Taylor Sheridan’s brainchild, Yellowstone, has truly taken the bull by the horns in the American cultural rodeo, yet it seems to be galloping into uncharted waters. Despite its soaring popularity, akin to a high-flying eagle in the mountainous Montana sky, and branding of it as “the most red-state show” on TV, it curiously remains an underdog in the eyes of critics.
While many admirers are thrilled about Yellowstone, some detractors do not share this enthusiasm because they claim the show purposefully promotes conservative ideals. But Sheridan won’t accept such whines.
A closer look at the numbers reveals an intriguing paradox: Succession, the media darling, is Yellowstone’s mirror image in its depiction of a patriarch’s empire at a crossroads. However, in a head-to-head viewership showdown, Yellowstone’s episodes more often defeated its rival in the previous season.
So, why does this unbridled success story seem to ride solo without critical acclaim?
The Complexities of ‘Woke’ Perceptions: Taylor Sheridan’s Take on Yellowstone’s Real-Life Issues
There are two TV shows that couldn’t be more different yet share a strange connection. Succession and Yellowstone may seem like polar opposites, but they are actually two sides of the same coin, like yin and yang or salt and pepper. One is the fancy appetizer at a five-star restaurant, while the other is the juicy steak at a classic diner.
Succession, with its highbrow pedigree and critical acclaim, is like a fine wine aged to perfection, while Yellowstone is more like a cold beer at a backyard barbecue – refreshing and satisfying. Despite the latter’s popularity and devoted fan base, it seems to be the black sheep of the television family when it comes to awards and critical recognition.
Sadly, Taylor Sheridan’s show is like the goofy cousin at a family reunion – everyone loves them, but they never quite get the respect they deserve. Some critics have suggested that Yellowstone’s lack of awards success is due to its “anti-woke” nature, but Sheridan scoffed at the idea that his show is simply “the most red-state show on television” (see The Atlantic).
He contended that “responsible storytelling” is the most paramount component of creative direction. In addition, he highlighted a few themes from Yellowstone that, in his opinion, make it absurd to infer an “anti-woke” agenda.
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 insisted that Yellowstone is much more than that, tackling complex issues like the displacement of Native Americans, corporate greed, and the changing landscape of the West.
Sheridan’s goal is to tell responsible stories that explore the moral consequences of our actions, much like Clint Eastwood did in his groundbreaking film, Unforgiven. The former wanted to show that real life isn’t black and white, but a messy gray area where choices have real, lasting consequences.
Five Seasons In: Celebrating Yellowstone’s Enduring Legacy
So, while Succession may have the critical acclaim and the shiny awards, Yellowstone has something more important – viewers’ hearts. It’s a show that speaks to the rugged individualism and timeless values of the American West, like a campfire under the stars or a beautiful sunset over the mountains.
Whatever the cast and crew of Yellowstone are doing seems to be working, as the show continues to be a huge hit for Paramount Network. The series’ leading star Kevin Costner expressed his admiration for the show’s creative team for maintaining such high-caliber writing throughout multiple seasons.
The actor told Us Weekly:
I feel like we’re going the right direction. It’s not so easy to catch a high point. It’s not so easy to stay there. And I think the writing is really staying at a level that’s important.
In the end, whether you prefer Succession or the down-home charm of Yellowstone, we have to admit that television has never been more diverse, exciting, and full of unanticipated surprises.
Yellowstone Season 5’s second part will air on November 10, 2024.