The Lazarus Man: Complete Series DVD – Classic Western TV Show for Collectors & Fans – Perfect for Binge-Watching Weekends

I know aficionados of Deadwood (way too vulgar for me) might disagree but The Lazarus Man was the last outstanding western that I know of, airing on TV in 1996. The western is a sadly neglected genre these days, even though the kids are getting back into it via video games. I am a long time western fan and I was delighted to watch this show on TNT back in 1996. Robert Urich stars as the title character and from its dramatic beginning, the show was eminently watchable and I never missed an episode.The setup reminds me a bit of Have Gun Will Travel, only whereas Paladin is actively hiding his past, Lazarus is desperately seeking his. Suffering from total amnesia from his gruesome near murder, the series follows him throughout the west as he tries to piece together his past. The cinematography is gorgeous and the New Mexico landscape lends an authentic western background. Like most series, yes, there are some very talky episodes and once you've seen them, you might not go back to them for a while. But it is a very small number and the rest are riveting. Some are flashbacks and pieces to the identity puzzle; others are standalone stories. The acting is first rate throughout. Some name guest stars, Stephen McHattie, Robert Foxworth, Max Gail, Kristopher Tabori and western stalwart L.Q. Jones, to name a few, add quality guest turns, along with a superb cast of unknowns.I always liked Robert Urich, a pleasant actor, solid and dependable. Even though he was a veteran of many television series at this point (SWAT, Vegas and Spencer for Hire) I thought this was his greatest role. He makes a very creditable cowboy. His Lazarus is a decent man, confused, scared and ultimately angered by his fate.Others have mentioned this but I have to point out the unforgivably stupid error on the last disk. The episodes are out of order. I went to IMD website and here is the correct episode order:Angel Maker. Quality of the Enemy. Tartarus Wheel. The finale is Dance with Shadows. Be sure and watch that one last.I had copied this series from blurry VHS tapes onto blurry disks long ago. Going through my collection, I realized I hadn't watched Lazarus Man in years, irritated at the abrupt cancellation, and later, saddened by the star's untimely demise. But watching it again, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the show holds up. It is cinematic quality. I cannot recommend it enough.