wild West Chronicles.

'Wild West Chronicles' Is a Historically Accurate Docudrama

Just over a decade ago, the Inspiration Network re-branded itself as INSP, moving away from ministry-focused material and instead centered its programming on Western-focused productions. INSP airs everything from old John Wayne flicks and episodes of Gunsmoke and Little House on the Prairie to original content, including Wild West Chronicles. Since its shift in focus, INSP has become one of the leading basic cable channels out there, known for its quality (and traditional) entertainment, which pulls in audiences of all ages. For a genre that many have considered dead in the water compared to the more recent influx of superhero productions, that's no small feat. Of course, what makes Wild West Chronicles especially unique is its blend of traditional Western narratives with a docudrama style that presents truly historical stories to new audiences.

Not unlike the Western anthology series Death Valley Days of yesteryear, Wild West Chronicles focuses on a new lawman, outlaw, gunslinger, or otherwise historical figure in every episode. Characters like Butch Cassidy (Edwin Modlin II), Pearl Hart (Sydney Carvill), Billy the Kid (Dylan J. Harris), and Wild Bill Hickok (John Terrell) are given the spotlight in their own episodes, while others such as Bass Reeves (Byron Preston Jackson) show up in multiple installments throughout the series' run. But perhaps what sets Wild West Chronicles apart from your standard anthology is the way the series frames each episode. While every episode might follow a different story with a new set of characters like classic Western television shows Cheyenne or Have Gun - Will Travel, there's one recurring hero who is there to tie it all together. Jack Elliott stars in Wild West Chronicles as Bat Masterson, a historical lawman who was also a journalist, as he scours the Old West in search of the wildest stories. Through Masterson's eyes, we see the mythic West for what it was.

After Four Seasons, 'Wild West Chronicles' Isn't Slowing Down

With Westerns all the rage these days, there's no shortage of Old West-inspired content out there. These historical period dramas are often among Hollywood's most compelling narratives, and those charmed by the mythic American West can relive this fascinating period in United States history from the comfort of their own homes. Of course, not all Westerns are created equal, nor are all Western television productions historically reliable, but since 2020, the INSP Network has fought hard to bring a new kind of horse opera to the screen — one you've likely never heard of. If you're looking for a period-accurate look at Old West history, don't sleep on Wild West Chronicles.

'Wild West Chronicles' Is a Historically Accurate Docudrama

Just over a decade ago, the Inspiration Network re-branded itself as INSP, moving away from ministry-focused material and instead centered its programming on Western-focused productions. INSP airs everything from old John Wayne flicks and episodes of Gunsmoke and Little House on the Prairie to original content, including Wild West Chronicles. Since its shift in focus, INSP has become one of the leading basic cable channels out there, known for its quality (and traditional) entertainment, which pulls in audiences of all ages. For a genre that many have considered dead in the water compared to the more recent influx of superhero productions, that's no small feat. Of course, what makes Wild West Chronicles especially unique is its blend of traditional Western narratives with a docudrama style that presents truly historical stories to new audiences.

Not unlike the Western anthology series Death Valley Days of yesteryear, Wild West Chronicles focuses on a new lawman, outlaw, gunslinger, or otherwise historical figure in every episode. Characters like Butch Cassidy (Edwin Modlin II), Pearl Hart (Sydney Carvill), Billy the Kid (Dylan J. Harris), and Wild Bill Hickok (John Terrell) are given the spotlight in their own episodes, while others such as Bass Reeves (Byron Preston Jackson) show up in multiple installments throughout the series' run. But perhaps what sets Wild West Chronicles apart from your standard anthology is the way the series frames each episode. While every episode might follow a different story with a new set of characters like classic Western television shows Cheyenne or Have Gun - Will Travel, there's one recurring hero who is there to tie it all together. Jack Elliott stars in Wild West Chronicles as Bat Masterson, a historical lawman who was also a journalist, as he scours the Old West in search of the wildest stories. Through Masterson's eyes, we see the mythic West for what it was.

After Four Seasons, 'Wild West Chronicles' Isn't Slowing Down

Don't let the show's documentary style fool you. There are some compelling stories here. Each episode presents a new protagonist from the far reaches of U.S. history, and each one concludes with a closing narration telling us what happened to these historical figures in the aftermath. With over a dozen episodes each new season, Wild West Chronicles shows no signs of slowing down. The Western series is currently airing its fourth season, returning to fan-favorites like Bass Reeves while also introducing new stories like outlaw Bronco Bill (Brett Driver) and one of Oklahoma's first female law officers, Deputy Marshal Ada Curnutt. Of course, this is all book-ended by Bat Masterson's own story, as he continues to age with the world around him, searching for his place in it.

Wild West Chronicles isn't the only INSP series to follow this distinct docudrama format though. Following the success of Wild West Chronicles, the network greenlighted Into the Wild Frontier, a similar series that focuses specifically on the frontier era of American history, the same period as the Oscar-winning Leonardo DiCaprio picture, The Revenant. While the network does feature a few other non-documentary drama shows, such as the Teddy Roosevelt-themed Elkhorn or the recently canceled The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger, it's Wild West Chronicles and those like it that set the network apart. Multi-season docudramas aren't exactly easy to pull off, especially not with such a consistently rotating cast of characters. But INSP has struck gold with this Bat Masterson-led program that offers viewers the chance to experience the truth of the American West at home (with some minor embellishments, of course). If you love American history, and can't get enough of the, then this is the series for you.

By Michael John Petty

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Published October 20, 2024

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