You may have never heard of these two brand new spinoffs, but you should recognise their franchise. Yellowstone.
The original series follows the Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in America. They have to deal with many internal conflicts whilst also protecting their land from land encroachers. With the original cast starring Kevin Costner and Luke Grimes, viewers are taken on an adventure against corrupt politicians, oil and wood corporations, and land grabs.
The Duttons’ land is constantly involved in conflicts with towns, conservations and a local national park. But there is more to the Duttons’ drama than this. With alliances changing, unsolved murders, and hard-earned respect, there is always something happening on the Montana ranch.
With both series’ coming out so close to one another, there have definitely been some risks. But have both Marshals and Dutton Ranch exceeded fan expectations?
Marshals
This series follows Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), who leaves the Yellowstone Ranch and joins an elite team of U.S. Marshals. He combines his skills as a cowboy and a Navy SEAL to help bring justice to the state of Montana. Throughout this, Kayce and his teammates have to balance the psychological challenges that come with serving in the region’s war.
There have definitely been mixed opinions when it comes to Marshals. Some people find that this show is a comfortable watch, whereas others find the series too predictable. Marshals is essentially an experiment, with some of the pre-existing Yellowstone cast but in a whole new universe.
What worked for Marshals?
For starters, Kayce remains a strong lead character. With this spin-off based solely on his life as he steps away from the Yellowstone Ranch, many viewers enjoyed watching his story unfold. Plus, Marshals was able to encapsulate Kayce’s quiet yet thoughtful personality to anchor the show. This follows on from his life throughout the five seasons of Yellowstone. Furthermore, the show is still based in Montana, so there are still some similarities to the OG.
The production team definitely took a few risks when it came to Marshals. This was the first series in the franchise to start broadcasting on live TV. So this was definitely a gamble that the team took, and it worked somewhat in their favour. With 9.52 million viewers on its premiere night, it is clear that the show was highly anticipated. So, being broadcast on cable ended up being a successful move for director Spencer Hudnut.
In addition, another risk came through the overall plot. Although it is different from the Yellowstone world, fans of policing/crime shows ate this up. It’s as though the creators wanted to bring Kayce back to his roots, away from the cowboy life as a Navy SEAL.
The thirteen episodes must have been a success in CBS’s eyes, with Marshals being renewed for a second season not long after the premiere. So, regardless of the negative feedback from fans, Marshals will be returning to our TVs again in the future.
You can watch the trailer for Marshals here:
What didn’t work for Marshals?
Fans of the OG Yellowstone were disappointed. The plot seemed unappealing and generic, with a very weak script. Plus, other viewers did not enjoy the introduction of the new characters. But did these people give Marshals the benefit of the doubt? From reviews online, the majority of viewers only watched the first few episodes before giving up entirely as a result of the generic storylines. This can be vouched for by the low ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, where it was rated 45%. Although it is not the worst-rated show, there is definitely room for improvement.
As the show was televised on CBS, viewers also discovered that a lot of the content had been toned down. In Yellowstone, we see a lot of mature content and adult scenes. But Marshals doesn’t. This is due to the fact that the show is broadcast and made more suitable for younger audiences (with a rating of TV-14). But now it doesn’t have that same original Montana feel as the original.
Dutton Ranch
This nine-episode series follows the solo Dutton daughter, Beth (Kelly Reilly), and her husband, Rip (Cole Hauser), fighting to survive on their own ranch in Texas against challenges and local competitors. Throughout all of this, the couple is also making sure that troubled teen Carter becomes the man that he should be.
Most viewers have explained that Dutton Ranch is very similar to Yellowstone, which is why many people have preferred it over Marshals. Plus, with strong reviews backing the show, it has definitely been recognised as a great franchise successor. But is it truly meeting everyone’s standards? You can watch the trailer here!
What worked for Dutton Ranch?
Similar to Marshals, fan faves Beth and Rip’s storyline drew viewers back in. Everyone loves their relationship dynamic, and the connection between both characters is widely appreciated throughout the original series. In fact, viewers actually see a much more relaxed and softer side to their relationship throughout Dutton Ranch.
In addition, the new supporting cast is well thought out, which fans truly enjoyed. With Annette Bening and Ed Harris now part of the universe, many have discussed that their performances have actually elevated the series beyond a spin-off.
For OG Yellowstone viewers, Dutton Ranch feels more like home. Unlike Marshals, this series continues to follow a similar narrative when it comes to family life and ranch conflicts. The Western genre is exactly what drew people to the OG, so it was highly successful for the spin-off too. Also, the creator Chad Feehan ensured that Dutton Ranch included the classic content fans would expect to see in a Yellowstone spin-off. With the violence, strong language, and adult themes, it still feels like we are watching a whole new season of the original neo-Western show.
Finally, the location itself gives a new feel to the franchise. With the series being set on a Texas ranch, fans are still exposed to that Western feel. Although we have moved states from Montana, the refreshing backdrop makes Dutton Ranch more exciting for fans.
What didn’t work for Dutton Ranch?
Although many people vouch for this series, there are still some flaws that come with creating a spin-off for such a successful franchise. Plus, unlike Marshals, season two has not yet been confirmed. Has this series truly been that successful for CBS?
To begin with, some viewers found that the monologues were melodramatic. There have been some comments that classify Dutton Ranch as a ‘soap opera’. This is a result of the over-exaggerated conflicts and larger-than-life characters. So if you struggled with the franchise’s dramatic effect, this series is just the same. Also, some of the realism presented throughout the series seems questionable at times. Ranching experts have claimed that some elements have actually been dramatised (but what would you expect from a Western-inspired drama?).
In addition, a common criticism of these nine episodes is that the creators have not reinvented the formula. This means that many of the concepts throughout this spin-off actually feel more familiar rather than a new, fresh look. There are some moments throughout Dutton Ranch that are too similar to the original 2018 series, which makes the show lack that brand-new feeling.
The verdict
It is worth noting that the original creator and director, Taylor Sheridan, is solely just an executive producer for both of these spin-offs. Hence the differences in style and concepts. Sheridan has worked on Yellowstone, 1923, and 1883, but for these two new series he has taken a step back. Maybe this is why fans aren’t loving Marshals and Dutton Ranch as much as the OG.
Overall, I wouldn’t say that Marshals is an absolute flop. It definitely could have done with some improvements, but it is not a dreadful show. There is a clear gap between expectations versus reality when it comes to this show, with many people expecting the season to be close to Yellowstone. If you are a fan of procedural crime dramas (or a Kayce Dutton fan), then this will probably be a hit for you. However, if you’re expecting a Yellowstone-style show, then be prepared to be disappointed. This is because there is a lack of family drama, political conflicts, and long-form storytelling.
Furthermore, Dutton Ranch suits fans who solely want to watch a spin-off that follows the style of Yellowstone. Plus, if you loved Beth and Rip’s storyline, this series is perfect for you. But if you were expecting the plot to shift from the generic Yellowstone narrative, you may be somewhat disappointed by this series.
Have you watched both of these shows, and if so, what has been your favourite so far?
You can stream both Marshals and Dutton Ranch on Paramount+.
