On paper, “Yellowstone” shares quite a bit of DNA with series such as “Succession,” “House of the Dragon,” and other high-profile dramas about legacy and inter-family turmoil. However, unlike those other two shows, “Yellowstone” features cowboys and is set in Montana, which has led many to dub it a “red-state” show aimed at Conservative viewers. And while those Conservative folks have definitely embraced the series, “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan is utterly baffled why people would consider his drama series as a “Republican show.”
Speaking to The Atlantic, Taylor Sheridan talked about the cultural response to his massively popular series, “Yellowstone.” The show, over the past several years, has exploded in popularity and made Sheridan one of the most important creators working in the realm of TV today. But the message of his series and the reception it’s earned has been morphed over that time, as many people want to paint “Yellowstone” into a tidy corner.
“They refer to it as ‘the conservative show’ or ‘the Republican show’ or ‘the red-state Game of Thrones,’ ” Sheridan said. “And I just sit back laughing. I’m like, ‘Really?’ The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. That’s a red-state show?”
Sure, there are moments that point to Libertarian beliefs, and the series does take place in a state where Conservative values lead the way. However, as Sheridan explained, “Yellowstone” is often unfairly pigeon-holed, mostly by people who haven’t seen the series.
Sheridan’s goal, in his own words, is to do “responsible storytelling,” and he aims to show the moral consequences of certain behaviors and decisions. One of his biggest inspirations is none other than Clint Eastwood’s legendary Western, “The Unforgiven.”
“[Eastwood] shattered the myth of the American Western,” he said. “So when I stepped into that world, I wanted there to be real consequences. I wanted to never, ever shy away from, This was the price.”
Of course, the artist can rarely pick and choose how their art is received and who the audience might be. So, even though Sheridan doesn’t necessarily see “Yellowstone” as a “red-state” show, there’s no denying that the series has become the poster child for “anti-woke” entertainment.
“Yellowstone” just debuted its newest season yesterday on Paramount Network.