Taylor Sheridan’s Greatest TV Western Isn’t ‘Yellowstone’ – Here’s What It Is md06

There may not be another creative storyteller working in the industry today who has more power than Taylor Sheridan, who has built an empire with the many shows that he has created for Paramount. While even Kevin Feige and James Gunn are bound by source material with their leadership of Marvel and DC Studios, respectively, Sheridan has crafted an entire universe based on his own ideas. Sheridan’s shows aren’t going away anytime soon, either, as he has many new programs in active development. Yellowstone may have been what kicked off the entire universe, but Sheridan did his best work with the limited series 1883. In addition to being the oldest entry in the Yellowstone timeline, 1883 offered the most unique approach to telling an ensemble epic.

1883 is necessary viewing for Yellowstone fans, as it explores the origins of the Dutton Ranch that is so central to the core series; it also directly sets up the events of 1923, the follow-up prequel series starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. However, 1883 is a great introduction to Sheridan’s writing style because it shows how strong he can be at recollecting nuanced historical details and building a robust ensemble of fascinating characters with unique motivations. Despite being a single season consisting of only ten episodes, 1883 showed that Sheridan wasn’t content to just play the old hits and could do something innovative and experimental within the franchise that he crafted.

‘1883’ Is Taylor Sheridan’s Most Straightforward Western

Image via Paramount+

Image via Paramount+

Image via Paramount+

Image via Paramount+

Image via Paramount+

Although Sheridan’s work has adopted a “neo-Western” style of importing themes of the genre onto modern stories, there is nothing revisionist about 1883; the show is set in the post-Civil War generation where Americans were traveling west to settle their new homes, and follows a wagon trail that leaves Tennessee for a destination in Montana, even if there are stops in Texas and Oregon along the way. Leading the expedition is the grizzled cowboy Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott), who has been grieving the loss of his wife and child due to illness. Although Brennan knows the intensity of such a dangerous expedition better than anyone, he finds it difficult to wrangle in all the travelers, as they are woefully unprepared to survive on their own amidst the brutality of nature. Brennan is reluctant to share his command, but he does find an ally in the Tennessee captain James Dillard Dutton (Tim McGraw), who is reunited with his wife Margaret (Faith Hill) and daughter Elsa (Isabel May) after being picked up in Fort Worth. There are native tribes and thieving bands that prey upon the vulnerable group, but the simple act of perseverance proves to be the most difficult challenge.

Sheridan has often been accused of lionizing aggressive, toxic male anti-heroes like Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) in Landman or Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) in Tulsa King, but Elliott’s performance as Brennan is among the most sensitive, vulnerable heroes that Sheridan has ever created. The gruff attitude that Brennan has is a result of the violence that he has witnessed on the battlefield and the crushing loss of losing his loved ones, both of which have taught him not to take anything for granted; it’s a particularly powerful performance for those who have followed Elliott’s career, as he is one of the most recognizable modern Western stars.

Few things are more important to Brennan than loyalty, which is why he gets so infuriated when he finds that members of the expedition have been feuding and stealing from one another. Brennan’s reluctance to ask for help does not come from haughtiness, but rather an inability to put more lives at risk; he seeks to survive not for selfish reasons, but because he doesn’t believe anyone else would be equipped to lead the trip safely. This sparks a fascinating dynamic with James Dutton, a character whom he has political reasons for distrusting. While they are both veterans of the Civil War, Brennan fought for freedom in the Union Army, whereas Dutton served the Confederacy.

‘1883’ Is Taylor Sheridan’s Most Intimate, Self-Contained Series

The limited scope of one expedition across the American frontier gave 1883 a specific end goal, which makes reaching that final destination more powerful. Sheridan’s shows often run quite long, with innumerable side plots, but the relatively focused direction of 1883 allows it to be more consistent; there’s barely any unnecessary scenes, as every moment enhances the characters or story. 1883 also features a dynamic ensemble of characters, and does a much better job at representing women than many of Sheridan’s other shows. While there is some humor in seeing Elsa Dutton fall for various young men that she meets during the trip, much to the dismay of her parents, the show centers Isabel May’s character as the true protagonist of the series when she embraces becoming a cowgirl and leader. Even if Brennan is who the show begins with, it is Elsa’s narration that brings the story into focus; this is paid off later on through May offering voiceovers for both 1923 and the flagship Yellowstone series.

1883 showed Sheridan embracing a diversity within the American experience, as he examined the barriers in communication between different groups of immigrants in Brennan’s company, showing what each culture was able to bring to the table. The series is also respectful in its depiction of native culture, and goes out of its way to not paint all tribes as the same. The momentum and scope of 1883 allow it to expand to more than one place, which prevents the pacing from getting dull. While the formation of the Dutton ranch will certainly have relevance to those who have followed the Yellowstone franchise from the beginning, it also boasts a satisfying conclusion for viewers experiencing Sheridan’s shows for the first time. Other Sheridan shows have had a more difficult time sustaining interest over multiple seasons, but 1883 went out on a high note, establishing a precedent of excellence for his other Paramount shows to aim for.