Yellowstone

(Review is only for the first two seasons)

I came into this show not expecting to like it but the storyline, acting, and cinematography is superb. Basically it's Mafia Wars in Montana with intermittent giant doses of testosterone (cowboys with guns on horses while fishing)! Costner is a master actor as lead of the Duttons. The show is at its finest when it shows the chessboard moves the Duttons and their enemies engage in.

The show gets gummed early in the second season but starts rolling again midway through. Kelsey Asbille is the weakest link as Monica and plays a poor hand badly, the storyline jettisons awkwardly out and the acting just misses the mark.

I think Cole Hauser as Rip may be the strongest acting (sans Costner himself) and looked forward to all the scenes Rip was in. Thomas Rainwater is great too. The storyline hums and the scenery is beautiful.

Just as Cormac McCarthy's "All The Pretty Horses" was a little more raw and brutal than the title suggests, this show strikes in a similar vein. Highly recommend and wish I didn't wait so long to watch it.

This is the type of show where cowboy/western life meets big city mafia life. This show is well cast, the first two episodes have been well written and leaves you wanting more after every episode. Not to mention the Montana and Utah scenery is beautiful.

The Dutton's remind me of the Ewing's from the 70's drama "Dallas". In short Yellowstone is "Dallas" meets "Sopranos".

We have always liked Herr Costner's Western output,(...I think 'Open Range' with the peerless Robert Duval is one of the Greatest ever...),and this series is one of his best, although, I suppose his Family, with all their various issues, probably have more screen time...no bad thing as they are all, uniformly brilliant with the 'Cherry on Top of the Cake', Kelly Reilly as his mercurial, combative daughter'Beth' chewing up the scenery every time she's centre stage. Everyone else are superb too, though. We have just finished Season 4 and loved it especially all the proper Cowboy 'stuff' with incredible scenes of competition Horse riding, Rodeo riding and the like...Wonderful stuff. Cannot wait to see how the superb series ends. Bravo to All involved...Yee Hah!!!........ .......Was a bit rushed doing this review, last night, so I didn't even get to mention other great characters like the excellent Native American contingent, uniformly dignified and charismatic and the 2nd 'Cherry on the Cake'.... Cole Hausers 'Rip' who my wife tagged straight away...she loves hunky, rugged men hence...er...me,(..Hee hee..).

Yellowstone was one of the best shows on tv from when it originally came on in 2018 right up to the ending in 2024. It was the #1 show on cable for all 5 seasons it was on (really it was 6 seasons because they broke season 5 into 2 parts). It's hard to explain just how good this show really is. The acting, writing, directing, cinematography, production, etc, are all incredible. It's exactly what you expect from a Taylor Sheridan show since just about everything he does is terrific. The acting was as good as anything on tv. Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Hassie Harrison, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Bentley and the rest of the cast all deserve recognition for the incredible job they do season after season, episode after episode. It's one of the rare shows where almost every season is just as good as the others. I can't recommend this show enough, just go watch it for yourself.

I live in Darby, MT where most of this is filmed - just yesterday they filmed right across the street from me in a field with a few horse and cattle. I believe the show is pretty solid story, and in the niche where Costner does his best. One thing I did notice about the first season, given my half Native American side, is it leaves you wondering who the good guys and bad guys are - perhaps both sides are both good and bad.

I will admit it is neat to see them filming while here, the ranch is just down the road from me and I pass nearly daily on the way to fish in the Bitterroot River