# TV Western characters who were dicks. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862 "2019-09-08T01:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/1 "2019-09-08T01:51:05Z")
Paladin, Have Gun Will Travel. Hired at exorbitant rates to solve problems, he solved them to his own opinion, not that if the guy who hired him. Gil Favor, Rawhide. Worse than a dick, he would become an asshole at the drop of a hat. Withholding information from his employees, and insisting they work harder without explanation, like a bank failure that would make their cattle worthless after some time. What other cowboys were dicks? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/2 "2019-09-08T15:46:09Z")
Everyone Jason McCord met in _[Branded](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series))_. It seemed like the Old West was populated by people who lost someone at the Battle of Bitter Creek. Why McCord didn’t just change his name was never explained. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/3 "2019-09-08T17:58:26Z")
Yul Brynner in Westworld? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/4 "2019-09-08T18:02:00Z")
The Lone Ranger was always sending Tonto into town, even though he knew they were going to beat him up… ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/5 "2019-09-08T19:03:17Z")
Walt Longmire has very dickish moments in “Longmire.” You didn’t say they had to be from the Wild West era. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/6 "2019-09-08T19:20:03Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The Lone Ranger was always sending Tonto into town, even though he knew they were going to beat him up… “You go to hell, Lone Ranger!” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/7 "2019-09-08T19:28:12Z")
Cap’n Call in Lonesome Dove was a serious asshole. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/8 "2019-09-08T20:29:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > “You go to hell, Lone Ranger!” “Doctor say, you going to die, Kemo Sabe.” ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/9 "2019-09-08T20:32:25Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/10 "2019-09-08T20:39:11Z")
Nick Barkley is cast as a typical wealthy rancher that was capable of taking advantage of smaller neighbors. This type of character appears in many 1950’s movies like Shane. Fortunately Nick’s impulsive hotheaded nature is balanced by brothers Heath and Jarrod and his mother. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/11 "2019-09-08T23:18:10Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Cap’n Call in Lonesome Dove was a serious asshole. Really? I didn’t watch the miniseries, but understanding Call required getting inside his head, which a TV miniseries couldn’t do. (It also helps to read the other books in the series, particularly _Dead Man’s Walk_, which covers Call’s and McCrae’s youth.) In Call, McMurtry takes the archetype of the cool and laconic cowboy and turns it inside out. His silence isn’t a strength. Call is a man hamstrung by his inability to understand emotions in himself or other people, and his silence isn’t a strength, as it’s often portrayed in westerns. He suffers for it. He’s actually a tragic character. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/12 "2019-09-08T23:33:51Z")
I \*Rustler’s Rhapsody \*Patrick Wayne’s character Bob Barber is supposed to be a good guy but he was actually a lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/13 "2019-09-08T23:36:40Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I \*Rustler’s Rhapsody \*Patrick Wayne’s character Bob Barber is supposed to be a good guy but he was actually a lawyer. Oops sorry you said tv. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/14 "2019-09-09T00:42:59Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Really? I didn’t watch the miniseries, but understanding Call required getting inside his head, which a TV miniseries couldn’t do. (It also helps to read the other books in the series, particularly _Dead Man’s Walk_, which covers Call’s and McCrae’s youth.) In Call, McMurtry takes the archetype of the cool and laconic cowboy and turns it inside out. His silence isn’t a strength. Call is a man hamstrung by his inability to understand emotions in himself or other people, and his silence isn’t a strength, as it’s often portrayed in westerns. He suffers for it. He’s actually a tragic character. I read the books. He’s tragic, for sure. He takes way too long to acknowledge his son. I get his need to be a strong leader but hanging his friend is really a dick move. But, maybe that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/15 "2019-09-09T01:10:14Z")
Ben Cartwright must have terrorized everyone in Nevada Territory. Adam, and later Hoss, simply disappeared and no one, not even Little Joe, ever questioned it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/16 "2019-09-09T01:21:53Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The Lone Ranger was always sending Tonto into town, even though he knew they were going to beat him up… “Tonto have better idea. Tonto stay here, set up camp. Kemo Sabe go into town, buy supplies.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/17 "2019-09-09T01:24:54Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Ben Cartwright must have terrorized everyone in Nevada Territory. Adam, and later Hoss, simply disappeared and no one, not even Little Joe, ever questioned it. The man was married three times, and apparently no one ever thought this was suspicious. “Well, you see, Your Honor, my first wife died from eating poison mushrooms. My second wife died from eating poison mushrooms. My third wife died from a crushed skull. She wouldn’t eat her mushrooms…” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/18 "2019-09-09T01:30:27Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Everyone Jason McCord met in _[Branded](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series))_. It seemed like the Old West was populated by people who lost someone at the Battle of Bitter Creek. > > Why McCord didn’t just change his name was never explained. He was once kicked by a mare when she found out who he was. Turned out she’d lost a colt at Bitter Creek. He also could have just grown a beard to hide his identity, but he didn’t want to cover his rugged dimpled chin. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/19 "2019-09-09T01:33:00Z")
The Lone Ranger and Tonto are surrounded by a marauding band of Indians: “Well, Tonto, this is it. Looks like we die together.” “Ugnnn, what you mean ‘we,’ white man?” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862/20 "2019-09-09T01:36:02Z")
The Lone Ranger makes an [unpleasant](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fe/2e/09/fe2e09b815445cdf1319a8508808cc3d.jpg) discovery [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-western-characters-who-were-dicks/839862.md?page=2)