Taylor Sheridan has been a pivotal force in the success of the acclaimed Yellowstone series. His unique vision and storytelling prowess have curated intense, character-driven narratives that captivated audiences’ attention. His craft has immensely contributed to expanding its fanbase, apart from its storytelling and other elements. But, the show’s quality has visibly been affected over time, particularly in the fourth season.
As the fourth season received mixed audience reception, one specific storyline further made the stance clear, showcasing that the series need a serious lift when it comes to quality.
Yellowstone Season 4 Left Audiences Bored
The highly anticipated fourth season of the Yellowstone series was met with mixed responses from audiences and critics alike. Coming off a cliffhanger at the end of Season 3, it raised everyone’s expectations of what Taylor Sheridan had in store for the fourth season.
However, things took an unexpected turn when, halfway through the season, many viewers reported losing interest. A Reddit forum had already discussed the same, discussing how Season 4 experienced a drastic decline in writing quality, which significantly impacted the show’s overall reception.
One of the users echoed how Llyod’s arc felt completely different in Season 4. Played by Forrie J. Smith, he is one of the longest-serving ranch hands and a trustworthy guy of the Dutton family.
In the previous seasons, his character was shown more as a mentor to younger hands, but he got more complex in the fourth season, with the character suddenly engaging in behavior that seemed out of character. The user wrote,
I struggled through 4 into 5 this week. I think it’s getting better. The Lloyd storyline was the worst for me, it made no sense whatsoever. Literally any other person in the bunkhouse woulda made it believable and maybe even a good plot point if done correctly. Jamie and his dad I actually didn’t mind, I think it showed how weak and pliable he is in a meaningful way for the rest of the story.
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Llyod is one of the fan-favorite characters in Taylor Sheridan‘s show who started off as a supporting character. However, as the series progressed, his involvement continued to grow, making his role an integral part of the story.
He also shared a great friendship bond with Rip and a father-son dynamic with fellow ranch hand, Jimmy. But, things took a “darker” turn as the fourth season premiered, delving into a completely different version of what we knew of the character before.
Lloyd’s Story in Yellowstone Season 4 is Seemingly a Major Writing Flaw
Another Reddit user expressed their opinion on the same, delving into how poor writing choices have adversely affected his arc, which heavily affected the show’s quality.
One of the main storylines involved was his escalating conflict with Walker, one of the other ranch hands at Yellowstone. Long story short, Laramie’s love story with Walker contributed to building tension between the ranch hands, leading to major conflicts.
While the show effectively implemented the tension between these two characters, many felt that the character was poorly written. Many expressed that his violent confrontation didn’t align with his usual demeanor, which was a heavy flaw for the acclaimed show.
For the unversed, the fourth season showcased Lloyd smashing Walker’s guitar and even throwing a knife in his chest after he challenged him to a fight. Season 4 saw him repeatedly getting into trouble and getting punished, however, those obstacles barely advanced his character or the overall plot, which further felt unnecessary.
That heavily implied that the writers were struggling to make his story interesting, thus weakening the character to what he developed in the previous seasons. His actions seemed superficial, lacking in emotional depth, which was well reflected in that season.