A New Era or the End of an Era?
When Yellowstone premiered, many hailed it as the show that would revive the classic Western genre on television. Viewers were excited to see the gritty landscapes, strong moral compasses, and hard-edged characters reminiscent of the old West. However, as the series gained momentum, it became increasingly clear that it wasn’t reviving the Western genre—it was dismantling it.
In this article, we’ll explore how Yellowstone has reshaped the Western genre on TV, not by renewing it, but by forever changing it—and not for the better. So, buckle up, partner, as we break down why Yellowstone didn’t save the Western genre; it destroyed it.
What Made Western TV Shows So Iconic in the First Place?
Before Yellowstone, the Western genre on TV had a rich and storied history. Shows like Bonanza, The Lone Ranger, and Gunsmoke laid the foundation for what we think of as the classic Western. These shows celebrated the untamed American frontier, where lawmen fought criminals, and cowboys roamed the plains in search of justice.
But what truly made these Westerns iconic wasn’t just their setting. It was the larger-than-life characters, the moral clarity, and the intense sense of right versus wrong. These shows created heroes that were easy to root for—and villains who were just as easy to hate.
The Shift in TV’s Landscape: How Yellowstone Came to Power
When Yellowstone hit the screen in 2018, it wasn’t just another Western drama. It was a product of a modern TV landscape that had evolved dramatically. With shows like Breaking Bad, True Detective, and Game of Thrones, audiences had come to expect more complexity, more morally gray areas, and a more intricate web of character development.
At first glance, Yellowstone appeared to be another classic Western. But on closer inspection, it quickly became clear that it was something else entirely: a modern soap opera disguised as a Western. This shift in tone is part of why it didn’t so much revive the Western genre, but rather replaced it with something far less pure.
What Yellowstone Got Right: The Appeal of Modern Westerns
Yellowstone certainly succeeded in one area: it captured the imagination of modern audiences. It understood that to be successful in today’s TV environment, a show needed to have both spectacle and substance.
The series is packed with stunning cinematography of Montana’s breathtaking landscapes and gripping plot twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. But these elements are wrapped up in a narrative filled with morally ambiguous characters, family drama, and corporate intrigue—not the simple, straightforward tales of good versus evil that Westerns traditionally offered.
The Death of the Classic Western Hero
One of the major ways Yellowstone killed the Western genre was by subverting the traditional idea of the Western hero. In earlier Western TV shows, the protagonist was often a rugged cowboy or a lawman who embodied traditional virtues. They were people who did the right thing because it was the right thing to do.
Enter John Dutton, the antihero of Yellowstone. Dutton is ruthless, calculating, and often willing to sacrifice his own family’s morals for the sake of his land and legacy. He’s the embodiment of a more modern type of hero—one who isn’t concerned with clear-cut moral choices but with survival, power, and control.
In this respect, Yellowstone pulled the rug out from under the traditional Western hero and replaced him with someone who was harder to categorize, making it harder for viewers to connect with the characters in the same way they once did.
The Embrace of Grimy, Modern Realism
Another element that set Yellowstone apart from classic Westerns was its commitment to a darker, grittier depiction of life on the frontier. The Western genre has always had an element of rugged individualism and the sense that the land was as dangerous as it was beautiful. But Yellowstone takes that idea to a new level, focusing on power struggles, personal vendettas, and political corruption.
This wasn’t the same as the Westerns of the past. Shows like Bonanza or Gunsmoke weren’t about the corporate power plays or cutthroat business dealings that Yellowstone regularly depicts. This shift in focus ultimately rendered the traditional Western trope irrelevant, as the genre adapted to modern tastes at the expense of its original essence.
How Yellowstone Sidelined Other Westerns
For all its popularity, Yellowstone inadvertently had a detrimental effect on other Western-style shows. As audiences flocked to the Dutton family’s dramatic, tumultuous world, other more traditional Westerns found themselves struggling to gain traction.
Shows like The Son or Godless sought to breathe new life into the Western genre, but were overshadowed by the overwhelming success of Yellowstone. By blending family melodrama with Western tropes, Yellowstone essentially rendered these efforts obsolete in the eyes of mainstream audiences.
The Problem with Yellowstone’s Glorification of Violence and Power
While Yellowstone is undoubtedly popular, its glorification of violence and power plays a huge role in why it ultimately undermines the Western genre. In classic Westerns, violence was often a necessary evil, but it wasn’t the focus of the show. Instead, it was the context within which larger moral themes played out.
Yellowstone, however, puts violence and brutality front and center. Characters regularly engage in ruthless, bloody confrontations, often without facing the consequences of their actions. This portrayal of unchecked violence has contributed to the show’s popularity, but it has also dulled the sense of morality that used to be the hallmark of the genre.
The Lost Art of the Western’s Moral Compass
In the past, Westerns provided a clear moral compass, offering audiences the opportunity to root for the “good guys” and cheer for justice. These shows established a clear line between what was right and what was wrong.
With Yellowstone, that line becomes blurred. John Dutton, for all his faults, is still the show’s protagonist, and the audience is expected to sympathize with him. The show’s lack of moral clarity is a far cry from the simplistic, almost idealized morality of earlier Westerns—and it’s one of the reasons why the genre feels like it’s lost its heart.
Is Yellowstone to Blame for the Decline of Western TV?
Some critics argue that Yellowstone single-handedly caused the decline of Western TV. By taking the genre in a more modern, sensationalized direction, the show has made it difficult for more traditional Westerns to find success. The genre now feels exhausted, and new shows that attempt to return to the genre’s roots often seem outdated or irrelevant in comparison.
This isn’t to say that Yellowstone isn’t a good show—it certainly has its merits. But its impact on the Western genre cannot be understated. Yellowstone didn’t revive the genre. It shifted it, taking it away from its core values and transforming it into something unrecognizable.
The Future of Western TV: Is There Hope?
The future of Western TV remains uncertain. With Yellowstone dominating the airwaves, it’s tough to predict what direction the genre will take. But one thing is clear: the genre’s roots are growing weaker, and new attempts at Westerns are becoming increasingly rare.
For Western TV to thrive again, it will need to rediscover the elements that made it great in the first place—namely, clear moral storytelling, memorable characters, and a genuine exploration of the American frontier. Yellowstone may have captured the modern audience, but the future of Western TV may need to turn back to its roots to survive.
Conclusion: The End of an Era?
In the end, Yellowstone may have killed the Western genre on TV, not because of its quality, but because it changed the very nature of what made Westerns great. The show turned the Western into something else—a darker, more morally ambiguous drama that lacks the clarity and ideals that the genre was built upon.
While Yellowstone will no doubt continue to be a cultural phenomenon, it’s important to acknowledge the price it’s paid for the Western genre. Yellowstone didn’t breathe new life into the genre; it buried it beneath a wave of modern sensibilities and complex character arcs. If you’re hoping for a return to the classic Western TV shows of old, it’s unlikely you’ll find it in the shadow of the Dutton family’s empire.
FAQs
1. Did Yellowstone revive the Western genre? No, Yellowstone didn’t revive the Western genre; it transformed it into something darker and more modern, ultimately moving away from the genre’s traditional roots.
2. Why is Yellowstone so popular? Yellowstone is popular because it blends modern family drama with Western themes, creating a gripping narrative filled with power struggles and moral ambiguity that resonates with today’s audience.
3. What makes a classic Western TV show? Classic Western TV shows typically focus on clear moral dilemmas, the battle between good and evil, and characters who embody traditional virtues such as justice, loyalty, and honor.
4. Can the Western genre make a comeback on TV? For the Western genre to make a true comeback on TV, it will need to return to its roots, focusing on moral clarity, memorable characters, and stories about justice and survival.
5. How did Yellowstone change the Western genre? Yellowstone shifted the Western genre by introducing darker, morally complex characters and plotlines, moving away from the traditional themes of justice and clear-cut good versus evil.
