“The West: An Epic Journey Through America’s Frontier – Presented by Kevin Costner”
Starting September 24, tune in every Wednesday at 9:30 PM on HISTORY Channel (Sky channels 118 and 409) for the exclusive premiere of The West with Kevin Costner—an eight-part docuseries that re-examines the dramatic saga of America’s frontier.
Renowned actor and director Kevin Costner, long captivated by the roots of the American story, serves as both narrator and executive producer. He joins forces with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to bring a fresh lens to the people and events that shaped a nation. Alongside leading experts and historians, the series combines cinematic storytelling with rich historical detail to explore a century of transformation, conflict, and resilience.
“The West has a unique power: it sparks the imagination and stirs the soul,” says Costner. “But behind the iconic imagery are real stories—of ambition, survival, injustice, and sacrifice. These moments built the country we know today. The United States may have been born in the East, but it was forged in the West.”
Beginning with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, The West traces the surge of settlers pushing into Indigenous territories—and the fierce resistance they encountered. The series revisits legendary figures, forgotten heroes, and pivotal flashpoints: from Lewis, Clark and Sacagawea, to frontier lawmen, outlaws, cowboys, ranchers, pioneering women, and fortune seekers of the Gold Rush era.
Episode Guide:
- Episode 1: The Fall of the Confederation
As settler incursions escalate, Chief Little Turtle leads the Native Confederation of the Northwest to a landmark victory—until General “Mad” Anthony Wayne strikes back with devastating force. - Episode 2: The Escape of John Colter
Explorer and fur trader John Colter ventures into Blackfeet territory, only to be captured. His legendary escape becomes a tale of survival against impossible odds. - Episode 3: The Oregon Trail
Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman settle among the Cayuse people, but cultural misunderstandings and a deadly measles outbreak spark a tragic chain of events. - Episode 4: Comancheria
The abduction of Cynthia Ann Parker sets off years of conflict between the Comanche and Texas. Her son, Quanah Parker, emerges as the last great Comanche chief. - Episode 5: The Mexican Robin Hood
During California’s Gold Rush, Joaquin Murrieta becomes a symbol of rebellion—part outlaw, part folk hero—in a tale steeped in legend and loss. - Episode 6: Bleeding Kansas
In the lead-up to the Civil War, abolitionist John Brown and his family fight a bloody campaign against pro-slavery forces, igniting one of America’s most violent internal conflicts. - Episode 7: The Fetterman Battle
Colonel Carrington’s arrogance and Captain Fetterman’s fatal mistake deliver the Lakota—led by Crazy Horse—a stunning and symbolic victory. - Episode 8: The Johnson County Wars
In Wyoming, small ranchers rise up against powerful cattle barons, leading to one of the most dramatic—and deadly—land wars of the American West.
