Taylor Sheridan’s four-season crime thriller is doing what Yellowstone couldn’t, and it’s exciting to see. Yellowstone has carved out a unique cultural space for itself, simultaneously one of the most popular shows of the 21st century, while also being tainted by controversy and fluctuating quality that have damaged its legacy. Often described as a Western Succession, the Paramount Network series might have pulled in far more viewers than HBO’s Emmy-winning masterpiece, but its overarching narrative was significantly less deliberate.
Aside from the numerous spinoffs planned to expand the world of Yellowstone in the coming years, Taylor Sheridan has taken his Paramount success as an opportunity to launch a television empire of his own. With several ongoing series, Yellowstone is still the most prominent, but it might not be for long as Mayor of Kingstown enters its fourth season, earning praise from fans and critics.
‘Mayor of Kingstown’ Succeeds in Longevity Where ‘Yellowstone’ Failed
Mayor of Kingstown’s latest season is proof that the show has legs. When it seemed like the series might have been losing some steam, with Milo and Iris’s stories coming to a close in Season 3, Mayor of Kingstown replenished its cast with Edie Falco and Lennie James, putting new, compelling pieces on the board. It’s bought itself more time, allowing creators Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon to fulfill their intended 5-season plan for Mike McLusky.
Yellowstone was at its peak in seasons 2 and 3, as it felt like the large ensemble cast offered a degree of variety few shows could provide. John Dutton and his children offered the Succession-like family/political intrigue, Beth and Rip’s “will-they-won’t-they” was a surprisingly tender romantic subplot, Kayce’s heroics often resulted in some well-choreographed action, and the bunkhouse crew provided an exceptional mix of heart and humor. The problem was the show’s failure to capitalize on the dynamic cast, hammering home repeated dynamics until Season 5 suffered from contrived storytelling.
When reflecting on Yellowstone’s cast, the series maintained the same core group of characters throughout, with the most notable removal being Kevin Costner for the final stretch. Yellowstone arguably had a dynamic core of characters, but there’s something to say about Mayor of Kingstown’s ability to cycle characters in and out that’s helped it stay fresh. Kyle Chandler, Dianne West, and Aidan Gillen were some of the biggest names on the series when it began, and they’ve all been killed off.
I still wouldn’t make the argument that Mayor of Kingstown is better than Yellowstone, but it’s evidently maintaining a steadier ship, which could benefit it more in the long run. If the show runs for five complete seasons, there may be an argument to make for Mayor of Kingstown, not Yellowstone, being Taylor Sheridan’s opus.
- Release Date
-
2018 – 2024
- Network
-
Paramount Network
- Directors
-
Stephen Kay, Taylor Sheridan, Christina Alexandra Voros, Guy Ferland, John Dahl
- Writers
-
John Coveny, Ian McCulloch