Tired of Taylor Sheridan? This Fresh Two-Season Neo-Western Drama Is the Perfect Alternative

Contrary to popular belief, Westerns have never truly gone out of style, with modern neo-Westerns typically offering a fresh spin on the concept. If you’ve found yourself generally unsatisfied with the Taylor Sheridan brand of horse operas and the various imitators that have found their way to television over the last decade or so, then we have some great news for you. There’s a two-season series that’s perfect for a cozy and mysterious binge this fall, and you can also find it on Paramount+ right next to the collection of Sheridan’s work: Joe Pickett.

‘Joe Pickett’ Is Everything That ‘Yellowstone’ Isn’t — and So Much More

Image via Paramount+

Based on the hit series of novels by C.J. Box, Joe Pickett was originally a Spectrum Original in its first season, but it quickly moved to Paramount+ for its second. The show follows the titular Wyoming Game Warden, played by Michael Dorman, as he uncovers the secrets of the wild American frontier in his own backyard. Joe Pickett has everything, from action and mystery to heartwarming family and complex ethical conservation issues. In many respects, it couldn’t be more different from Yellowstone. While Sheridan’s neo-Western epic could be described as a soapy mess full of unlikable characters and circular plotlines, Joe Pickett is the exact opposite. Each season follows a distinct mystery that our favorite game warden gets in his sights, and the Pickett family weathers through each new adventure by sticking together rather than fighting among themselves.

Embracing the spirit of neo-Westerns like Longmire rather than Yellowstone, Joe Pickett plays against the usual “strongman lawman” archetype, albeit while still maintaining more traditional Western values. In many respects, although he doesn’t exude the typical toughness associated with the Duttons or other Sheridan-made characters, he’s far closer to the more classical Western archetypes than Kevin Costner‘s John Dutton. Namely, he’s a lawman who wants to do what’s right, no matter the cost. An affectionate husband and father, Joe is unafraid to jump into the middle of the action if need be in order to save lives and get to the bottom of all that goes on in the Wyoming wilderness. Unlike the Dutton clan, who fight only for what they claim as theirs, Joe fights for the truth, hoping to see justice done and traditional “black hats” put away, even if they happen to be close friends.

Michael C. Hall stares straight at the camera in a production still for Dexter: Resurrection

The 35 Best Shows on Paramount+ Right Now

From ‘Star Trek’ to ‘1923,’ discover the best series on the platform.

Even though he could easily have allowed his circumstances to dictate his outlook on life (like almost every Yellowstone character), Joe doesn’t allow himself to be beaten down by the world — and he’s a much better man for it. This is a fresh turn from Sheridan’s brand of quippy nihilism or familiar narrative pitfalls, giving Joe Pickett a softer (yet somehow firmer) edge that makes it an easy watch. The episodes are quite addicting as Joe begins to investigate his latest conspiracy, and with season-long plotlines full of twists and turns, it’s a show that won’t lose you to boredom over watching the same old thing again and again. It doesn’t hurt that the supporting cast is just as engaging as the leading man either.

Mystery and Family Are at the Heart of ‘Joe Pickett’

Picture From Joe Pickett Season 2 Featuring Michael Dorman

While the Dutton family is one really in name only, the Picketts are strong precisely because they rely on one another. Joe’s wife, Marybeth (Julianna Guill), aids her husband in each new adventure with a brilliant mind capable of discerning the law and using it to their advantage. Their two daughters, Sheridan (Skywalker Hughes, who is set to star in Netflix’s upcoming Little House on the Prairie adaptation) and Lucy (Kamryn Pliva), are the heart of Joe’s mission, and it’s doing them proud that remains at the forefront of his mind. By the second season, they even adopt young April Keeley (Vivienne Guynn) into their home, which is admittedly quite modest by comparison to the Dutton Ranch but far more familial than any “dinner table” scene you’d see on Yellowstone.

Beyond the well-balanced and inspirational nature of Joe’s family, what really makes Joe Pickett stand out from Yellowstone is the way the show is structured. With a particular mystery at the center of each 10-episode season, the show balances a few side stories but largely engages with a consistent narrative with a specific end in mind rather than riding around in whatever direction the Montana winds blow. While the end of Yellowstone pushed the series into an intense multi-episode plot, most seasons drifted quite aimlessly by comparison, rehashing the same plot each year. If you’re looking for a neo-Western that’s more focused and able to stick to the landing, then Joe Pickett is where you ought to start. It even has a former military character who is on the run from his troubled past…

‘Joe Pickett’ Was Canceled Too Soon, But The Story Continues on the Page

The biggest tragedy of Joe Pickett is that it was canceled after its second season. While the main plotline for Season 2 is fully and completely wrapped up by the end of the series, there are a few minor cliffhangers that have been left for audiences to dwell on. While Sheridan’s dramas seem to get as many seasons as they need, Paramount wasn’t so kind to this neo-Western mystery series, and it’s a darn shame considering the quality of storytelling on display. Not only did the show expertly adapt the novels to the screen (namely Open Season in its inaugural year), but it was just genuinely a joy to watch as Joe, Marybeth, and their girls uncover each new happening that has taken Saddlestring by storm. While the creatives were at first hopeful that Joe Pickett would be saved by some other network or streaming outlet, those hopes have since faded after a few years of silence.

Nevertheless, audiences who grow so quickly attached to the Pickett clan will be happy to discover that author C.J. Box has continued his book series to this day, with new releases in the Joe Pickett canon annually. With over 25 books in the series and several short stories to supplement, Box still has plenty of stories left to tell for Joe and his family, even if they aren’t televised. The most recent of these is Battle Mountain, which dropped in February 2025, but the next installment, The Crossroads, is set to hit bookshelves in February 2026. The novels occur in real time, with Joe’s children being younger in the early books only to grow each year as the series does, allowing for plenty of room for subsequent stories to be told in between adventures. So, if you’re sick of rewatching Yellowstone on Peacock for the hundredth time and want a neo-Western with true heart and grit, Joe Pickett is a must-binge. When you’re done with the series, be sure to give the books a try too!

Joe Pickett is available for streaming on Paramount+.