10 Things About Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Universe That Make No Sense

While Yellowstone is a beloved series, fans have to look the other way at times in terms of narrative devices, plotlines, and realistic details. The show and its spin-offs, 1883 and 1923 so far, are certainly entertaining. However, all three of Taylor Sheridan’s TV shows are a little dramatic, over-the-top, and flexible with historical details and the law.

Of course, a lot of sense won’t make sense in a series that includes dramatic monologues, murder, and lots of backstabbing. However, it disappoints fans because Taylor Sheridan often speaks of realism in these series. Perhaps there’s a wealth of detail in the settings, the animals, and the clothing, but with the plotlines, several aspects of the Yellowstone universe make little to no sense.

10. The Train Station Is a Ridiculous Plot Device To Free the Duttons from Consequences

The Dutton family typically disposes of their bodies in a place they call “The Train Station”

The Train Station is a mostly isolated area, according to the Yellowstone characters, which makes crimes completely unprosecutable. In 1923, Donald Whitfield mentions the place, and later, it became the dumping ground for the Yellowstone ranch’s illegal activities. The problem is that such a place could never exist. Maybe in 1923 it was more likely to ignore a few bodies in an isolated area, but not in 2018.

Even if a remote, low-population county existed (such as the iconic Zone of Death in Idaho), the crime could be traced to another state. If they found anything connecting the bodies to a crime in Montana, the investigation would happen in Montana. If a county lacks a jury, it would seek jurors from adjacent counties, or the issue could become a matter for the federal courts. There is no loophole like that in this century, and it’s just a cheap trick to make John Dutton this god-like, all-mighty figure.

9. The Tragic Trip That Killed Alex and Her Two Friends in the Cold

1923 Sees Alex Taking a Road Trip with Two Rich Friends in a Snow Storm

The second season of 1923 is filled with implausible scenarios, all designed to convey the idea that people in that time had the most incredible adventures. However, the road trip that eventually claims Alex’s life is too much for people to ignore. Alex had already survived numerous obstacles, including the migration officer, and it was hard to believe she would risk her life on a road trip in the snow when she was already so close to meeting her husband. Even more odd that her rich friends would take their car through the wilderness, even after trains had canceled their route.

These were not only rich but also educated people when the dangers of snow were widely known and advertised. They, of course, ran out of gas (even though the lady warned them there were no nearby gas stations), and Alex’s friends died in the cold. Alex somehow miraculously survives, and a couple of days later, her husband happens to take the same train route. And, of course, Alex didn’t survive. Her baby, though, lived, being born at only 6 months of gestation, with zero medical technology to help him survive, and after his mother had spent days (nay, months!) without eating well.

8. The Oregon Trail Wasn’t That Desolate by 1883

Even if the Caravan Purposely Avoided the Popular Route, They Were Likely Close

The Yellowstone universe loves to overplay the dangers of cowboy life, and Taylor Sheridan went all in with 1883. In a time when people truly died of many different causes, it was easy to portray the dangers of traveling by foot through the Wild West, but it was deeply exaggerated. The group started with around 22 wagons, indicating that there were approximately 100 people. By the end of the journey, only a handful of survivors remained, and probably only one German, Josef, who also did not arrive in one piece.

It was, of course, a dangerous time, and a great many people died of illness, accidents, and attacks, but it was around 15% percent of the people who traveled (which ended up being thousands of people, but not all at the same time). For example, Sam Elliott claims that there are no stops from Doan’s Crossing to Montana, which is highly inaccurate. There were already many cities with substantial populations. On top of that, Native American attacks were not that common, so the real threat would be a couple of accidents here and there, and maybe one bad encounter. 1883 made it look like it was a journey to hell, which makes it hard to understand why anyone would even try.

7. John’s Murder Makes It Look Like It’s Easy To Kill Just Anyone

Sarah Atwood, Jamie’s Girlfriend, Hires a Professional Hit to Kill Montana’s Governor

Several things about John’s murder make no sense. The first one is that Sarah could contact, hire, and pay for the murder of a high-profile political figure, and it was only 50 million dollars. This company decided that a heart attack was too easy to figure out, so their method was to pretend John Dutton committed suicide. However, John had no history of depression or any mental health issues.

They injected him in the toe, and likely left some bruises on his body. A competent police detective (and in this case, likely a federal agent) would have looked for these signs and quickly ruled out suicide. Everyone was happy to assume Montana’s Governor had killed himself, and if it weren’t for Kayce’s exceptional skills, no one would have ever figured it out, apparently. John dying in the last season makes sense, but the writers could have picked a more grounded death (gunshot, perhaps?).

6. Every Show in the Yellowstone Universe Is Excessively Dramatic

Tragedy after Tragedy Meets the Dutton Family and Anyone Who Comes into Contact with Them

The main issue with the Yellowstone universe is that it is a soap opera set in a Western. Everything bad that can happen to any of these characters will happen to them. 90% of the characters in 1883 die, including the narrator. The rest of the Dutton family survives, but only for 10 years. In 1923, almost every character dies: Pete Plenty Clouds, Runs His Horse, Jack, John, Emma, and, of course, Alex. One character nearly dies from a hit on their head, Jacob was shot but survived, Elisabeth was shot and bitten by a wolf, and Spencer and Alex almost die several times in the wilderness.

And Yellowstone kills fewer central characters, but still plenty of people (Jamie, John, Lee, Monica’s brother, Monica’s baby, etc). Even in a time like 1883, when people’s life expectancy was around 40 years, it’s hard to believe so many people died. This, without taking into account all the drama: abortions, murders, illnesses, murder attempts, kidnappings, and cowboy accidents. If life were like in the Yellowstone universe, there would be about 100 people alive. Not even The Last of Us kills so many characters.

5. Alex and Spencer Took Too Long To Get to America

Alex and Spencer Are Separated after Alex’s Ex-Fiance’s Family Provoke Him and Remove Him from the Boat

There was only one way to make the 1923 show even more dramatic: Alex and Spencer need to be apart for months and suffer greatly before meeting, so Alex’s death after their reunion feels even more tragic. However, it’s hard to believe the chain of terrible things that happened to these two individuals. It’s not entertaining to watch a whole season of people trying to meet with the worst luck possible.

Alex and Spencer are separated after the dispute on the boat, which makes sense. They could have told each other to meet in a European city, but they didn’t. Maybe under the pressure, it did not occur to them. However, Alex had Cara Dutton’s address, which she never used to call either in England or in the US to ask for help. Then both Alex and Spencer took months to arrive in America, which should only be a 10 days trip. Everything that can happen to Alex happens to her. She’s been abused, assaulted, robbed, and finally, left in the cold. People like drama, but this is excessive.

4. The Characters in 1883 Don’t Take Resources from the People They Kill

They Leave the Death Bandit’s Bodies Untouched as if They Have Infinite Resources

One aspect of 1883 that irritated viewers was the lack of survival skills exhibited by some characters. When they killed bandits or any other enemy, they didn’t search the bodies for money, ammunition, weapons, or anything valuable, nor did they keep their horses. Since they had limited resources, it makes no sense that they did not pillage the bodies or keep the horses to carry the wagons or any of the other people in the caravans.

These honorable cowboys may adhere to some code, but it’s unlikely. They were surviving a dangerous trail, and any help was treasured. 1883 tried to maintain a dramatic tone after these fights, so as not to break the tension with common robbery, but it ultimately proved frustrating for viewers.

3. The Original Show Never Had To Deal With Federal Agents

The High-Profile Crimes in Yellowstone Would Certainly Invite a Federal Agency Eventually

Many crimes occur throughout the Yellowstone series, some committed by the Duttons and some by other compelling characters. The Yellowstone ranch is one of the largest spaces in Montana, and its owner becomes embroiled in deadly conflicts with other large companies, multimillionaires, and the reservation. It’s hard to understand why any federal agency didn’t investigate these issues, especially after figures like Dan Jenkins appear to be dead and multimillion-dollar deals are involved.

Yellowstone makes it appear as though two small ranches in the early 19th century were competing over cattle. However, this is the Yellowstone area, with high-profile individuals fighting over thousands of acres of terrain that could eventually be turned into an airport. There is no way that Dutton’s money could buy off federal agencies, especially since they haven’t made any profit in years.

2. There Are Never Any Consequences for the Duttons

Every Member of the Dutton Family Should Have Been in Jail

The Duttons can get away with any number of crimes simply because they are smarter and stronger than anyone and also above the law. Jamie murdered a journalist from New York, but got away easily, even though her body showed evidence of murder, especially if she was following the Dutton family. John could hang Dan Jenkins from a tree, and the latter did not even present charges.

The list keeps going. Kacey killed Monica’s brother, and nobody cared. They can dispose of bodies in the “Train Station” and it goes unnoticed. Beth killed Jamie, and nobody looked into it. In 1883 and 1923 it was just as well, everyone could kill anyone, and Sheriffs were there for decoration. In the world of Yellowstone, ​​​​​​police investigations are not a common occurrence. Even if the Duttons have enough money to blackmail every police officer and juror in the state, there should at least be a discussion about it.

1. Nobody Seems to Really Grieve or Miss the Ones Who Die

Big Character Deaths, Like Lee Dutton, Were Practically Ignored in the Rest of the Series

The Yellowstone universe continues to take out characters, but the survivors persevere without ever showing concern for their loved ones. The pilot of Yellowstone showed the death of two significant characters: John Dutton’s eldest son and Monica’s brother. However, Monica couldn’t care less about her brother, her dead sister-in-law, and her nephews and nieces. The same happens with Lee; no one ever talks about him, as if he never existed.

This is not only a problem in the original series, but also in the spin-offs. For example, no one cares when Mary dies and Claire stays behind to commit suicide. They didn’t get along, but Claire was James’ sister, and Mary was her young daughter. In 1923, half the family dies, and no one seems to be slightly affected by it. Perhaps it would be challenging for shows to portray all that grief, given that characters die every other day.