Watching a helicopter soar across a rugged mountain landscape while a group of cowboys races beneath it on horseback creates a striking and surreal image. It's as though time and space have merged in an unexpected way, bringing together the past and the present. Despite Western films no longer dominating the box office for the past 60 years, fans of the genre can now enjoy "Yellowstone," a modern take on the Western created by Taylor Sheridan. Originally airing on the Paramount Network in 2018, the series gained a massive following and even spawned two spinoffs, "1883" and "1923," on Paramount+. Now, in the midst of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which have led to a sparse fall TV schedule, "Yellowstone" is getting a significant boost by moving to CBS, owned by Paramount.
While neo-Westerns are not entirely unfamiliar to audiences, "Yellowstone" stands out in today's political climate as a well-cast, sprawling, and intricate show that leans conservative. The series initially gained popularity in more rural areas and attracted a substantial viewership during the pandemic lockdown, drawing in viewers from urban areas to its cowboy-filled world.
Although the show's political stance isn't overt, its creator, Taylor Sheridan, has positioned himself as a Hollywood outsider. He has written every episode of "Yellowstone" and its spinoffs and has been critical of the demands for a minimum number of writers in TV writer's rooms. Sheridan believes in the unfettered freedom of artists to create, with a focus on character-driven storytelling rather than plot-driven narratives.
As a Black American woman raised in Chicago, the traditional Western genre has never resonated with me. Seeing cowboys portrayed as heroes has always felt disconnected from my perspective. However, with the buzz around "Yellowstone" and the upcoming series "Lawman: Bass Reeves," featuring David Oyelowo as the first Black U.S. Marshal (with Sheridan as an executive producer), I decided it was time to give "Yellowstone" a chance.
The pilot episode kicks off with a fatal accident, a maimed horse, and a gruesome head injury. While this opening scene would unnerve anyone, John Dutton III (played by Kevin Costner), the stoic patriarch and owner of the massive Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, appears largely unaffected. As the story unfolds in Bozeman, Montana, we delve into secrets, desires, and the dark side of John's character.
John Dutton is not the only towering figure in the show. In the extended pilot, Sheridan carefully explores the lives of John's four children. Jamie (Wes Bentley) is a lawyer who understands the family business but avoids working the land. Lee (Dave Annable) is a cowboy, but his lack of interest in networking and negotiating makes him an unsuitable heir. Kayce (Luke Grimes) is the family outlier, living with his Indigenous wife and son on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation. Finally, there's Beth (Kelly Reilly), the prodigal daughter who rivals John in menace.
While the complexities of the Dutton family form the core of "Yellowstone," Sheridan also delves into other powerful connections that shape this society. A development company, Paradise Valley, seeks to build condos near Yellowstone, further eroding the rapidly gentrifying community. John is willing to use his influence and wealth to stop the development, but he also clashes with Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) of Broken Rock and the reservation's newly appointed leader. Chief Rainwater reminds John of true encroachment. By the end of Episode 1, a life-altering confrontation reveals the lengths these men will go to maintain their influence in their communities.
"Yellowstone" is an ambitious project that reflects Sheridan's world on screen while shedding light on Broken Rock's challenges. It forces the audience to confront the enduring inequalities faced by Indigenous communities and to acknowledge American history as it truly is. Throughout the pilot, "Yellowstone" maintains its standards, particularly in its exploration of familial dynamics.
Since "Yellowstone's" debut, Sheridan has become a prominent figure who presents himself as an everyday person despite his growing wealth. He occasionally appears on "Yellowstone" as a cowboy and maintains tight control over his shows, including "Tulsa King," "Mayor of Kingstown," and "Special Ops: Lioness." Now that "Yellowstone" is more widely accessible, it will likely attract even more fans. CBS's revival of "Yellowstone" offers a nostalgic moment for long-time viewers, allowing them to revisit the world they fell in love with before its recent upheaval.
As "Yellowstone" enters its fifth and final season, Sheridan originally planned for six episodes, but he's now aiming for ten. However, Kevin Costner has left the series due to creative and salary disagreements. Sheridan remains committed to providing the show with a conclusion, even if it deviates from his initial plans. While this may mark the end of "Yellowstone" as fans know it, it also marks a new beginning for the show. CBS will air nearly identical episodes to those on Paramount+, and a spinoff starring Matthew McConaughey is in development. Sheridan has hinted that the spinoff, though related to the original, will feature a completely new cast and location, possibly centered in Texas.
For now, "Yellowstone" returns to CBS, offering a chance to experience the series as it once was. Despite the irony of it not streaming on Paramount+ due to a prior rights deal with NBCUniversal's Peacock, its new broadcast home provides an opportunity for a new audience to discover this epic and wildly entertaining story. CBS is where "Yellowstone" truly belongs, and it's the perfect send-off for a beloved character, a branch of the Dutton family, and a genre filled with nostalgia. "Yellowstone" makes its broadcast debut on CBS on September 17, with episodes airing weekly on Sundays. Seasons 1-5 are currently available on Peacock.