This Underrated Western Scored 87% on Rotten Tomatoes — And Almost Became the Next Yellowstone

There was almost a perfect successor Western TV show for Yellowstone in Netflix’s Territory, but it was canceled before it could gain any momentum. Yellowstone was the most important Western TV show during the years it was airing. Whether you liked it or not, you can’t deny its staying power.

After five seasons of Yellowstone, fans were a bit at a loss about what to watch next. Sure, there are the Yellowstone spinoff series like 1883 and 1923, but for those who wanted a modern Western, there wasn’t much to be had. For a moment, it looked like Netflix would provide the answer.

Netflix’s Territory Could Have Become Yellowstone’s Perfect Successor

Territory, which premiered on Netflix in October 2024, was poised to be the next Yellowstone. The series is set in modern-day Northern Territory of Australia, at the world’s largest cattle station, Marianne Station, which has been owned for generations by the Lawson family dynasty. Sound familiar?

When Daniel (Jake Ryan), the favored son of Lawson family patriarch Colin (Robert Taylor), dies in a riding accident, rival families, gangs, Aboriginal tribes, and mining magnates all begin circling, hoping to take advantage of the Lawson succession crisis. At only six episodes, it felt like an easy show to slip into after Yellowstone.

Territory’s Cancellation Killed Its Potential To Become The Next Big Western

Frustratingly, Territory was canceled after just one season, killing its potential to be the next big Western. This would not be half as rage-inducing if Netflix did not have a reputation as a streamer that unceremoniously cancels new, interesting shows at the drop of a hat.

Territory did a lot of what Yellowstone did, but it actually felt like the series was going to succeed in some of the dimensions that Yellowstone failed in. There’s a better attempt at weaving in native storylines here and whereas it always felt like the Duttons’ land in Yellowstone, the fate of Marianne Station feels far more undetermined.

Why Netflix Canceled Territory After Just One Season

Netflix announced in February 2025 that Territory was canceled. Netflix’s director of content for ANZ, the Australian/New Zealand territory, Que Min Luu, said that Netflix looked forward to working with the cast and crew on another project (via CountryLiving).

As is often the case, Netflix did not give an explanation as to why it canceled the series. However, it’s been speculated by unconfirmed sources that production timing and Netflix scheduling issues affected the decision (via C21Media). It’s far from a unique story, but Territory‘s cancellation stings especially hard for Yellowstone fans.