Yellowstone

Yellowstone is a solidly written drama - great characters, well-crafted - that draws it's tone from a few different modern-day masterpieces.

It has the feel and cinematography of Longmire, the plotting and grim outlook of The Sopranos, and the dramatic dynamics of shows like 'Dynasty' or any of the other network dramas similar to that.

Much respect must go to Costner and Cole Hauser - these guys bring it 100%.

I did not expect to get drawn in to this show like I did. It's well worth your time.

If you are like me and watch things on Netflix, here's something I wish Netflix had told me before I started watching: it does not have the 5th season, and it is very unlikely it will acquire the rights in the future. You'll get drawn in with season 1-4, and then find yourself thinking: wait, this is it? Where's the rest?? Nothing is resolved, nothing is wrapped up.

Well, you'll have to go somewhere else for the rest. Where that is depends on where you live.

As for the series itself, there is very little to say that hasn't already been said. Yes, seasons after 1 & 2 are not as good, but it's not such big change as to lose my interest. Certainly good enough foe me to wish I could see season 5.

Yellowstone was one of the best shows on tv from when it originally came on in 2018 right up to the ending in 2024. It was the #1 show on cable for all 5 seasons it was on (really it was 6 seasons because they broke season 5 into 2 parts). It's hard to explain just how good this show really is. The acting, writing, directing, cinematography, production, etc, are all incredible. It's exactly what you expect from a Taylor Sheridan show since just about everything he does is terrific. The acting was as good as anything on tv. Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Hassie Harrison, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Bentley and the rest of the cast all deserve recognition for the incredible job they do season after season, episode after episode. It's one of the rare shows where almost every season is just as good as the others. I can't recommend this show enough, just go watch it for yourself.

The show started off fantastic. A patriarch (Kevin Costner) and his four kids live on a sprawling ranch in Montana, fighting to protect their land and way of life. Of course, there's plenty of personal drama as well. The first season was pure gold-gripping, intense, and well-written.

However, like many shows, it declined over time. I was especially disappointed by the lack of character growth. Some characters became so over-the-top that it was almost comical. Beth was always angry, Monica was always crying, and Kayce was the golden boy, while Jamie made all the wrong choices and was universally hated.

That said, it was still a great show, with stunning cinematography and plenty of gripping moments. I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone.

Let me say one thing: if you had come to me a decade ago and said that Kevin Costner's flagging career would be revived thanks to his role in a modern day western, I would probably have laughed and called you crazy.

Yet it happened. Costner's John Dutton will surely go down in the annals of TV history as one of the best characters ever.

Costner played Dutton perfectly: a doting father, a ruthless ranch owner and a man who is no stranger to violence. Unforgettable.

With "Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan has done something quite difficult: he made us care immensely about a bunch of characters of dubious moral standing.

For example, Kelly Reilly's Beth Dutton was, for the most part, a horrible person, yet you cared about what happened for her, cheered on her successes and commiserated her failures, even when said successes might have been on the wrong side of what's right.

That's because Reilly is a brilliant actress, and because she was given top-notch material to work with.

Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Bentley...all brilliant.

Sheridan is a genius.

What a show. We won't see it's like again, that's for sure.