Paramount+ Drops a Stunning 100% Rotten Tomatoes Western — The Ultimate Contender to Replace Yellowstone

luke-grimes-and-kevin-costner-on-horseback-in-yellowstone

Paramount+’s Joe Pickett is a great replacement for Yellowstone after you finish Taylor Sheridan’s Western TV epic. Western TV series are in an excellent place with shows like Yellowstone, Longmire, and The English providing options in just about every subgenre you can think of.

Taylor Sheridan’s contributions to the modern Western TV landscape can’t be overstated, and even Yellowstone detractors have to admit that the success of the series has opened the door for many more stories to be told. If you’re looking for something to give you similar Yellowstone thrills, check out Joe Pickett.

What Is Joe Pickett About?

Marybeth (Julianna Guill) holding a shotgun in Joe Pickett

Joe Pickett premiered on Spectrum Originals in December 2021, introducing the world to the titular game warden played by Michael Dorman. A dedicated public servant, Joe moves with his wife Marybeth (Julianna Guill) and their two daughters to Saddlestring, Wyoming, at the beginning of the series, to oversee Yellowstone National Park.

At first, Joe thinks he’s finally made it in his career, but when he discovers the body of poacher Ote Keeley (Ben Hollingworth) in his backyard, he begins to suspect there may be a conspiracy in his sleepy town. The ever-lawful Joe ends up making some powerful enemies with the town’s longstanding power players.

Joe Pickett Could’ve Been The Next Justified

Never mind Yellowstone, Joe Pickett could have been the next Justified if it hadn’t been canceled after two seasons. Michael Dorman, whose credits include For All Mankind, Territory, and Patriot, is captivating as a game warden who decides his duties to the park extend past apprehending poachers.

Joe is not a superhero, and much like Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) in Justified, he has plenty of his own problems and can’t always be expected to save the day at the last second. The series has a gritty sense of realism to it, a realism that leads to some unexpected moments of comedy across the seasons.

Why Joe Pickett Was Canceled

Sadly, Joe Pickett was canceled after season 2 aired in June 2023. Only a few months later, in October 2023, it was announced that the series had been canceled. It came as a bit of a surprise, considering Paramount picked up the series from Spectrum, suggesting they had a lot of faith in it.

Paramount did not explain the cancellation, but C.J. Box, the author behind the Joe Pickett novels, said the series was looking for a new home and was disappointed in the decision. It’s possible that Joe Pickett could be picked up again, so in case that happens, make sure you’re caught up.

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