Walker: Independence
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Walker: Independence
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Walker: Independence is a typical Western featuring gunfights, bandits, and sex work, but it also tells the stories of people of color and Indigenous people. There are regularly featured characters who are Black, Asian, Mexican, and Native American; some are land owners or hold respected positions of power. The lead character is a tough and determined woman. The series opens with her husband being shot dead in front of her; she's also shot, and their wagon burns down, leaving her stranded. Women slap men when they're upset, and people try to kill those they think have wronged them. Guns are almost always present, and bandits rob both people and banks.
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What's the Story?
Set in the American West in the late 1800s, WALKER: INDEPENDENCE finds Abby Walker (Katherine McNamara) moving to a burgeoning town after surviving a brutal attack. With no choice but to build a new life all on her own, Abby soon begins to collect a diverse new group of friends and seek out justice against those who wronged her.
Is It Any Good?
Those who don't expect much from a CW series will be pleasantly surprised with the channel's spin-off Western. Walker: Independence is technically a prequel, but viewers will find very few similarities with the campy Chuck Norris vehicle Walker, Texas Ranger. That's because Walker: Independence is actually a prequel to the CW's reboot of that original, called Walker and starring Jared Padalecki. Still with me? All you really need to know is that instead of comical martial arts battles and paper-thin plots, the series focuses on good ol'-fashioned gun-slinging and the harsh realities of settling out West.
There's also an impressively diverse cast with a woman at the helm this time around. Some of the characters of color are notably less robust at the series' beginning, but there's a lot of potential for their storylines to grow. The music is fun, the costumes and sets are impressive, and the writing is better than in most CW shows. Even more notably: So is the acting. Big kudos to the casting director who did an excellent job finding performers able to toe the line of believability in a show that is arguably meant for teen and young adult audiences. Many will call this 1883 for teens, but both older kids and adults will find themselves getting sucked into the drama.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the portrayal of Indigenous people and people of color in Walker: Independence. Who is treated differently because of their ethnicity and who isn't? Does this accurately reflect the time period? Why, or why not? How have people of color been depicted (or ignored) in past Western TV shows and movies?
Talk about Hoyt's actions: stealing, lying, etc. Does he face any consequences for his actions? Is he a hero, or a villain? How can you tell?
How do the characters in this show demonstrate perseverance? Why was this such an important character trait back then and why is it still important today?
Discuss how the characters in the series tend to lean toward violence. Does this help them solve their problems? What are some of the unintended consequences of their violence?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 6, 2022
- Cast: Matt Barr, Katherine McNamara
- Network: CW
- Genre: Action
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: January 15, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
1883
Entertaining prequel is violent, has cursing, stereotypes.
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Walker
Western cop reboot hypes Texas Ranger family drama.
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Yellowstone
Contemporary Western series has corruption, violence.
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Young Guns
Violent '80s Western with teen appeal.
For kids who love Westerns and dramas
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