'Masterpiece' Western series hailed 'best ever made' is free to stream on Netflix

Another Western series has entered the debate about the greatest of all time - and fans believe this is the best it gets. A prequel to the iconic Yellowstone, 1883 follows the Dutton family as they flee poverty to seek a better future in Montana. Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, the series traces the journey of James and Margaret Dutton, the ancestors of John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner in Yellowstone, as they navigate the treacherous American West.

Guided by former Union Army soldier and Pinkerton Agent Shea Brennan (played by Sam Elliott), they undertake a hazardous trek to Oregon before eventually establishing what becomes the Yellowstone ranch in Montana. Unlike the wealthy modern-day Duttons, the family faces considerable hardships, including smallpox outbreaks and battles with Native Americans. The series is set approximately 135 years before the events of Yellowstone.

Country music icons Tim McGraw and Faith Hill bring James and Margaret Dutton to life, while the series also features Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Marc Rissmann and Eric Nelsen.

The long-awaited Yellowstone prequel debuted on Paramount+ in December 2021, but is now available to stream on Netflix.

The 10-episode miniseries has been hailed as one of the finest instalments in the Yellowstone saga, garnering glowing reviews from viewers who are yet to watch its predecessor.

One wrote: "A++++ Even as a stand-alone, without any 'Yellowstone' knowledge, it's an incredible ride. Sam Elliott is, as always, phenomenal. Tim McGraw is a revelation. As seemingly as 'out of nowhere' is the brilliance of Cole Hauser's 'Rip' performance on 'Yellowstone', so is McGraw's. Genuinely arresting, believable, heartbreaking and real."

Another agreed: "A gold nugget! Brutal but beautiful, punchy but poignant. I went into this with no prior knowledge of Yellowstone or that this is a prequel, so I'm reviewing this as a standalone. I was utterly blown away by it. It's for me one of those rare cinematic experiences where everything came together to make a deep, beautiful piece of thought provoking art."

Echoing this, a third penned: "I know that I'm late on this series but I loved 1883. The complexity of the human experience, moral ambiguity and pioneers in search of freedom make 1883 one of the best Western that I have seen."

A fourth added: "183 is simply the best Western TV series ever made. It explains America and the Frontier Thesis better than any history book."

Another reviewer had the same opinion, writing: "I have to admit that the series 1883 is an absolute masterpiece! Elsa Dutton is such a captivating character. The way she tells the story is what truly makes it for me. I honestly can't stop thinking about it!"