Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you undoubtedly know what Yellowstone is. In fact, you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t at least care about the series. Starring Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the show revolves around himself, his family, and their lives in Montana. It also heavily deals with the family’s interactions with the nearby Broken Rock Indian Reservation.
Its popularity is through the roof, though many tend to brush it off as a conservative show. While the show takes place in a traditionally right-leaning state and contains aesthetics often linked to conservative ideology, Yellowstone ‘s creator rejects the idea that it is a strictly “Republican” show.
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Taylor Sheridan, the Show’s Creator, Discussed Its Politics in an Interview With ‘The Atlantic’
Yellowstone ‘s popularity is huge and yet somewhat confusing. It has a huge draw; Deadline reports that it was last year’s most-viewed show with the under-50 demographic (outside of football, of course). Yet despite its massive success, it constantly gets snubbed for Emmy nominations or recognition.
According to the article from The Atlantic , many critics, including New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, see Yellowstone as a red-state show. The way that it’s, as Douthat put it, “anti-woke,” is the reason why it gets constantly snubbed for Emmys.
Sheridan, on the Other Hand, Doesn’t Agree With That Assessment of the Show
“They refer to it as ‘the conservative show’ or ‘the Republican show’ or ‘the red-state Game of Thrones ,’ ” he says in the interview . “And I just sit back laughing. I’m like, ‘Really?’ The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. That’s a red-state show?”
Although politics play a huge role in Yellowstone ‘s storyline (John even becomes governor of Montana in the current season), its ideology is a lot less black and white than many fans give it credit for.
In Fact, the Show Draws Ideology From Various Parts of the Political Spectrum
The Atlantic article continues to describe the show as “a mishmash of generally anti-capitalist, anti-modernist populism; pro-rancher libertarianism; conservative environmentalism … and a sympathetic, pro–Native American revolt of the oppressed.” Though on the surface, it seems to be a show about cowboys who unabashedly carry firearms and participate in traditionally masculine roles, it would be unfair to ignore the other aspects of the show that make it as multifaceted as it is.
And It’s Just Entered Its Fifth Season
Like it or hate it, Yellowstone has undoubtedly left its mark on American media. The show itself is incredibly popular — so much so that it has spawned a prequel spinoff, 1883 . Another prequel show, 1923, starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, is on the way.
For right now, though, fans can get ready to enjoy the first part of season 5 of the show, which premiered on Paramount+ this past Sunday. You can check out the season 5 trailer here if you haven’t seen it yet.
