Do the hats and horses of the neo-Western craze spell out a strictly conservative tale, or is there something else underneath the crown? Yellowstone, featuring a number of acclaimed actors, including Luke Grimes, shines brightly among the list of well-made drama series.
Premiering in 2018, the show galloped into viewers’ hearts, depicting the ups and downs of the Dutton family against a backdrop of the breathtaking Montana range. Despite its success, some critics have hastily pinned the show to the ‘conservative’ board, not considering its nuanced portrayal of complex, contemporary issues.
Grimes seems to be expressing his opinions without holding back in response to these critiques. The American Sniper actor, 40, recently addressed this one-dimensional critique head-on, asking ‘liberal’ critics to look beyond the cowboy ethos and enter the engrossing depth of the series.
Luke Grimes Takes a Stand: Politics vs. Authenticity in Yellowstone
Political themes and undertones are not uncommon in TV dramas. However, the hit neo-western series Yellowstone has found itself in the crosshairs of liberal critics who dismiss the show as too conservative.
Actor Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton on the show, recently spoke out about this criticism in an interview with The Independent, pointing out the hypocrisy of those who rush to judge the show based solely on its cowboy imagery:
I think a lot of people see a cowboy hat and a horse and they think, ‘Oh, that’s not for me, those people believe differently.’ And it’s almost like they take these flawed characters in the show and chalk it up to some sort of weird belief that they’ve put on them.
The actor made a compelling argument, highlighting the tendency of some viewers to label Yellowstone as a conservative show simply because it features “cowboys” and ranchers.
Grimes challenged this narrow-minded perspective, pointing out that “flawed characters” exist in all types of shows, regardless of their setting or political leanings. He also drew a sharp contrast between Yellowstone and another popular series, Succession, which has been praised by liberal audiences:
Meanwhile, you can have a terrible person like [Succession’s] Logan Roy, who lives in an apartment in Manhattan, and that’s fine. That guy’s a total piece of s***! But that’s OK. It’s so funny to me because… I just don’t understand why that has to immediately equal some political belief. And I don’t think it does.
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Well, Grimes urged viewers to look beyond stereotypes and preconceived notions and to give the show a chance to tell its compelling story. After all, as he noted, a cowboy hat and a horse should not automatically equate to a specific political belief.
Kevin Costner’s Bold Words on the Future of Yellowstone
Could the landscapes of Yellowstone once again echo with the commanding presence of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton?
Fans of the acclaimed series have been buzzing with optimism after the Hollywood luminary expressed his desire to saddle back up for more episodes, despite his dramatic departure last year. With the gripping saga set to conclude with its fifth season (later this year), audiences were disheartened to bid farewell to the Dutton family drama.
Yet, in a candid revelation with ET, Costner, the heart and soul behind the stoic Montana landowner, shared his passion for the project. He hasn’t fully closed the door on the possibility of a return, stating his initial hopes to bring John Dutton’s journey to a total of “seven” seasons:
I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five. So how it works out – I hope it does – but they’ve got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I’d love to do it.
The actor continued by saying that he has already considered possible outcomes for John Dutton’s narrative in Taylor Sheridan’s series :
Well, you know, he needs to be proactive in what happens and I’ve kind of had my own fantasy how it might be, but that’s Taylor’s thing. I said as much to him a while back.
As Yellowstone continues to charm viewers with its gripping storytelling and stellar performances, it’s important to remember that TV shows can be nuanced and multifaceted, transcending simple labels and political divides. So, the next time you see a cowboy on screen, don’t be so quick to judge—you might just be missing out on a truly remarkable viewing experience!