'Best ever' Western series based on 'masterpiece' book leaves fans in tears

Western enthusiasts are in for a treat as fans have discovered a TV miniseries hailed one of the best in the genre. The Lonesome Dove, based on the best-selling book of the same name, follows two former rangers from Texas who embark on a journey to rediscover their thirst for adventure. Set in the late 1870's, Augustus 'Gus' McCrae, a womanizer and two-time widower, runs a livery in the Texas border town of Lonesome Dove with Woodrow Call, a strict workaholic. As they set off, several other residents of the small Texas town join the duo in the cattle drive to the Montana Territory.

Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones lead the star-studded cast as Gus and Woodrow, both of whom received critical acclaim for their portrayals. The cast also features Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Robert Urich and Frederic Forrest. The four-part series first aired on CBS in 1989 and was praised for reviving both the Western and miniseries genre. A hit with audiences and critics, Lonesome Dove earned a staggering 18 nominations at the 1989 Emmy Awards.

The series took home seven gongs, including one for director Simon Wincer for the Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award.

Duvall also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries and the show received the award for Best Miniseries. The Lonesome Dove has a score of 8.7/10 on IMDB and a near-perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 98%.

Expressing their admiration for the series online, one viewer wrote: "Lonesome Dove is a masterpiece. Me and my dad watched it more times than I can count. I'd give anything to sit down and watch it with him again. Every time I see it, I think of him."

Another agreed: "Watching Lonesome Dove. I swear this series has me in tears. Such a great series. The music alone gives me feels. An Iconic Western. We need more of them."

Echoing this, a third penned: "I'd put that series up with the best. Top 5 all time. Number one being Lonesome Dove." Someone else posted: "Lonesome Dove is one of the best series ever made. Western or otherwise."

The series is based on Larry McMurtry's 1985 novel of the same name, which also achieved huge success upon its release. His novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1986 and has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.

The book has received equal praise online, with one declaring: "Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. An epic Western that follows the adventures of two retired Texas Rangers. This might be my new favorite book-it's absolutely incredible. I went into it expecting perfection, and it delivered. Do yourself a favor and read this masterpiece."

A second shared: "Lonesome Dove was a masterpiece. I loved the novel and even the TV series came close to doing it justice. I cry copious tears during both."

Another agreed: "Lonesome Dove is the best book I've ever read. Dialogue feels real and the characters are so alive. Hell of a story too."