Billy the Kid

Born to Irish parents and raised on a hard, lawless frontier, this series reimagines the life of Billy the Kid as a romantic, violent, sometimes tender saga. It traces his move from immigrant roots to work as a ranch hand, then his rise as a gunslinger whose choices shape the Lincoln County War. Relationships push him into risky alliances and personal reckonings, and the show spends as much time on love, loyalty, and identity as it does on shootouts. The story sticks to the era's grit without hiding its characters' weaknesses, keeping the ending and major twists out of view.

Created by Michael Hirst, the 2022 Western drama stars Tom Blyth as Billy, with Daniel Webber and Alex Roe in key roles. The series was produced as a serialized TV adaptation of the famed outlaw’s life and attracted attention because of Hirst’s pedigree in historical drama.

The series did not become a major awards magnet, and it didn’t sweep big industry prizes. Still, it attracted notice from some critics and viewers for its casting choices and production values, leading to a modest profile in awards season conversations without prominent wins.

As part of a recent wave of revisionist Westerns, the show helped push the genre toward more intimate, character-focused stories. Its portrayal of an outlaw as both charismatic and vulnerable has shown up in fan discussions and social posts, and its visual style and music have been referenced by other modern takes on frontier storytelling.

Critical and audience reaction landed mostly on the positive side, with a vote average around 7.5 out of 10 from viewers. Reviewers highlighted Blyth’s lead performance and the series’ mood and atmosphere, while noting recurring themes of mythmaking, identity, immigration, power, and the costs of violence on a community trying to impose order.