Having watched "1883" and all the episodes of "1923" that have been released so far, it seems like I really should start the main show proper. This season is, essentially, a big budget, well-acted soap opera, with the trials and tribulations of the Dutton family taking centre stage.
John Dutton (Kevin Coster) is the current custodian of the Yellowstone Ranch in Montana, that has been in his family for around 150 years. Despite their disfunction, stemming from the death of matriarch Evelyn (Gretchen Mol), the Dutton family dominate the local area. His eldest son Lee (Dave Annable) is being groomed to take over the ranch, Jamie (Wes Bentley) is the family lawyer and is being prepped for politics, Beth (Kelly Reilly) is a financier and willing to do anything to protect her father. Only youngest son Kayce (Luke Grimes) has rejected the life, living with his wife nearby having returned from the Navy. John fights, with all the tools at his disposal, to keep his land as his enemies conspire against him.
What I liked was that, despite the rhetoric that the show is for a conservative audience, it's not "old time values" propaganda. Being a cowboy, frankly, looks awful. With death and injury, a near constant risk and the crushing, all-consuming boredom of it is very real. There are no real heroes and villains in the show either, Dan played by Danny Houston and Thomas Rainwater, played by Gil Birmingham, conspire against John, but their white-collar plotting doesn't match the actual murders committed by people at the Yellowstone. John in particularly attempts to motivate his children by providing or withholding affection, he conspires with, and against them and he manipulates local authorities to his benefit.
It is a melodramatic soap opera, at heart. Each episode seems to see some member of the cast dying, or being seriously injured, or placed in mortal peril. It's "Dallas" with better production values. It's an enjoyable time though and if, as the current reading suggests, the show is yet to hit its stride yet, then that bodes well.
(Also, I'm asking real questions about myself related to how I feel about Beth. I'm going to put it down in red hair and smoky eye makeup, and definitely not her personality. )
John Dutton (Kevin Coster) is the current custodian of the Yellowstone Ranch in Montana, that has been in his family for around 150 years. Despite their disfunction, stemming from the death of matriarch Evelyn (Gretchen Mol), the Dutton family dominate the local area. His eldest son Lee (Dave Annable) is being groomed to take over the ranch, Jamie (Wes Bentley) is the family lawyer and is being prepped for politics, Beth (Kelly Reilly) is a financier and willing to do anything to protect her father. Only youngest son Kayce (Luke Grimes) has rejected the life, living with his wife nearby having returned from the Navy. John fights, with all the tools at his disposal, to keep his land as his enemies conspire against him.
What I liked was that, despite the rhetoric that the show is for a conservative audience, it's not "old time values" propaganda. Being a cowboy, frankly, looks awful. With death and injury, a near constant risk and the crushing, all-consuming boredom of it is very real. There are no real heroes and villains in the show either, Dan played by Danny Houston and Thomas Rainwater, played by Gil Birmingham, conspire against John, but their white-collar plotting doesn't match the actual murders committed by people at the Yellowstone. John in particularly attempts to motivate his children by providing or withholding affection, he conspires with, and against them and he manipulates local authorities to his benefit.
It is a melodramatic soap opera, at heart. Each episode seems to see some member of the cast dying, or being seriously injured, or placed in mortal peril. It's "Dallas" with better production values. It's an enjoyable time though and if, as the current reading suggests, the show is yet to hit its stride yet, then that bodes well.
(Also, I'm asking real questions about myself related to how I feel about Beth. I'm going to put it down in red hair and smoky eye makeup, and definitely not her personality. )