Forgotten 'Lonesome Dove' Sequel Finally Streams

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The acclaimed Western miniseries 'Lonesome Dove' got an unexpected sequel in 1993 called 'Return to Lonesome Dove', featuring a largely different cast. While initially criticized, the follow-up has gained a new appreciation over time and is now streaming for free on Pluto TV.

Why it matters

The original 'Lonesome Dove' miniseries is considered a classic of the Western genre, so the decision to continue the story was a bold one by CBS. While 'Return to Lonesome Dove' faced skepticism, it provides an interesting 'what-if' scenario that explores the lives of familiar characters in a new chapter.

The details

With Tommy Lee Jones and Anjelica Huston declining to reprise their roles, CBS cast Jon Voight as Captain Woodrow F. Call and Barbara Hershey as Clara Allen. The sequel picks up where the original left off, following Call as he struggles to acknowledge young Newt Dobbs as his son. While the narrative quality dipped slightly compared to the first miniseries, 'Return to Lonesome Dove' is still considered a complex and engaging Western drama.

• The original 'Lonesome Dove' miniseries aired in 1989.
• 'Return to Lonesome Dove' premiered in 1993.
• The sequel 'Lonesome Dove: The Series' ran for two seasons on CBS starting in 1994.
• Author Larry McMurtry published the official sequel novel 'Streets of Laredo' in 1993.
• A miniseries adaptation of 'Streets of Laredo' aired in 1995.

What’s next

The 'Streets of Laredo' miniseries adaptation, which features a brand-new cast, aired in 1995 and provides another continuation of the 'Lonesome Dove' saga.