History Series / TheVirginian

''The Virginian'' was a Western television series which aired from 1962 to 1971. Based on the 1902 Owen Wister book, it centered on the activities and adventures of the foreman of a cattle ranch known as Shiloh. The foreman's name was never revealed and he was only known as the Virginian.

* CelibateHero: Combined with CatwrightCurse. The Virginian finds love many times, but they're always gone by the end of the episode, either leaving due to other pursuits or coming to unfortunate ends.

* CelibateHero: The Virginian finds love many times, but they're always gone by the end of the episode, either leaving due to other pursuits or coming to unfortunate ends.

* WesternCharacters
* TheWildWest: Well, [[TwilightOfTheOldWest the last days of it]], anyway.

* BrattyHalfPint: Hannah of the eponymous episode, a little girl who causes Trampus no end of trouble in her efforts to find her mother, up to and including ''freeing a criminal from jail so that he can take her to the criminal gang that her mother is a part of.''

* TheVamp: A girl in "Big Day Great Day" turns out to be this, simultaneously flirting with Steve, Trampus, and eventually another new man entirely, causing Steve and Trampus no end of sour feelings with each other until Steve finally gets it.

* NewSeasonNewName: The final season (1970-71) saw the series renamed ''The Men From Shiloh''. Some networks have omitted it in syndication because of its radical departure from the previous eight seasons.

* NewSeasonNewName: The final season (1970-71) saw the series renamed ''The Men From Shiloh''. Some networks have omitted it in syndication.

* NewSeasonNewName: The final season (1970-71) saw the series renamed ''The Men From Shiloh''.

** Judge Garth is elected governor near the end of Season 4, and the scope of his duties takes him away from Shiloh. He hires someone to take his place, but his replacement doesn't helm the ranch for very long. Accordingly, it results in newly-minted Govenor Garth's own father returning to Medicine Bow and take over his son's duties in his stead.

* KilledOffForReal: Judge Garth is murdered at one point in the series, causing his father to return to Medicine Bow and take over his son's duties in his stead.

* PutOnABus: Morgan Starr

* TheWildWest: Well, the last days of it, anyway.

* ContinuitySnarl: As stated below, the first season outright states the show takes place in 1898 and it refers to Wyoming as a state. However, subsequent seasons refer to Wyoming as being a territory and still awaiting statehood.
* GrandUnifiedTimeLine The Second Industrial Revolution: The first season outright states that it takes place in 1898; Succeeding seasons [[ContinuitySnarl are a bit murky]].

* HeyItsThatGuy: Quite a few, sometimes as good guys, sometimes as VillainOfTheWeek.

* VillainOfTheWeek: Many, though not ''every'' episode. Examples included Creator/LeslieNielsen and Creator/BenJohnson. Frequently overlaps with HeyItsThatGuy. Each one was well-written and well-acted, and they never felt one-dimensional. Many were reasonably sympathetic in their own way and often suffered an AlasPoorVillain at the end.

* VillainOfTheWeek: Many, though not ''every'' episode. Examples included Creator/LeslieNielson and Creator/BenJohnson. Frequently overlaps with HeyItsThatGuy. Each one was well-written and well-acted, and they never felt one-dimensional. Many were reasonably sympathetic in their own way and often suffered an AlasPoorVillain at the end.

This series provides examples of:

The Virginian was Western television series which aired from 1962-1971. Based on the 1902 Owen Wister book, it centered on the activities and adventures of the foreman of a cattle ranch known as Shiloh. The foreman's name was never revealed and he was only known as The Virginian.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Somewhat justified as this is a cattle ranch, and a number of men were needed for it's operation.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Judge Garth, the first owner of the Shiloh Ranch and the Virginian himself.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: In the original Owen Wister novel, Trampas was an outright villain; he is killed by The Virginian at the end of the story. In the TV series, he's more a highly spirited cowhand and one of the Virginian's closest friends.

* TheWildWest: Well, the last days of it anyway.