Are we witnessing a maverick losing his luster, or is Taylor Sheridan the last cowboy standing in the quest to resurrect the Western genre?
Has the touch of Taylor Sheridan, the trailblazer behind the Western TV renaissance and creator of the chart-topping Yellowstone series, lost its golden gleam? Hailed as the King of Westerns, he has proven his royalty status time and again with a knack for penning riveting narratives that resonate with a multitude of viewers.
While some argue that Sheridan’s recent offerings, like Mayor of Kingstown and Special Ops: Lioness, didn’t set the screen ablaze, others tip their cowboy hats to the success of Tulsa King, bolstered by Sylvester Stallone’s undeniable swagger.
And though whirrs about quantity over quality echo among the fan base, especially post-Yellowstone season 4, it’s worth noting the curiosity & high hopes for Sheridan’s next ventures. Sadly, his involvement in the multiple projects suggests that our reigning rancher might be saddling more horses than he can ride.
Yellowstone Fans React to Taylor Sheridan’s Busy TV Lineup
Taylor Sheridan may have solidified his reputation as the King of Western but Wall Street Journal reports suggest that he has not just ruled the small screen; he’s also cashing in on his personal kingdom by renting out his Texas ranch as a set for Yellowstone.
The outlet revealed that the show’s creator has charged a princely sum of $50,000 a week for Paramount to use his ranch as a filming location. While Sheridan’s current net worth is estimated to be $70 million (Celebrity Net Worth), fans are starting to wonder if his success is causing him to spread himself too thin.
Viewers could see that acquiring his $350 million ranch was clearly a greater priority for him than penning “quality” scripts. It seems that Paramount is giving Sheridan free rein to do as he pleases, thanks to the success of Yellowstone (via THR). However, this is not making his fans happy. Some fans feel that Sheridan’s ego is taking center stage, leading to compromises in the quality of his work.
With Paramount investing more than $500 million a year (see Indie Wire) in Sheridan’s series, including 1923, 1883, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown, the pressure is on the Landman creator to deliver top-notch content. Despite the recent criticisms, some fans believe that Sheridan still has the potential to revive the Western genre.
Can Taylor Sheridan Resurrect the Western Genre in and Beyond?
In the vast landscape of television writing, one name rises above the rest: Taylor Sheridan. With his cowboy background and a pen that seems to never run out of ink, he has become a prolific force in the industry. From the wild success of films like Sicario and Hell or High Water to his recent works like Special Ops: Lioness, his talent shines brighter than a Texas starry night.
But the question remains: can Sheridan continue to be the sheriff of the Western genre? With a slew of new projects in the works, including the upcoming series Landman, it seems that Sheridan is determined to keep the spirit of the Old West alive.
Sheridan’s New American Frontier trilogy, which includes Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River, has garnered critical acclaim and accolades. The former received a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while Sheridan’s Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water, helmed by David Mackenzie, earned a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition, Sheridan wrote and directed the 2017 neo-Western crime drama Wind River, which astonishingly received an 87% approval rating (Rotten Tomatoes). Sadly, his recent projects do not live up to the quality of his previous work.
Special Ops: Lioness, while attempting to break new ground in the spy thriller genre, failed to make a lasting impression, earning merely a 56% rating (Rotten Tomatoes). Not to be forgotten is his crime thriller series, Mayor of Kingstown, which has a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Regardless, as Sheridan’s Landman prepares to make its debut (November 17, 2024) on Paramount+, he is once again poised to make a mark on the television landscape. With his signature blend of Western grit & modern storytelling, there’s no doubt that he will continue to reign supreme in the world of television writing.
Yellowstone Season 5’s second part will air on November 10, 2024.
Stream Yellowstone on Paramount+.
