‘Learn to be meaner than evil and still love your family and enjoy a sunrise…’
It’s a fools’ errand to write a single review for a TV show that ran for 53 episodes across five seasons, but, as a fool myself, I think I am perhaps the man for the job…
Having watched and adored both prequel series (1883 and 1923), I was somewhat taken aback whilst watching the first episode of Yellowstone by the fact that everyone was driving around in modern cars, and nobody had consumption. This is because the TV show is set in the modern day. Something that I didn’t know going into it. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t aware that being a cowboy was still a thing (otherwise I’d be a cowboy myself, probably). One of the great strengths of Yellowstone in this regard, is that it takes a lifestyle that so many people know next to nothing about, and shines a light on it a way that is both authentic, but also incredibly compelling.
Showrunner Taylor Sheridan (who also appears to great effect in later seasons) is very much of the world he portrays here. The world of horses and wolves. Rivers and dirt tracks and terribly country music. And this is clear in every shot of Yellowstone. Sure, the storylines are often melodramatic, soapy even, but the world that Sheridan has crafted here never feels anything other than utterly real. Much of this is down to the incredible cast, surely one of the best television casts ever assembled, and much of it is due to the incredible sweeping vistas that surround the Dutton Ranch. Kevin Costner holds it all together as family patriarch, John Dutton, but Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley and Cole Hauser are just as incredible as, respectively, John’s daughter Beth, his son Jamie, and Beth’s long-time admirer (and family protector), Rip. The latter is surely one of the most likeable characters of the modern era. I wanted him to cradle me in his loving arms and make me feel safe for much of my time watching Yellowstone. That’s normal, right?
While I think the last season had some issues, it’s very difficult to maintain a high standard of television across 53 episodes, Yellowstone remains largely consistent throughout. As someone who is traditionally not a fan of westerns, I was initially dismissive of Yellowstone’s humongous success, but I’m here to tell any non-believers to set aside that doubt. Believe the hype. Start Googling house prices in Montana. Yellowstone is the real deal.
