Taylor Sheridan’s Western drama, Yellowstone, celebrated for revitalizing the genre in recent years, has recently become a source of frustration for viewers due to its perceived lack of any substantial story arcs, particularly post-Season 3.
Despite its initial popularity and a dedicated fanbase eagerly anticipating the upcoming series finale later this year, the show’s melodramatic plot twists and resilient character survival have drawn comparisons to classic soap operas and Marvel superheroes.
Fans Critique Yellowstone’s Escalating Unrealism and Soap Opera Style
Following the tumultuous lives of the Dutton Family, as they contend with the constant threats to their lands and lives, Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone became an instant hit among the audience. Its success has prompted the show to continue its run for more than five years throughout its five seasons.
Its stunning visuals, complex family drama, and relentless portrayal of betrayal, deception, and violence have captivated many fans, who have now started to argue that the series has lost its allure due to absurd plot twists and contrived character arcs.
One such fan took to Reddit to share their views on the show’s degrading quality in recent seasons. The fan noted a departure from its earlier grounded approach to a more sensationalist narrative style.
They highlighted several other issues with the series, including the introduction and disposing of characters without any substantial development, the repetitive dynamics, and the lack of chemistry among main characters like Beth and Rip.
They also raised criticism regarding the unrealistic narrative surrounding the lead characters, likening them to Marvel superheroes, who miraculously survive almost all fatal situations without any substantial consequences.
It seems the whole family is unkillable, no matter how many times they get shot at, blown to pieces, or thrown off the horse they can’t die, they are harder to kill than a Marvel hero.
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The critique culminated in a reflection on the repetitive nature of Yellowstone’s plot, highlighting a recurring cycle where each season follows predictable patterns of conflict and resolution. Despite these grievances, the fan acknowledged their longstanding investment in the series, eagerly anticipating its conclusion despite their reservations.
Yellowstone Sets a Release Date For Series Finale
Paramount has recently confirmed the release date of Yellowstone’s series finale, Season 5 Part 2, which will premiere two years after Season 5 Part 1 was released, on November 10, 2024, on Paramount.
The six-episode series finale, which is expected to bring back the cast of the show, is currently filming in Montana. However, there still remained uncertainty surrounding Kevin Costner’s return as John Dutton.
The actor left the show after Season 5 to focus on his four-part Western film series Horizon: An American Saga. Despite his eagerness to return as John Dutton, the actor has recently shared that he would not be returning to the series finale. He shared on X (Twitter),
Thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love — I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future… It was something that really changed me — And I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning.
Considering fans’ remarks and their overview of the last season, Sheridan certainly has the challenge to live up to fans’ expectations, especially with the show’s lead star’s absence, by giving a fulfilling finale to the fans who have constantly followed the story for the past five years.