5 Key Reasons Yellowstone Is Not Actually Worth Watching in 2023

Yellowstone remains one of the most-watched neo-Western series on television and one of the most successful dramas produced by Paramount. In 2018, large numbers of viewers were attracted to the series, as, with Kevin Costner as the lead, it promised a modern-day Game of Thrones set against the stunning backdrop of Montana.

Yellowstone's high ratings, the upcoming final segment of Season 5, and the buzz around Kevin Costner's exit from the project served as effective promotional tools for the show, drawing in new viewers. However, many newcomers might wonder: is this quintessential heartland drama worth their time? Here's a list of reasons Yellowstone may not be worth watching in 2023.

5. Kevin Costner Drama

Even those who haven't seen the show probably have a basic idea about the conflict between Costner and the Yellowstone team led by Taylor Sheridan. We won't pick sides, but it's worth noting that all 4.5 seasons of John Dutton's storyline development will likely conclude with him being written out of the series off-screen. How can one invest in a character knowing that his story won't have a satisfactory conclusion?

4. The Only Influential Female Character Is Awful

Don't get us wrong, Beth Dutton, portrayed by the talented Kelly Reilly, is a complex and layered character with a traumatic past. However, in a predominantly masculine show, the only female character with autonomy is depicted as a problematic psychopath, while all the other women in the show are merely non-player characters.

3. It Gets Progressively Worse

What began as a gritty drama about a ranching family and their struggle for land and power quickly devolved into a mishmash of eclectic surrealism that includes an action plot involving a plane hijacking, a political thriller element (which is actually pretty good), and a soap opera featuring traumatized, dysfunctional family members.

2. Appalling Representation Of Indigenous People

In addition to Kelsey Asbille falsely claiming Cherokee heritage, Sheridan's show attempts to downplay white accountability to Native Americans by glorifying private property.

A white family squabbling over land? The show portrays the Native community as equally power and money-hungry, suggesting that the white people's claim to the land is just as valid.

1. It Didn't Age Well

At its core, the show is a cowboy fantasy revolving around a wealthy, toxic white family who owns a ranch and holds sway over the entire state. While one could argue that it's merely a satire of such families, a Midwestern Succession if you will, Sheridan seems too invested in their personal drama. Sadly, such a vision appears too antiquated in 2023.