Often credited as redefining the Western genre, ‘Lonesome Dove’ is arguably the first western that had true character depth and realism, in which characters didn’t speak in clichés but spoke in a realistic way and communicated with each other with depth and emotion. Both Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones are on top form, there's really no one who can play a wily old southerner any better than Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones is excellent as the bad tempered Woodrow. The only thing that stops me giving ‘Lonesome Dove’ a perfect 5 stars are the production values. The direction is decidedly average and even by 1989 standards some of the special effects are appallingly bad. This is a real shame, especially considering both the script and cast are so good.