Comanche Moon

Comanche Moon (2008) is a sweeping television miniseries that serves as a prequel to the critically acclaimed Lonesome Dove, offering viewers a deeper look into the lives of the legendary Texas Rangers, Woodrow F. Call and Augustus "Gus" McCrae. Based on Larry McMurtry’s novel of the same name, the series is set in the tumultuous years before the Civil War, chronicling the struggles of frontier lawmen in their pursuit to bring order to the rugged and often lawless Texas wilderness. Airing as a three-part CBS event, Comanche Moon attempts to bridge the gap between the earlier series Dead Man’s Walk and the beloved Lonesome Dove, by exploring the emotional and physical toll the frontier life takes on its characters.

The story follows the younger versions of the iconic Texas Rangers—Woodrow Call, portrayed by Karl Urban, and Gus McCrae, played by Steve Zahn—as they face both external enemies and internal conflicts. As they patrol the expanding western frontier, they are constantly challenged by the ferocious Comanche tribes, led by the fearsome war chief Buffalo Hump (played by Wes Studi), as well as the ever-complicated dynamics of their personal relationships. Call is stoic, duty-bound, and emotionally restrained, while McCrae is more impulsive, charismatic, and emotionally vulnerable. Their contrasting personalities provide the series with rich character-driven storytelling, as they balance love, loss, and loyalty against a backdrop of violence and cultural conflict.

One of the strongest aspects of Comanche Moon lies in its visual presentation. Shot against the sweeping landscapes of New Mexico, the series captures the vastness and brutality of the untamed West with a raw authenticity. The costume design, set pieces, and use of natural scenery help immerse the audience in a bygone era where survival often depended on instinct and grit. The cinematography skillfully balances action with introspective moments, enhancing the emotional weight of the characters' experiences.

The supporting cast also brings depth to the narrative. Val Kilmer gives a notable performance as Inish Scull, a quirky and philosophical ranger captain whose eccentric nature stands in contrast to the hardened world around him. Elizabeth Banks and Linda Cardellini portray the love interests of Gus and Call, adding emotional resonance and complexity to the protagonists' development. The struggles of relationships, duty, and morality are central to the story, giving it a more human and introspective angle beyond the typical Western tropes.

While Comanche Moon received mixed reviews—praised for its production value and cast, but critiqued for its uneven pacing and lack of the emotional gravitas that defined Lonesome Dove—it nonetheless remains an essential chapter in the saga of McMurtry's Texas epic. For fans of the original series and newcomers alike, Comanche Moon offers a gritty, character-rich experience that explores the price of justice, the weight of legacy, and the complexities of the human spirit in a time when civilization was still being carved out of the wild.