67 Years Later, This 14-Part Western Is Still One of the Best Shows Ever Made

Before the 21st century, there weren't many shows that made big attempts to be progressive in any fashion, except Bonanza— a show that was way ahead of its time! That's right, this beloved Western TV show ran from 1959 to 1973, airing all through the height of the Civil Rights Movement and the '60s in general, a time when progressive social and societal ideas were being pushed to the forefront of everybody's minds. Loads of shows at the time reflected this shift in thought, but few did like Bonanza. While this was a Western show with your typical fun cowboy shenanigans, it was also one that found a lot of importance in exploring ideas surrounding morality, looking out for those around you, and even tackling racism in certain episodes.