Josh Brolin's Outer Range: an underrated sci‑fi western on Prime Video

Movieweb says Josh Brolin's sci‑fi western series Outer Range is a criminally underrated show streaming on Prime Video.

Released in 2022 and created by Brian Watkins, the series stars Brolin alongside Lewis Pullman, Imogen Poots, Tamara Podemski, Tom Pelphrey, Lili Taylor, Noah Reid and Shaun Sipos. Brolin plays Royal Abbott, a rancher who discovers a bizarre black hole on his land; the official synopsis reads: "Outer Range centers on Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin), a rancher fighting for his land and family, who discovers an unfathomable mystery at the edge of Wyoming's wilderness. A thrilling Western family saga with hints of wry humor and supernatural mystery, Outer Range examines how we grapple with the unknown."

The show ran two seasons for a total of fifteen episodes. Critics' ratings rose from 79% on Rotten Tomatoes for Season 1 to 92% for Season 2 (released in May 2024), while audience scores moved from 69% to 84%. Prime Video canceled the series in 2024; the official reason was not revealed, and some have blamed high budget or relative underperformance. It doesn't seem like Outer Range will be making a comeback anytime soon.

Key Topics

Culture, Outer Range, Josh Brolin, Prime Video, Brian Watkins, Yellowstone