William Shatner as Captain Kirk looking confused in 'Star Trek: The Original Series.'Image via NBC
By
Michael John Petty
Published Feb 21, 2026, 9:17 PM EST
Michael John Petty is a Senior Author for Collider who spends his days writing, in fellowship with his local church, and enjoying each new day with his wife and daughters. At Collider, he writes features and reviews, and has interviewed the cast and crew of Dark Winds. In addition to writing about stories, Michael has told a few of his own. His first work of self-published fiction – The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain – became a #1 Best Seller in "Religious Fiction Short Stories" on Amazon in 2023. His Western short story, The Devil's Left Hand, received the Spur Award for "Best Western Short Fiction" from the Western Writers of America in 2025. Michael currently resides in North Idaho with his growing family.
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As far as genre fiction legends are concerned, William Shatner is near the top for his part as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series. However, in the decades following his time as Kirk (a role that would define his entire career), Shatner pivoted from the far future to the (relatively) recent past for How the West Was Won. No, not the theatrically-released feature film that featured John Wayne, James Stewart, and Henry Fonda. We're talking about the three-season television drama headlined by Gunsmoke star James Arness. And boy, did Shatner deliver in this harrowing Western tale.
William Shatner Stands Out In This Fabulous Performance on 'How the West Was Won'
Appearing in the second season of the underrated three-season Western drama, Shatner shows up briefly at the end of "Orville Gant" as Captain Robert Harrison. However, it's his performance in the following episode, "Amnesty," that is especially of note. After mountain man Zeb Macahan (Arness) saves Beth Harrison (Vera Miles of Psycho fame), an old flame of his from decades earlier, he follows her to her secluded mountain home, where he encounters the old Union captain. As it turns out, Harrison, who had been presumed dead by the army after a Native American massacre, was blinded as a result of a battle against the group of warriors who had kidnapped Beth. As a result, Harrison has become somewhat suicidal, wishing to die or for Beth to leave him, despite her remaining faithful in the 20 years since.
Shatner is genuinely powerful here, showing off his dramatic acting chops and reminding audiences that he can play the serious part just as well (and perhaps even better than) his more pulp-inspired characters. The moment he recalls the battle that resulted in his blindness, there's an intense shift in the way Shatner presents himself. His stone-cold demeanor captivates the viewer, and even the sound design changes so that we spiral into the captain's uneasy headspace, hearing the horrors of war that he recalls every day of his life. It's a brilliant technique that adds to the depth of his words as he meditates on the incident that has driven him nearly to madness and informed his life for the last two decades since. What Shatner is able to do here with this powerful monologue is indeed fantastic. "You know, the more I'm around you, Captain, the less I like you," Zeb tells him the moment they meet, but Harrison feels the opposite.
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Posts By Kevin HohenbergerWhile the Star Trek icon may not be traditionally associated with the Western genre (though the franchise certainly delved into Old West territory, and no wonder, as Gene Roddenberry wrote for Have Gun — Will Travel before creating Star Trek), this is one performance that stands out among the rest of his filmography. It reminds us that there has always been more to Shatner than his work in the science fiction genre, be it as Captain Kirk or in The Twilight Zone. As Captain Harrison, Shatner dove deeper into the psychological recesses of the American frontier, highlighting some of the most uncomfortable aspects of westward expansion while exploring the deep-seated issues of a man who has failed to let go of his last battle.
'How the West Was Won' Was Notable For Its Impressive Guest Stars
After launching with a made-for-TV feature titled The Macahans, How the West Was Won was picked up as an official series by ABC soon after Gunsmoke came to a close. In that time, the Western epic pulled in plenty of big names for guest stints in its 28 separate 90-minute episodes. From classical Western TV stars like Lloyd Bridges of The Loner fame and Jack Elam of The Dakotas to other big stars like Christopher Lee and Michael Conrad from Hill Street Blues. While William Shatner was one of the biggest of these names (barring Lee, of course, who played a visiting Russian politician), there was never any shortage of recognizable faces on the late '70s Western program. For goodness’ sake, Tron legend Bruce Boxleitner was one of its leading stars, as was Fionnula Flanagan in the second and third seasons.
Subscribe to the newsletter for deep dives on classic performances
Explore more hidden performances and genre stories, subscribe to our newsletter for thoughtful analysis of standout guest turns, overlooked Westerns, and career-defining moments. Context-rich writing helps bring classic TV and film roles into sharper focu Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Although not a man known for venturing too often into Western territory — save for movies like White Comanche and some guest appearances on Gunsmoke, The Virginian, and The Big Valley — William Shatner proved his ability within the genre here on How the West Was Won. Without even leaving the confines of his hidden cabin home, Shatner's Captain Harrison made such an impact on the series in his brief 20-minutes of screentime that he's still talked about by fans all these years later.
How the West Was Won
Western
Drama
Release Date
1976 - 1979-00-00
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William Shatner
Subscribe to the newsletter for deep dives on classic performances
Explore more hidden performances and genre stories, subscribe to our newsletter for thoughtful analysis of standout guest turns, overlooked Westerns, and career-defining moments. Context-rich writing helps bring classic TV and film roles into sharper focu Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.What To Watch
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