6 Harsh Realities Of Being A Yellowstone Fan
Taylor Sheridan forever left his mark on the TV Western with Yellowstone, but being a fan of the series sometimes comes at a cost. In many ways, Sheridan’s epic five-season tale about Montana’s powerful Dutton family is the gift that keeps on giving, as it’s spawned numerous spinoffs, ensuring we don’t have to leave the Yellowstone universe just because the original series has ended.
Yellowstone’s Ending Didn’t Live Up To The Rest Of The Show
Yellowstone got off to a bit of a slow start, but it quickly picked up steam, with each season getting better and better. The villains became more brutal, and some of Yellowstone‘s best episodes were its (literally) explosive later-season finales.
That’s what made Kevin Costner’s departure such a crashing disappointment. The death of John Dutton was never meant to be part Yellowstone season 5, part 2, and Taylor Sheridan was left scrambling, with his original plan for ending the series now up in smoke.
Fans were made aware that Costner wouldn’t be returning well ahead of season 5, part 2’s premiere, which just meant that rather than being excited for Yellowstone‘s ending, we were trepidatious about it. And what we got turned out worse than we could have thought possible.
The show was never going to be as good without John Dutton — that was a given. But Yellowstone tarnished its own legacy by killing off the ranching patriarch in such a nonsensical way, first with the suicide fakeout, and then with the reveal that faceless assassins hired by Sarah Atwood were the ones to murder John.
It left a sour taste in our mouths that made Yellowstone‘s final episodes a slog rather than a thrill. It’s also something we’ll have to dread upon rewatches.
Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Controversies Overshadow The Series
Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone exit was bad enough from a storytelling standpoint, but the behind-the-scenes controversies behind it make things even worse. Though the John Dutton actor has been complimentary of the show since he left it, the drama still leaves a dark cloud over Yellowstone.
Each reason that has been cited for Costner’s departure — scheduling conflicts, creative differences, and pay disputes — is sad in its own way. Costner’s frustration with Yellowstone‘s lengthy filming schedule and splitting the final season up into two parts is understandable, but it does hurt knowing that he left behind an iconic Western show for Horizon: An American Saga, his failed Western movie franchise.
It’s also upsetting that Costner and Sheridan butted heads creatively, as it was their collaboration that made Yellowstone such a spectacular show, which couldn’t have existed without Sheridan’s creative vision and Costner’s masterful performance as the Dutton patriarch. Costner has also said he’ll likely go to court over his disputed Yellowstone salary, which also sours the series.
When we think about Yellowstone, we want to remember it as an epic Western series with excellent characters, particularly the stoic John Dutton. The fact that the fighting and power struggles don’t appear confined to the Yellowstone universe leaves a bad taste in our mouths.
Taylor Sheridan Is Giving Us Too Many Yellowstone Spinoffs
While Yellowstone‘s behind-the-scenes controversies are incredibly upsetting, this, on the other hand, is the very definition of a “champagne problem.” Really, a TV show getting multiple spinoffs only speaks to its success and popularity, and all the past and upcoming Yellowstone spinoffs make it a great time to be a fan.
However, for some of us, spinoff fatigue is setting in. We already have two Dutton family prequels in 1883 and 1923, and now we’re getting another in 1944. We’ll also see Beth and Kayce Dutton in their own respective spinoffs, Dutton Ranch (working title) and Y: Marshals.
If that’s not enough, The Madison, a show set in the Yellowstone universe and starring brand new actors, including Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, is in the works. And while 6666 has been put on hold, if it resumes, we’ll also be treated to the story of Jimmy Hurdstrom working at the titular Texas ranch.
Even those who are eager to lap up any Yellowstone spinoff Taylor Sheridan throws at us will be struggling to digest it all. Furthermore, it’s improbable that each of the series will match Yellowstone‘s quality and tone, and could risk muddying the franchise.
The Duttons Are Not Held Accountable For Their Criminal Activities
To be a Yellowstone fan is to accept the fact that the Duttons are, by and large, terrible people. They break more laws than we can count, but we love them anyway.
However, the fact that none of the Duttons or Rip seem remotely in danger of getting arrested or held accountable for their worst crimes requires a level of suspended disbelief that borders on ridiculous. Yellowstone‘s “train station” is literally full of the Duttons’ enemies. Has no law enforcement official noticed the disappearances of multiple people and put two and two together?
Honestly, the last thing Yellowstone fans would want is to see their favorite characters tried and convicted for their crimes — that would ruin the show. But the fact that they face so few legal consequences for their violent lives makes the plot a little silly.
Watching Yellowstone Can Be Emotionally Exhausting
As much as we love the intense, brutal world the Duttons live in, it can be almost too relentless to watch. The moment John wins one battle, another immediately pops up, giving us no reprieve. Most of the time, the characters are miserable, and after a while, that feeling can spread to the audience.
Yellowstone also has a habit of dumping a tremendous amount of hardship on its more likable, kind-hearted characters. For example, Monica almost dies multiple times in Yellowstone, and while she’s a strong character who’s occasionally given meaty storylines, those are often dropped in favor of making her a victim.
John Dutton’s children are also all broken and traumatized in their own unique ways, and this just gets worse as the fight to save the ranch gets more intense. It’s hard not to point the finger at John for prioritizing his love for his land more than the emotional well-being of his kids, and when looked at through this lens, Yellowstone becomes more sad than gripping.
Yellowstone Never Got The Awards Love Or Prestige It Deserved
Despite all its problems, Taylor Sheridan gave us television gold with Yellowstone. From 2018 through 2025, we were given five (mostly) incredible seasons of television that were just as compelling as any prestige Emmy-winning drama. But unlike shows like Succession or The Crown, Yellowstone‘s trophy case is shockingly bare.
In fact, throughout its entire run, Yellowstone was only nominated for one Primetime Emmy — for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More) in 2021. No Emmy nominations for Sheridan, nothing for Costner or any of the other wildly talented Yellowstone actors, not even one for its unskippable dramatic opening credits.
Sadly, it’s possible that Yellowstone‘s popularity may have worked against it. It very well may have been viewed as too accessible compared to its high-brow contemporaries. It’s an unfortunate message to send — that series about billionaires or royalty are deserving of awards, while a show that appeals to an underserved working-class audience does not.