Yellowstone is a hit television show created by Taylor Sheridan. It premiered on the Paramount Network in 2018. Since then, the show has garnered a massive following and has been praised for its impressive production value, excellent storytelling, and compelling performances by a talented cast.
Many people may consider Yellowstone a traditional Western when it's actually best defined as a modern take on the genre. The Dutton family is the leading force, but they are not the sole driver of the drama. The show touches upon the struggles of people who would be perceived as privileged.
Defining a Modern Western
Before delving into why Yellowstone is a modern Western, one must understand what makes a show or movie a Western. The Western genre is a uniquely American creation that focuses on the building and expansion of the American frontier. It heavily features lawlessness, cowboys, and gunslingers. Most Westerns revolve around a stoic hero who must fight to preserve law and order, protect the innocent, or defend a way of life. Such is the case of the story of the Dutton family. From the first episode, we see these cowboys doing some classic cowboy chores, but we also see them doing some unusual things.
These people are dealing with the hardships of managing a cattle ranch in a world that shows nothing but a lack of gratitude for their work. Urbanism is being developed with the sole purpose of gentrification. Native Americans are fighting to reclaim their ancestral lands by any means necessary. Bureaucrats want a cut of their business, and so on. These cowboys no longer fight using guns and a ruling sense of morals. They are fighting to keep their legacy alive using the legal system. Yellowstone is full of politics and compromise, and shots are fired in every direction when they fail.
The multiple plot threads can lead you to take one side, but it's not as cut and dry as it happens in other dramas. It's easy to see why the Broken Rock Reservation wants the land back. Yet it's not hard to empathize with John Dutton, who wants to keep it in the family at any cost.
The Dutton Family's Multifaceted Nature
Kevin Costner's character in Yellowstone is John Dutton, a cattle rancher fiercely protective of his land and family. Dutton's motivations are driven by his desire to control the largest ranch in the United States. The property is constantly threatened from many angles, with groups and individuals seeking to exploit the land and its resources. When we first meet John, we realize he has a strong duty to his family and legacy. He believes his responsibility is to ensure that the ranch remains in his family's hands for future generations. And you better believe he's willing to do whatever it takes to protect it—even if it means bending the law or resorting to violence.
The Dutton Children
The beautiful Kelly Reilly plays Beth Dutton. She is the eldest of the Dutton children after Cory dies and serves as the ranch's financial officer. Beth is fierce and powerful, always motivated to protect her family and maintain control over the ranch. Family trauma has made Beth erratic, but not when it comes to her job: she's a cunning strategist, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals, including manipulating and deceiving anyone to get what she wants.
Jamie Dutton, played by Wes Bentley, is the adopted son of John Dutton. He serves as the ranch's attorney for all general aspects. Jamie is internally consumed by conflict and his desire to prove himself to his father. He's always looking for validation in all the wrong places while looking to find its place in the world. Jamie is intelligent and ambitious, but he lacks judgment when facing pressure. Most of his actions are shaped by his desire for power and success and his complicated relationship with his father.
Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes, is the youngest of the Dutton children. A former Navy SEAL who returns to the ranch to take over as the livestock manager. Kayce made his choices in life at a very early age. He married an Indian girl and served multiple tours in the middle east to provide for his family and to protect them from harm. He is quiet and reserved, constantly haunted by his experiences in the military, and hesitant to use violence unless he needs to. Kayce usually acts as the surrogate of the audience in the show.
Cory Dutton, played by Denim Richards, is the firstborn son of John Dutton. He's prominently featured in the first promotional materials of the show, but he's killed in the first episode of the series. His death sets the stage for much of the conflict unfolding throughout the rest of the series. Although absent, Cory plays a primary role behind every action taken by all Dutton family members throughout the show. He was, after all, supposed to lead the family before his untimely passing.
Yellowstone's Contemporary Western Aesthetic
Yellowstone takes the traditional Western genre and puts a contemporary spin on it through its aesthetic. Traditional westerns feature wide-open spaces, but most of Yellowstone's stories take place on a massive modern-day ranch serving as the backdrop for most of its storylines. The show uses breathtaking cinematography to showcase the region's natural beauty while highlighting the ranch's opulence and grandeur.
The show also departs from the typical Western by focusing on family drama. Most storylines delve into the dynamics of a powerful family that owns and operates the largest cattle ranch in the USA. The conflicts that arise usually stem from the Dutton trying their best to keep the ranch running without issue, something that is way more complex than it seems.
Subverting Traditional Western Tropes
Yellowstone subverts many traditional Western tropes. The show is often viewed as conservative media, yet it offers one of the most progressive portrayals of the current Native American way of life. Native Americans are no longer the villains in this Western. The show explores their struggles and portrays them as complex individuals with agendas. Cowboys are not portrayed as these idealized stoic male figures. Most of the cowboys on the show are flawed individuals with ambitions and motivations. It's easy to pick a favorite among many of them, including Rip Wheeler (played by Cole Houser), Jimmy Hurdstrom (played by Jefferson White), and Lloyd Pierce (played by Forrie J. Smith.
Exploring The Dark Side of Modern America
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Yellowstone breaks the mold of most Westerns by exploring themes relevant to modern America. More specifically, the show deals with corporate America's dark side and how these ranchers fight dirty to keep it at bay. When an urbanism plan threatens to increase property taxes and gentrify the surroundings of his ranch, John Dutton does the unthinkable by cutting off their water supply. The show doesn’t skim over this action. It has larger ramifications later on: Dutton has to deal with a protected species of bear invading the ranch after changing the river's course.
The attention to detail in these subplots makes the show unique and entertaining. We get glimpses of political corruption, environmentalism, and the battle for land rights.
Power Struggles and Betrayals
Yellowstone features a lot of power struggles and betrayals, something prevalent in modern dramas. However, the show manages to put its spin on it by showing the true side of human nature and the lengths people will go to protect their interests. Most characters are multidimensional, full of layers, with their motivations unclear. This adds extra complexity to the show and makes it stand out from traditional Westerns.
It’s safe to say Yellowstone is a deconstruction of the American Western. The show is a breath of fresh air for people who want a peek into the world of cowboys. The prevalent American culture showcased in the show is almost a lifelike experience of the modern concerns of Cowboy life. Yellowstone is great to see why rancher work is fulfilling, but it's also helpful to understand the challenges faced by this industry.
