A new nonfiction Western TV show is on the rise, and it is packed with new information and suspense. On August 21st, 2024, Netflix released its nonfiction series Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. The show follows the true historical narrative of Wyatt Earp, an American gambler and lawman who lived in the West from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. The series, narrated by Ed Harris, tells a different perspective of the story that many Western and Wild West fans enjoyed. The show’s cinematography, history lessons, and twists and turns in the added suspense elements have earned it an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Let’s see how much of this Western Netflix original does or does not reflect the true story.
What’s the Series All About?
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War is an intense, informative, and entertaining series that brings a new perspective on the lawman, gambler, and minor Wyatt Earp’s (Tim Fellingham) endeavors to live. The gunfight at the O.K. Corral, for example, is displayed not as the end of an American story, but as the beginning of one. The first episode, “Trouble in Tombstone,” takes place in Arizona in 1881, and shows how a robbery ignited a war between the Earp brothers and the Clanton-Mclowry Cowboys (Jack Gordon and Peter O’Meara). The Cowboys, which the narrator compares to a “gang” or a “mafia”, were participating in illegal activities that negatively impacted the city under the Clanton-Mclowry leadership.
As the series continues, the ways in which Clanton publicly attempted to make the Earps and their friend Doc Holiday (Edward Franklin) seem like killers are revealed. Pair this with tense moments in the courtroom, murder, crusades, rebellion, and government policies, and this makes for an enticing historical journey to follow. The show takes a dramatic approach to the scenes for an entertaining yet easy-to-digest watch for viewers who may not be familiar with the Western genre or the history of Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys, adding to the extensive list of Wyatt Earp media.
Alongside the show’s many visual and narrative conventions of the Western genre, it mentions broader political topics of the nation during that time. Taking place throughout Tombstone, the show highlights the sophisticated nature of the city and its infrastructure and the pressing conflicts within it. The stakes were high; the feuds between Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys had the power to affect the future of the United States according to the documentary. And, it shows how Virgil, Morgan, and Wyatt Earp worked hard to come face to face with crime and find solutions to America’s problems.
The dynamic of the three brothers is a thought-out element of the show, highlighting the unique personality and gifts that each one brought to the table in order to get the job done before two of them were ambushed. Wyatt, for example, is not extremely outspoken but is quick to punch, drag, or do whatever he can to make sure that justice is served following the Cowboy’s ambush toward his brothers. There’s crime and violence involved, shown in a more amplified way in comparison to more traditional Western films. But how much of this narrative was accurate, and how much of it was not?
What the Show Gets Right
One of the inaccuracies of the show lies in its failure to mention gunman Johnny Ringo. Johnny Ringo is a historical figure associated with the Cowboys in Tombstone and had confrontations with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. He was one of the main antagonists in Wyatt Earp’s life, and failure to mention his character at all removes an essential conflict that Wyatt and the Cowboys experienced because of Johnny’s behavior. He particularly clashed with Wyatt and Doc right around the O.K Corral and was eventually mysteriously found dead; thus the lack of his presence in the show is one of its flaws.
The show also fails to correctly reflect costumes and scenery from the time, which can be a common mistake in Western films and TV shows. Though it is to be set in Arizona in the late 1800s to early 1900s, the plants, hats, music, and costumes were not consistently aligned with those of the time.
In addition, there are several missing details about Wyatt Earp’s character and some of the things that he was involved in; the show depicts Earp solely as a hero while not recognizing the complexities of his personality and the darker sides of the vengeance he sought out. To continue, there are unsettled reviews as to whether or not the conflicts in Tombstone were legitimately going to start a second Civil War or if there were exaggerations being made for dramatic effect.
What the Show Gets Wrong
Despite these inaccuracies, the show does attempt to integrate real broader issues into its narrative. It incorporates interviews, perspectives, and facts from different authors, professors historians to provide real insight into what’s happening on the screen. There are also real images and archives from those events as well.
The conflicts that ensued after the results of the first and only American Civil War are effectively conveyed, as well as the financial debt and struggles that the White House faced in the aftermath of the war. It depicts J.P. Morgan accurately attempting to get investors in England to give him money for railroads.
The series also touches upon the real murder of President Garfield. The show succeeds in more of a dramatic reenactment of historical events rather than a direct translation, taking those moments and filling in the gaps with dynamic soundtrack choices and intense plot twists to appeal to today’s audiences.
What Are Fans Saying?
Fans of the Western genre, Wyatt Earp films, or even enthusiastic new viewers had a wide range of opinions on the show’s accuracy. One fan on IMDb rated the show 10/10 stars, saying, “Nothing I’ve seen or read was as entertaining or informative as “Wyatt Earp and The Cowboy War”. It does a deep dive into everything the movies and books never seem to accurately or sufficiently cover. I learned things I never knew before.”
Another on Google Reviews, however, said that as “an Earpist for many years, I’m glad that the Wyatt legacy continues to be told — the last great example being the fabulous movie “Tombstone” — but this Netflix mini-series is just a mildly entertaining “cowboy” movie. Why not tell more of the true story which is more entertaining than this?”
Overall, though, the film has still received a primarily positive response, as many viewers gained a lot of insight and knowledge despite the show’s historical shortcomings. As a part of a long list of Wyatt Earp films and TV shows, Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War has made its mark as a refreshing and nontraditional take on an undiscovered part of American Western history. Stream on Netflix.
