Taylor Sheridan Quietly Broke the Oldest Western Trends of All Time Right Under Fans’ Noses (& It May Have Saved the Genre)

Taylor Sheridan inadvertently turned the Western genre on its head when he created Yellowstone, a Paramount series that has been continuously praised since its 2018 debut. Sheridan, who initially gained entry into the entertainment industry as an actor, began crafting Yellowstone in 2013 and originally envisioned the television series as a film that would have the same impact on outdoorsy farmers as The Godfather had on the Italian mafia. In a move that ultimately backfired for the streaming network, HBO Max declined to greenlight Sheridan’s prospective project, which allowed it to fall into Paramount’s hands. Since its first season, Yellowstone has remained one of Paramount’s most-watched shows.

While Sheridan’s greatest success to date is Yellowstone, the talented actor, writer, producer, and screenwriter is the creative genius behind several other films and television series. Over the past five years alone, Sheridan has created four additional shows outside the Yellowstone universe for Paramount: Mayor of Kingstown (2021-present), Tulsa King (2022-present), Lioness (2023–present), and Landman (2024–present). Sheridan also wrote the screenplays for Sicario (2015), Hell or High Water (2016), and Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) in an even shorter amount of time. When it comes to crafting a story, Sheridan is at the top of his game and does an especially good job of elevating the Western genre in today’s age.

Yellowstone Is a Modernized Western Drama

Western films and television series of the past all share similar striking characteristics that Yellowstone quietly deviated from. Before the modern age of the genre, almost every Western piece (whether small-time projects or large-scale endeavors) was set anywhere from the early 19th century to the turn of the 20th century, with a particular focus on small towns and vast landscapes before, during, and after the Gold Rush and the American Civil War. Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) takes place in the American Southwest during the Civil War, for instance. John Ford’s The Searchers (1956), as another example, is set against the backdrop of West Texas in 1868.

While Yellowstone features a plethora of Dutton family flashbacks, Sheridan’s Western takes place in modern times; the first season aired in 2018. Yellowstone primarily focuses on the newest generation of the Dutton family (led by John Dutton III, portrayed by Kevin Costner) and their struggle to maintain the Dutton family ranch, Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Frequently shortened to “Yellowstone”, the cattle ranch is the largest in Montana; because of its success, the Duttons frequently find themselves at odds while trying to protect their land against multiple groups: land developers, Yellowstone National Park, and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation.

Older westerns primarily focused on action sequences and over-the-top gunfights, although many frequently utilized humor to drive their stories and characters. From simple slapstick and one-liners to full-on spoofs, the Western genre before Yellowstone came along had its fair share of lightheartedness. Blazing Saddles (1974), Cat Ballou (1965), and My Name Is Nobody (1973) are all examples of Western comedies packed with hilarity. Examples of old-but-memorable Western television series, on the other hand, include Maverick (1957-1962) and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993-1994).

Although Yellowstone is peppered with light humor here and there, the television series is one of the most serious entries in the Western genre. Between generational trauma, family arguments, conflicts with opposing organizations, life-altering secrets, and untimely deaths, Yellowstone is one of those shows that may ease off the pedal from time to time, but never completely takes its foot off the accelerator. Yellowstone features an incredibly dramatic and emotional story throughout its five seasons, although, like any project, there are moments that come off more unrealistic than seriously impactful.

Yellowstone Evolved Into a Generational Franchise

Westerns of the past not only focused on a specific time and geographical location, but also largely stood as standalone projects without additional sequels or spin-offs ordered. Whether in the form of 30-minute episodes for broadcast, or three-hour feature films, some of the most iconic Western pieces stood out and continue to stand the test of time, for how they managed to condense their plot and finalize a story with finality, although some Western franchises were inevitably born from initial success, like Leone’s Dollars Trilogy.

As a television series, Yellowstone quietly broke away from typical Western trends by not just exploring a story on a massive scale, but then expanding the original show into a multi-generational franchise. Yellowstone features dozens of small flashbacks that slowly tell the story of how the Dutton family acquired and grew their cattle farm, but the main plot focuses on the family’s latest generation, including siblings Kayce (Luke Grimes), Beth (Kelly Reilly), Jamie (Wes Bentley), and Rip (Cole Hauser).

With Yellowstone’s massive success and the Duttons’ expansive family tree, it wasn’t long before the first spin-off was ordered. 1883 premiered in December 2021 and ran for just one season through February 2022. The television series follows the Dutton family’s migration to Montana after the Civil War and explores how they eventually founded the Yellowstone Ranch. The prequel-sequel stars Tim McGraw as John Dutton III’s great-grandfather James Dillard Dutton, as well as Sam Elliot (Shea Brennan), Faith Hill (Margaret Dutton, Dutton III’s great-grandmother), Isabel May (Elsa Dutton), LaMonica Garrett (Thomas), and Marc Rissmann (Josef). Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and Sheridan also guest star.

Less than one year after 1883 concluded, the second prequel-sequel to Yellowstone, 1923, was released by Paramount; the series ran for two seasons between December 2022 and February 2025. Set 40 years after 1883, as the title suggests, 1923 follows the Dutton family at Yellowstone ranch as they deal with the effects of a drought, Prohibition, and the initial stages of the Great Depression before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. May reprises her role as Elsa Dutton, while the series also stars Helen Mirren (Cara Dutton), Harrison Ford (Jacob Dutton), Julia Schlaepfer (Alexandra Dutton), and Brandon Sklener (Spencer Dutton).

Yellowstone’s Multi-Dimensional Characters Stand Out

The Western genre features a plethora of unique stories, but at the end of the day, the Westerns of the olden days all compete against the same formula: the protagonists are almost always rough, tough, and gritty white men who don’t just know how to pick a fight, but also know how to win one. Whether cowboys, outlaws, or lawmen out for justice, the most memorable characters from the vast Western genre are always presented as brave, courageous, and skilled marksmen who never seem to miss a target. Similarly, the most famous Western protagonists and the iconic actors behind them (Eastwood, John Wayne, and Henry Ford, to name a few) don’t just act alike, but also physically resemble one another.

While Westerns of the past almost always portrayed Native Americans in a negative and controversial light, Yellowstone redoes decades of poor decision-making in film and television by portraying Native Americans in a more favorable light. Instead of being treated as side characters whose only purpose is to lift the main protagonists, Native Americans are given a more deserving spotlight throughout Sheridan’s neo-Western, with some of the most impactful characters being Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), the chief of the Broken Rock tribe. While Native American actors like Lily Gladstone have criticized the portrayal of the Broken Rock tribe in Yellowstone, others, like Birmingham, have praised their addition.

Another demographic who are portrayed more favorably as opposed to old Westerns is women. In previous Western films and television shows, women are, more often than not, used as a plot device to advance the story, whether the protagonist needs a love interest or someone to save from trouble. Throughout Yellowstone, many strong and admirable female characters are introduced as valuable members of the Dutton family and beyond, such as Reilly’s Beth and Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille), Kayce’s wife and a member of the Broken Rock tribe.

What’s Next For Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Universe?

Sheridan’s Yellowstone isn’t done producing new projects just yet, making it one, if not the largest, Western franchise out there. The next Yellowstone spin-off, The Madison, is set to premiere by the end of 2025. Created and written, naturally, by Sheridan, The Madison will follow the McIntosh family, who reside in the Madison River Valley of Montana, after experiencing a tragedy in New York City, facilitating their move. The show is set to introduce a new ensemble cast, including Michelle Pfeiffer (Stacy Clyburn), Patrick J. Adams (Russell McIntosh), Elle Chapman (Paige McIntosh), and Matthew Fox (Paul).

After The Madison, Yellowstone fans have to wait until 2026 to watch the next spin-off in production, Y: Marshals. Although not much is known about the series just yet, Grimes is expected to reprise his role as Kayce, the oldest son of Dutton III. Although The Madison and Y: Marshals are the only two additional spin-offs currently in the works, multiple other Yellowstone projects have been considered since the original series’ premiere, such as 6666 (focusing on the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas, which was featured in Yellowstone seasons 4 and 5), and 1944 (which one could assume would be set during World War II). When it comes to the Western genre, it’s clear that Sheridan has his hands in the right section of the entertainment industry, with Yellowstone not just a highlight of his career, but a highlight across Westerns of the past, present, and undeniable future.