If you’ve ever finished Lonesome Dove and felt a weird combination of heartbreak, satisfaction, and an urge to buy a horse you absolutely cannot afford, welcomeyou’re among friends. Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Western and its many screen adaptations have become a kind of shared mythos for readers and viewers alike. And like all good fandoms, we argue. A lot. About rankings. About reading order. About whether Gus or Call is the real MVP.

In this guide, we’ll ride through the Lonesome Dove rankingsfrom books to miniseries to charactersand mix critical reception with fan opinions so you can see where your own hot takes land on the trail. Saddle up.

Why Lonesome Dove Won’t Ride Off Into the Sunset

First, a quick reminder of just how big this saga really is. The original novel Lonesome Dove, published in 1985, won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and has often been called one of the great American Western novels. It follows retired Texas Rangers Woodrow F. Call and Augustus “Gus” McCrae as they lead a cattle drive from Texas to Montanaon the surface a trail story, but underneath a meditation on friendship, aging, loss, and the cost of chasing big dreams.

The 1989 CBS miniseries adaptation doubled down on that legacy. With Robert Duvall as Gus and Tommy Lee Jones as Call, it drew an estimated 26 million homes and dominated Nielsen ratings across its four-night run. On Rotten Tomatoes, it sits at about 98% from critics and over 90% from audiences, frequently cited as not just the best Western miniseries ever, but one of the best Westerns, period.

So when people rank the Lonesome Dove universe, they’re not just comparing storiesthey’re weighing modern Western mythology.

Ranking the Lonesome Dove Books

There are four main novels in McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series. In publication order:

• Lonesome Dove (1985)
• Streets of Laredo (1993)
• Dead Man’s Walk (1995)
• Comanche Moon (1997)

Chronologically in the story world, though, the order is:

• Dead Man’s Walk – Gus and Call as young Rangers in the 1840s
• Comanche Moon – mid-career Rangers in the 1850s–60s
• Lonesome Dove – the cattle drive in the 1870s
• Streets of Laredo – older Call in the 1890s

Ask ten fans for a ranking and you’ll get twelve answers, but some patterns definitely emerge.

1. Lonesome Dove – The Unshakeable Number One

This is the one almost everyone puts at the top. On Goodreads, it consistently pulls extremely high ratings, with readers praising Gus’s campfire philosophy, his complicated friendship with Call, and the way every side characterfrom Lorena to Deetsfeels fully alive. Critics have called it an “epic” that elevates the Western into literary territory, and many fans now recommend it as the definitive Western novel, even for people who don’t usually like Westerns.

Why it ranks first:

• Emotional weight: The story balances big action with intimate, quiet moments.
• Iconic characters: Gus, Call, Clara, Lorena, Deetseveryone is memorable.
• Cultural impact: It spawned the miniseries, sequels, prequels, and an ongoing fan community.

Most readers agree: if you only read one book in the series, Lonesome Dove is the one.

2. Streets of Laredo – The Dark, Elegiac Sequel

Streets of Laredo returns to an older Woodrow Call as he pursues a young Mexican outlaw across a changing West. Many fans rank it second because it leans into a more somber, end-of-an-era tone. It feels less like a high adventure and more like a reflection on what happens when the myths fade and the world moves on.

Readers who love character-driven storytelling and don’t mind a darker mood often swear this is almost as good as the original, just in a different key. The miniseries adaptation even positions itself as the direct sequel to the 1989 miniseries, ignoring the events of Return to Lonesome Dove, which says a lot about how seriously it takes continuity.

3. Dead Man’s Walk – The Wild Young Days of Gus and Call

Dead Man’s Walk jumps back to Gus and Call as young Texas Rangers on a brutally dangerous expedition. Fans on forums and Reddit threads often recommend it as a great follow-up once you’re already emotionally invested in the characters, with some saying it gives crucial context for who Gus and Call become later in life.

It’s shorter and faster-paced than the others, with plenty of disaster, bad decisions, and gallows humor. Readers who rank this one highly tend to enjoy:

• Seeing the origins of the friendship between Gus and Call.
• A more chaotic, youthful energy compared with Lonesome Dove.
• The way it highlights just how brutal the frontier really was.

4. Comanche Moon – The Bridge That Splits the Fanbase

Comanche Moon fills in the mid-career years for Gus and Call, covering their long war with Comanche leader Buffalo Hump and their personal struggles back home. Some readers love it for expanding the world and deepening character arcs; others feel it’s the least essential of the four main books.

Many fan rankings put it fourth not because it’s bad, but because something has to be at the bottom when the bar is this high. On the plus side, it gives more time with beloved figures and sets up emotional beats that land harder when you later reread Lonesome Dove.

So… What’s the Best Reading Order?

Here’s where opinions really diverge:

• Publication order (most popular): Lonesome Dove → Streets of Laredo → Dead Man’s Walk → Comanche Moon
• Chronological order (for completists): Dead Man’s Walk → Comanche Moon → Lonesome Dove → Streets of Laredo

Most long-time fans recommend starting where McMurtry startedLonesome Doveso you meet Gus and Call at the peak of their legend. Then you can circle back to see how they got there. Chronological order works too, but it can blunt the emotional punch of discovering them fully formed in the original novel.

Ranking the Screen Versions

The Lonesome Dove miniseries ranking is its own little war. Here’s the broad consensus from critics, Western sites, and long-time fans.

1. Lonesome Dove (1989 Miniseries) – The Gold Standard

No surprises here. The 1989 four-part miniseries is almost universally ranked first. It boasts a stellar castRobert Duvall as Gus, Tommy Lee Jones as Call, Diane Lane as Lorena, Danny Glover as Deetsand swept awards season with multiple Emmys and Golden Globes.

Western-focused outlets regularly place it at the very top of “best Western miniseries” lists, with some writers arguing it might be the best Western screen story ever made, full stop. Its blend of sweeping landscapes, gritty realism, and character-first storytelling changed how television could handle long-form drama.

2. Streets of Laredo (1995 Miniseries)

Next up is usually the Streets of Laredo miniseries, starring James Garner as an older Call. It’s quieter, darker, and more reflective than the original, but it respects the tone of McMurtry’s follow-up novel and is widely seen as the “true” screen sequel to Lonesome Dove, intentionally ignoring the events of Return to Lonesome Dove.

Viewers who rank it highly often appreciate its melancholy mood and the way it explores aging, regret, and a West that’s rapidly closing down.

3–4. Dead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moon

The prequel miniseriesDead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moontend to land in the middle of most rankings. Opinions vary:

• Some fans enjoy them as solid Western TV with fun performances and satisfying bits of backstory.
• Others feel the casting can’t quite escape the shadow of Duvall and Jones, making it hard to see these versions as the same characters they fell in love with in 1989.

They’re rarely anyone’s top pick, but they’re often recommended once you’ve watched the main miniseries and want more time in that world.

Last Place With an Asterisk: Return to Lonesome Dove (1993)

Now we get to the spicy part. Return to Lonesome Dove is a 1993 miniseries that acts as a sequel to the original 1989 showbut it was not written by McMurtry. He instead wrote his own sequel novel, Streets of Laredo, around the same time.

Critically and among hardcore fans, Return tends to rank last. Reviews point out that while it’s a decent Western on its own, it lacks the emotional depth and subtle character work of the original and sometimes feels like a more conventional TV Western rather than a mythic saga.

That said, it’s not universally hated. Some viewers genuinely enjoy it as “bonus time” with characters they love and argue it’s unfairly dismissed just because it doesn’t live up to a near-perfect predecessor. If you treat it as an alternate-universe sequel rather than canon, it can be a surprisingly fun watch.

Who’s the Best Lonesome Dove Character? (Yes, We’re Doing This.)

If there’s one ranking that gets dangerously personal, it’s the character ranking. Fan polls and discussion threads tend to cluster around a few favorites: Gus, Call, Clara, Lorena, Deets, Newt, and the terrifying Blue Duck.

1. Augustus “Gus” McCrae

On fan forums and social media groups, Gus is often called “the best character ever written.” He’s talkative, funny, reckless, deeply loyal, and surprisingly philosophical. He’ll argue with a horse, flirt with anything that moves, and then drop a one-liner that hits like a life lesson.

Fans who rank Gus first usually cite:

• His campfire wisdom and off-beat sense of humor.
• The way he brings out hidden sides of every character around him.
• His blend of charm and courage, without feeling like a flawless hero.

2. Woodrow F. Call

Call usually comes in a close second. He’s the stoic counterpart to Gus: disciplined, duty-driven, and emotionally constipated in ways that make readers want to shake him and hug him at the same time. McMurtry himself described Call as a kind of modern Stoic figure, and fans often rank him highly for his fierce sense of responsibilityeven when it costs him personally.

3. Clara Allen

Clara is the emotional backbone of the story for many readers. She sees Gus and Call clearly, loves one, respects the other, and still insists on building a life on her own terms. Readers often rank her as one of the best-written women in Western fiction, balancing resilience with vulnerability.

4–7. Lorena, Deets, Newt, Blue Duck

After the top three, the rankings get chaotic:

• Lorena Wood earns admiration for her transformation from survivor-in-defense-mode to someone slowly reclaiming agency and hope.
• Joshua Deets is often called the “soul” of the crewsteady, brave, and heartbreaking in his loyalty.
• Newt resonates with younger readers and anyone who’s ever felt stuck between childhood and adulthood, waiting for someone to finally claim them.
• Blue Duck ranks as one of the most chilling villains in Western fiction, a reminder that the frontier was not a romantic playground.

Bottom line: if your personal ranking starts fights in the group chat, you’re doing it right.

New Adaptations and Why Rankings Keep Evolving

Part of what keeps Lonesome Dove rankings and opinions fresh is that this world keeps coming back in new forms. In 2025, reports surfaced that McMurtry’s estate had signed a new deal for another screen adaptation of Lonesome Dove, with his grandson Curtis McMurtry and long-time collaborator Diana Ossana involved in shaping the project.

If and when that new version arrives, expect the rankings to shift again. New viewers may meet Call and Gus through a modern adaptation first, then work backward to the novel and the 1989 miniseries. That’s the funand mild chaosof living fandoms: the “definitive” ranking is always riding just over the horizon.

How to Build Your Own Lonesome Dove Ranking

At this point, you’ve heard the broad consensus. Now it’s your turn to form your own list. A simple way to start:

1. Read or watch the original first. Start with either the novel or the 1989 miniseries. Let that be your anchor.
2. Add the official sequels and prequels. Work through Streets of Laredo, Dead Man’s Walk, and Comanche Moon in whichever order fits your style.
3. Then sample the spin-offs. Give Return to Lonesome Dove a fair shot and decide whether it’s “canon in your heart.”
4. Rank characters separately. Your favorite book may not be the one with your favorite character arc, and that’s okay.

Write your rankings down. Revisit them after a reread or rewatch. You may be surprised how much they change as you get olderjust like Call and Gus themselves.

Living With Lonesome Dove: Experiences and Takeaways

Beyond scores, lists, and heated forum debates, there’s a quieter layer to Lonesome Dove: the way it sticks with people. Talk to fans who’ve lived with these stories for years and you’ll hear remarkably similar experiences, even if they discovered the saga in very different ways.

Some readers first met Gus and Call in late-night reruns of the 1989 miniseries. They remember stumbling across a dusty cattle drive on an old TV, thinking they’d watch “just a few minutes,” then suddenly realizing it was well past midnight and they were emotionally invested in a one-legged cowboy arguing with a doctor about amputation. Others picked up the novel because someone told them, “Look, I don’t even like Westerns, but this book wrecked me.” They expected shootouts; they got philosophy, grief, and the kind of friendship most people only dream about.

One common experience is how these stories become a kind of emotional measuring stick. Readers who first encountered Lonesome Dove as teenagers often say that, when they reread it decades later, they suddenly identify less with restless Newt and more with tired, stubborn Call. Scenes that once felt “slow” now land like gut punches because they’ve lived long enough to understand what it means to lose a friend, a dream, or a version of themselves that won’t come back.

For many families, the miniseries has also become a traditionsomething rewatched every few years, passed down like a tall tale. Parents introduce their kids to it not just as “a Western,” but as a story about work ethic, loyalty, and consequences. People talk about weeping (quietly, of course) during key deaths, then pretending they just had “something in their eye” when someone walks into the room. A surprising number of fans admit they’ve used Gus’s one-liners or Call’s blunt advice in real-life situations, half joking and half serious.

There’s also the way Lonesome Dove changes how you look at wide-open spaces. After spending hundreds of pages or several hours onscreen riding from Texas to Montana, that empty landscape stops being just “scenery.” It becomes a character in its own rightbeautiful, dangerous, indifferent. People who grew up far from the American West often say the saga gave them a sense of its scale and harshness that no tourism ad ever could.

On a more personal level, many fans credit the series with reshaping how they think about friendship and duty. Gus and Call aren’t perfectthey’re stubborn, reckless, and occasionally infuriatingbut their loyalty to each other and to the men who ride with them sets a high bar. The tension between Gus’s love of pleasure and Call’s obsession with responsibility becomes a mirror: which one do you resemble more right now? Which one should you resemble in this season of your life?

Even the arguments about rankings become their own kind of shared experience. You learn a lot about someone when you ask, “Okay, quickrank the books and tell me if you think Return to Lonesome Dove counts.” The conversation that follows usually says as much about their personality as it does about their taste in Westerns. Some people defend the oddball entries because they like underdogs. Others hold the line on “canon” because they crave coherence and structure.

In the end, “Lonesome Dove rankings and opinions” are less about building a perfect list and more about tracing how a story moves through real liveshow it comforts, challenges, and occasionally kicks you in the teeth in exactly the way you needed. Whether you’re reading the books, watching the miniseries, or gearing up for whatever new adaptation rides over the hill next, the experience tends to leave you with the same simple reaction: you’re grateful these characters exist, even if they break your heart on the way north.

Conclusion

Lonesome Dove isn’t just another Western; it’s a sprawling emotional landscape people return to again and again. Most rankings line up roughly the samethe original novel and 1989 miniseries at the top, the official sequels and prequels in the middle, and the oddball spin-offs bringing up the rearbut the real story is in the arguments, the re-reads, and the way your personal list shifts over time.

So go ahead: read the books, watch the miniseries, and then make your own rankings. Share them. Defend them. Change them. That’s how you keep a classic alivenot by agreeing on one definitive list, but by letting the debate ride on.

The post Lonesome Dove Rankings And Opinions appeared first on Blobhope Family.