How much do you know about American history? That’s a loaded question, as there’s nearly 250 years of it to pull from. Let’s rephrase: how much do you know aboutTheodore “Teddy” Roosevelt? The 26th President of the United States,Roosevelt is the youngest to have ever assumed office. A Republican leader known for his anti-trust policies, his assertive foreign policy, and for establishing national parks, Roosevelt is something of a legend. But over a decade before he made his way to the White House, he spent some time in the Dakota Territory, working as a cattleman while dealing with great familial loss. If you’ve ever been interested in this lesser-known period in Roosevelt’s history and his brief years as a cowboy and are waiting for the nextTaylor SheridanWestern series to hit our screens, then there’s oneWestern TV showthat’s a must-watch:Elkhorn.
‘Elkhorn’ Reveals the Untold Story of Teddy Roosevelt’s Dakota Territory Years
For a network like INSP, Westerns are more than just a reminder of the American past, but the key to understanding its future. Aftermajor hits likeWild West Chronicles,Into the Wild Frontier,andthe gone-too-soonThe Tall Tales of Jim Bridger, the cable network has continued to expand its reach with the 2024 Western,Elkhorn. Rather than presenting the story of Teddy Roosevelt as a half-hour docu-drama ala some of INSP’s previous outings,Elkhornis an hour-long series that follows a young Roosevelt as he moves to the Dakota Territorywhere he built the infamous Elkhorn Ranch. Grieving the loss of both his late wife and his mother, Teddy is forced to come to terms with his role as a man and a father — and there’s no better place for him to do so than on the American Frontier.
Yes, this is inspired by true history, and thoughElkhornis admittedly a fictionalized account of it,it pulls masterfully from the historical narrative to ground the series in the actual life of the future U.S. President. Throughout his adventures, Roosevelt (who is played by the unassumingMason Beals) encounters everything from wayward cattle rustlers and outlaws to dangerous wildlife and personal trials. “Reeling from these unimaginable losses, Roosevelt decided to abandon his comfortable life as a New York State Assemblyman and member of the social elite class, and head west to America’s untamed frontier,” explained series creatorCraig MillertoCowboys & Indiansahead of the first season’s premiere. “Elkhorngives viewers an unprecedented look into this dramatically transformative period in Roosevelt’s life.”
As he is constantly berated at every turn by rival ranch owner Marquis de Morès (Jeff DuJardin) and his cunning bride Medora (Ashton Solecki), Roosevelt and his allies — namely his friends Bill Sewall (Elijah Mahar), Wilmot Dow (Garrett Schulte), and William Merrifield (Matt Wiggins) — persevere through harsh weather, violent confrontations, and personal pits of despair. Covering the span of only a few months, the first season ofthis underrated Western programestablishes the world of the Dakota Territory (yes,the same area thatDeadwoodtakes place in, though in the town of Medora rather than Deadwood itself) as Roosevelt navigates this strange new world.
Mason Beals Subverts the Traditional Western Hero in ‘Elkhorn’
But what makes this show especially interesting is thatElkhorn’s Roosevelt isn’t what you’d expect out of a Western hero. He’s notthe usual muscular, fit gunslinger or lawmanwho can walk into the room and immediately command respect. He’s not even aHave Gun — Will Travel-inspired intellectual typewhose brain is just as formidable as his brawn. Instead, Roosevelt is presented as a short, scrawny “tenderfoot” from out east who battles with bouts of asthma every time he gets worked up. Though his college days as a boxer have made him tougher than most of his complexion, he is no imposing threat, and is often not taken as seriously as he should be up front. But althoughElkhorn’s Roosevelt may not be what we expect (especially if you’re recallingRobin Williams’Night at the Museumcharacter), he’s just the change of pace that the doctor ordered.
Aside fromadapting the events of historyfor the small screen, what makesElkhornan exciting binge is that Roosevelt often feels like a fish out of water on very dry land. The breathtaking Badlands are a marvel, to be sure, butwatching this unassuming cowboy politician assume the duties of a respectable cattleman is just as marvelous. Beals plays the role quite well, even though he’s (again) not what we may have expected. Of course, this is historically accurate to Roosevelt’s 20s, when he slowly began to fill out physically after many years of physical weakness. His continued exercise as a cowboy, boxer, and a hunter would condition his body over time, andElkhornshows the beginnings of that tough process. But more than that, it expertly examines young Roosevelt’s character, a man of reason in a world full of uncertainty, lawlessness, and violence.
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But aside from just examining Roosevelt himself,Elkhorndives into the personal and professional lives of those around him as well. We see this especially withBill SewallandWilliam Merrifield, Roosevelt’s manager and partner, respectively, who are occasionally at odds but more often stand together in protection of Roosevelt’s land and property. Then there’s the Marquis de Morès, a complicated figure and the show’s primary antagonist as his rival ranch stands in stark contrast to Roosevelt’s Elkhorn.Jeff DuJardin plays the Marquis with a mustchache-twirling flair, but never becoming too cartoonish. With a full cast of interesting and historical characters,Elkhornexplores a time and a place many have long forgotten.
Western Fans Need To Get Ready for ‘Elkhorn’ Season 2
If you haven’t yet hadthe pleasure of diving intoElkhorn, then consider this the perfect time to catch up. With asecond season set to premiere in Fall 2025, this series is a great binge for history buffs and fans of the Western alike. “Most Americans are familiar with the man who charged up San Juan Hill with his Rough Riders and later became the country’s youngest president,” Miller once explained about the series, “but few have heard of Roosevelt’s adventurous and life-altering years on the frontier after the unimaginable events that befell the future iconic leader as a 25-year-old.”
It’s with this in mind that one ought to giveElkhorna go, as the series succeeds whereLeonardo DiCaprioandMartin Scorseseonce failed (the pairtried to make a Roosevelt movieyears ago, but nothing ever came of it) andwhereKevin Costneronce dared to tred. The first season’s 10 episodes go by quickly, full of period-accurate set pieces, breathtaking scenery, and characters who are easy to get behind. Given INSP’s clear commitment to telling this forgotten chapter of Roosevelt’s story, we can’t wait for moreElkhornin the future.
