What Do ‘Walker’ &’ ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ Have in Common?
The Walker premiere starring Jared Padalecki, is finally here. There’s been plenty of ink (and video) spilled on this reimagining of the classic Walker, Texas Ranger, which some of you remember as an excuse to watch Chuck Norris kick ass and take names on TV. But how similar are the two shows?
Below, we break down the key differences.
Then: A Martial Arts Extravaganza
In Walker, Texas Ranger — which aired eight seasons on CBS between 1993 and 2001, and continued with the 2005 CBS movie Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire — Norris played Cordell Walker, a pretty hardcore Vietnam Vet and Texas Ranger who relied more on his martial arts training than more conventional means of law enforcement. The show, which some describe as campy, was also excessively violent.
Now: Family Drama First
The new Cordell is also a Texas Ranger, but he’s also a family man, a widower and father who returns home to Austin after being undercover for two years — work that includes investigating his wife’s suspicious death.
“The arc of this first season is about a man not just coming home and healing and dealing with his own grief, but also realizing what it is to be the parent and to have to hold up an emotional end of the bargain with his kids that he didn’t have to before,” writer and executive producer Anna Fricke recently told TV Insider. “The center of the show is definitely the Walker family and the found family he has with his partner.”
Then: A Partner With Muscle
In Walker, Texas Ranger, Clarence Gilyard (Matlock) played Jimmy Trivette, a former Dallas Cowboys star who becomes Cordell’s partner. In an interview with getTV, Gilyard said he landed the part because of his physicality: “Because I was a martial artist, because I rodeoed, because I played college football. All those things that was what the character was.”
The cast also included Sheree J. Wilson as Alex Cahill, an assistant district attorney who becomes Cordell’s wife, and Noble Willingham as C.D. Parker, a retired Texas Ranger Captain who can’t seem to give up the job. Along the way, a number of big names and rising stars appeared Walker, Texas Ranger, including RuPaul Charles, Selena Gomez, and— in a widely mocked story arc — Haley Joel Osment.
Now: A Trailblazing Woman As Partner
In Walker, Lindsey Morgan (The 100) plays Cordell’s new partner Micki Ramirez, described as the rare female Latina Texas Ranger. She’s a focused and observant Army vet who has years of experience with gender discrimination.
Then: Violence Aplenty
The Norris version of the character subscribes to an “attack first, asks questions later” modus operandi. For example, in the very first episode’s first scene, Cordell repeatedly kicks a bad guy, makes a wisecrack about his “right” to violence being his right fist, and then punches the already-bloodied suspect.
Now: A Roundhouse Kick Moratorium
The CW’s reimagining is decidedly less violent, both because of generational differences, and the increasing awareness of the use of violent police tactics countrywide.
Then: Racial Stereotypes
The 1990s version addressed racism in some storylines, but it also perpetuated racial stereotypes.
Now: Racial Sensitivity
“Suddenly a show about law enforcement in a very divided state such as Texas means so much more now in our world today than it would have pre-2020,” Morgan told reporters during a recent CW press day. “So just from my position and the character I play, a big obstacle and learning challenge that I face daily, is where do I fit as a Mexican woman in a majority-Caucasian law enforcement team in a state that is, for the history of it, been majority conservative and not caring too much about marginalized communities and immigrants. So, I love that my character is placed in a position of these two worlds and these two kind of warring communities, but hoping to be a liaison and hoping that we can tell a story of tolerance and a story from two perspectives.”
Now & Then: Mitch Pileggi
Mitch Pileggi, perhaps most famous for playing Skinner on The X-Files, guest-starred in a 1998 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger. But now he’s a star of Walker, playing Cordell’s “traditional rancher father,” according to The CW’s press release.
Meanwhile, Molly Hagan portrays Cordell’s “perceptive” mother, Violet Brinson and Kale Culley play his kids, Keegan Allen stars as Cordell A.D.A. brother, and Coby Bell plays his partner-turned-captain.
Walker, Series Premiere, Thursday, January 21, 8/7c, The CW
Conversation25 Comments
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They literally took everything that made the show entertaining and stripped it. Padelecki is not Chuck Norris. This site will be lucky to make it to the end of season 1. Another example of hacks behind the scenes incapable of making original shows so they latch on to shows people like and ruin those.
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In that case I'm glad I didn't watch it. They're not messing up one of my favorite childhood shows for me. No sir!
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B
I agree! Awful!
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O
I was looking forward to this show of always liked cop shows westerns solving crimes cetera but they seemed to make this show into a politically correct solving the country's major issues a race, women's rights, bad cops, on top of it the acting is marginal at best I suppose it's low budget and can't attract top quality actors but each show has multiple different drama sequences a bratty teenage girl mad cuz your daddy was away for 10 months tell that to all the military men going out on maneuvers for 10 months. Drama is fine and it enhances the shows but to have half a dozen different in each of the first two episodes boring
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It's The CW Iol so I figure it's not for fans at all and only for the CW's target audience which I think is teenage girls from 13-18 i believe?
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O
And 35 year old men who love super hero shows
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O
It didn't matter that it was nothing like the original, it's biggest sins are that it was incredibly boring and Lindsey Morgan is a terrible actress whose character whose obvious use it to force liberalism down our throats.
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New Walker can't come close to Chuck Norris! I couldn’t even get through the first episode because of the music in the background. Just a boring show! So disappointed...
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P
They have nothing in common as far as in concerned. Wont last long
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R
You could have summed up the answer to the title in one word: Nothing.
This might "last" because the CW doesn't seem to care much about ratings. They have some of the worst on all of TV and keep running shows that suck. I really have no idea how they choose which shows to keep because so many are in the tank.
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What I see is a Texas Ranger that has Doubt, not a tough guy. Chuck Norris was a tough guy and took no Crap from anyone. Had Confidence. The new Walker lacks Confidence. The shows ok. If they took it off I wouldn't miss it.
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I watched about 4 shows. I don't like, I'm sorry. There is only ONE, Walker Texas Ranger. Chuck Norris. I probably will get this wrong, so I'm sorry. Someone said about Walker (Norris) was too violent or too much fighting.There's no blood. What about all of the games kids are playing, blood, arm, legs, going here and everywhere. Go after them. Walker Norris was & is good to watch. Sure some of it is cheesy but I do not have to worry about about legs, arms, or a head, falling off.
I know when I see Texas Walker Ranger, w/Chuck Norri it is a GOOD Movie
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Ok the one comment said that Jered is not protruding Cordell but in waker he is
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This is wrong in waker his parents are alive but in the rangers his parents where killed when he was a child and he was raised by his uncle ray this is screwed up one has nothing to do whit the other in the ranger there is no mention that he had children they ruined the story please explain
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I absolutely Love it!!
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Oh I forgot one of the most annoying things is Walker eye roll and head rolls tell him to stop it
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I didn’t compare it to Texas Ranger as I didn’t realize it was a remake .The story line is good for me . I will watch it .
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I liked it. About time we see what it looks like to battle those issues. People seem to be upset that it isn’t rinse wash repeat. If you think diversifying and making the issues we face is forcing it down your throat. It’s a YOU problem. Don’t dare to self reflect or anything though.
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The biggest difference between Chuck Norris and Jared Padalecki is that Chuck Norris jokes are funny.
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C
Awful remake do not watch at all
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C
Absolutely. I think the expectation this may be, "Chuck Norris" continued. This is why many people were let down. This is a brand new show, a different Norris, with an angle that gives more depth and humanity to the new characterization.
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G
So sounds like from other comments that they want a show about a fantasy world where people are either good or bad so the main character can violently kick their ass because fists are the best ways to solve problems. Throw in stereotypes for good measure. In other words, people who live in a fantasy want to continue that fantasy on tv. Honestly, will be difficult to attract an audience for this but I'm going to give it a try. Even if just for Jared who I respect.
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W
The premiere was decent. Not as good as the original, but worth watching.
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Well Jared Padalecki is no Chuck Norris by far but they story line is about another Texas Ranger not a replacement for Chuck Noris, this guy has a different past and a different life story. Im sure this is Chuck Norris Approved.R🙂
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Everyone’s mistake is wanting a carbon copy of the original. I loved the original Walker but I want something a little more modern. Chuck Norris gave his blessings for the remake so he must approve. Give it a decent chance.
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