Netflix has added 1883, the brilliant Western drama miniseries created by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan.

A standalone prequel to Yellowstone, the show is set in the title year and stars Oscar-nominee Sam Elliot (The Big Lebowski) in an effortlessly commanding lead turn.

 

 

He plays Shea Brennan, a gruff former Union Army captain mourning the death of his family, who is hired by a group of inexperienced European immigrants to escort them from Texas to Oregon.

Helping Brennan and the immigrants on the extremely treacherous journey – filled with murderous bandits, rattlesnakes and smallpox – is the Dutton family, led by former Confederate States Army captain James Dutton (Tim McGraw, The Blind Side).

Co-starring Faith Hill (The Stepford Wives) and Isabel May (Scream 7) and featuring Billy Bob Thornton (Landman) and Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) in guest roles, 1883 was released in 2021 to rapturous reviews, with many praising how it captures both the beauty and horrors of the Old West.

In fact, many consider 1883 to be a better show than the smash hit Yellowstone.

You can read a sample of some of these raves for the Western drama below:

AV Club: “Taylor Sheridan’s prequel series offers an unflinching look at the beginnings of Yellowstone’s Dutton family.”

Chicago Sun-Times: “A brilliant Yellowstone prequel that portrays an era of open spaces, constant dangers…”

Variety: “1883 has the characters, the scope, and the vision to become an exciting new chapter of the Yellowstone franchise, as well as a rare example of a spin-off that never feels beholden to its source material.”

TheWrap: “Even for viewers who have yet to delve into Yellowstone, the tension and intensity is compelling.”