Do you ever wonder how Hollywood can turn incredibly complex, deeply rooted issues into something more far-fetched than a leprechaun winning the lottery? Take the case of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone. One fan tore into the show’s portrayal of Native American characters, finding it so laughable that it had them chuckling out loud like a comedian who’s just told a great joke.
Yellowstone seems to think a tribal chief using casino profits to “buy back” land is plausible. The fan likened the plot to a South Park episode, which might be amusing if it weren’t so misguided. According to the viewer, the plotline is not only a mix of tired old clichés but also a comical oversimplification of complex Native American issues.
Yellowstone Fans Weigh in: Can This Storyline Really Be Justified?
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone has received a heaping plate of criticism from one particularly fed-up fan, who found the show’s portrayal of Native American characters more laughable than a cartoonish pie fight.
Let’s start with the Native American plotline, which, according to the fan, is unbelievable. The fan described the storyline, where a tribal chief tries to “buy back” land using casino profits, as a tale more fitting for a slapstick comedy than serious drama. They noted that this plotline was so far-fetched it could have been lifted straight from an episode of South Park.
To put this plainly, in the eyes of fans, this show’s portrayal reinforces offensive stereotypes, leading to a narrative where land ownership becomes a game of Monopoly rather than a quest for justice and historical rights.
The script didn’t escape unscathed either. The fan compared it to last week’s leftovers—tired, reheated, and lacking in freshness. The drama itself was described as being so over-the-top that even the fan had to reach for the fast-forward button to escape the melodramatic spectacle. Essentially, the fan saw the show’s attempts at intense drama as little more than a grandiose display of clichés and unnecessary spectacle.
Finally, the fan took aim at Taylor Sheridan, suggesting that his portrayal of rugged cowboy life was as genuine as a Hollywood set. The fan couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of a suburbanite with a family background in cardiology trying to sell the image of a tough cowboy.
What Taylor Sheridan Said About This Unfair Yellowstone Critique
When it comes to storytelling, Taylor Sheridan is like a master chef giving birth to a gourmet dish—adding a pinch of grit, a dash of drama, and a whole lot of character depth. Celebrated for his work on Sicario and Hell or High Water, is used to serving up complex narratives and rich characters. But not so lately; he’s found himself in a bit of a pickle, as some folks have been branding Yellowstone as a “conservative” or “Republican” show.
In a recent conversation with The Atlantic, Sheridan was as perplexed about this classification. He was eager to set the record straight, declaring that his show isn’t just a red-state soap opera but a serious exploration of complex themes like Native American displacement and corporate greed.
Here’s what Sheridan had to say about it:
They refer to it as ‘the conservative show’ or ‘the Republican show’ or ‘the red-state ‘Game of Thrones’. And I just sit back laughing. I’m like, ‘Really?’ The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. That’s a red-state show?
He’s addressing the elephant in the room—topics like land grabbing and mistreatment of Native American women—issues that don’t exactly fit into a neat political box. By spotlighting these topics, he aims to provoke thought and spark discussion, rather than just cater to a political agenda.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses for Yellowstone. The show’s portrayal of the American West hasn’t exactly been a home run for everyone. Even actress Lily Gladstone didn’t hold back, calling the show’s depiction “deplorable” (via Vulture).
So, while Sheridan’s show might be shaking things up and stirring up some controversy, it’s evident that Yellowstone is more than just a cowboy saga with a political edge. Anyway, the second part of Season 5 will air on November 10, 2024.