The English: Prime Video’s Underrated Miniseries Echoes Clint Eastwood’s Classic Westerns

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As a huge Western fan, I recently stumbled upon a Prime Video miniseries that’s a real gem, and it honestly feels like something Clint Eastwood could have been born to play a part in. It’s a revenge story done incredibly well, and the filmmakers clearly took a lot of inspiration from the classic spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone – they even created their own mysterious, quick-drawing gunslinger to lead the way.

Despite not getting enough attention, The English is one of the best shows of its kind released in the last ten years, with strong performances from Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer. While Prime Video has become known for unusual Westerns like Fallout and The Outer Range, this miniseries feels more like the classic Westerns of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

While not a completely true story, the novel The English feels remarkably realistic, drawing heavily from the history of the American frontier. The character of Sergeant Eli Whipp, especially, is based on the real experiences of Pawnee cavalry scouts who served in the U.S. Army during the late 20th century.

Although critics praised it when it came out in 2022, this Western TV show hasn’t gotten the recognition it deserves. While Taylor Sheridan’s shows are still the most popular in the genre, The English offers a refreshing option for viewers who appreciate traditional Western storytelling.

The English Feels Like A Clint Eastwood Story With A Twist

The English is heavily inspired by the classic Western films starring Clint Eastwood from the 1960s and 70s, but with a contemporary feel. It echoes Eastwood’s iconic Western heroes, seen in the unusual connection between Cornelia and Eli, and in the Pawnee outlaw, who is portrayed as a quiet, enigmatic gunslinger.

The connection between the two main characters feels similar to the relationship between Josey Wales and Laura Lee in the 1976 film The Outlaw Josey Wales. Just as Josey looks after Laura and her family, Eli subtly protects Cornelia as she travels west.

As a result, the two develop a strong emotional bond, though their story isn’t a romance – much like Eastwood’s films. Their friendship is reminiscent of the relationship between the Stranger and Sarah Belding in High Plains Drifter, as Cornelia essentially entrusts Eli with avenging her son’s murder.

The English offers a unique take on familiar Western themes, bringing a modern sensibility to the genre. Lady Cornelia Locke, an English aristocrat, surprises those around her by revealing she’s far more capable and less delicate than she appears. Meanwhile, Eli challenges the traditional image of the stoic, troubled hero often found in Westerns.

He embodies the strong, quiet characteristics seen in many of Clint Eastwood’s famous Western roles, while also openly and proudly celebrating his Native American background. While Eastwood’s films often portray Native American tribes with respect, this is the first time one has featured a Native American lead character like this.

Eli Whipp Is The Closest TV Character To The Man With No Name

Many Western TV shows have tried to create a character like Clint Eastwood’s famous “Man with No Name,” but The English gets the closest. Chaske Spencer’s character, Eli Whipp, doesn’t immediately resemble the iconic antihero from Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy, but the inspiration is clear.

As a total film nerd, I immediately noticed how much The English seems to be paying homage to Sergio Leone’s classic spaghetti Westerns. They even went the extra mile and filmed on location in the Spanish desert, just like Leone did! But it’s not just the look – the main character, Eli, really feels like a spiritual successor to Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name. He’s got that same quiet, mysterious, and slightly dangerous vibe that really redefined the Western genre back in the 60s.

Similar to the mysterious gunslinger from classic Westerns, Whipp is a quiet and brooding sharpshooter who appears unexpectedly. Though branded an outlaw after an event early in the series The English, he possesses a strong sense of right and wrong, and this shared morality is what ultimately connects him to Cornelia Locke.

Western movies are full of outlaws, but few are as iconic as Clint Eastwood at his best. Chaske Spencer’s character in The English is a notable exception. He embodies the same fearless strength and intense presence as Eastwood’s most famous antiheroes, arguably bringing that classic spirit to television in a fresh way.

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2026-04-22 20:39