Yellowstone

Game of Thrones of the Wild West, mixed with the best of Dallas. A neo-western that actually has almost everything: great family drama, political scheming, wit, charm, and of course an emphasis on the cowboy lifestyle, portrayed in a just-right entertaining yet information-rich way, where the viewer gets a peek under the hood of this complex microcosm with its own rules while getting a taste of the idyllic flavour of untamed nature. The peak is on the cusp of seasons two and three, when the whole thing takes off like a runaway train, but even though the latter episodes slow down considerably and instead of a rich plot it's more like a Marlboro commercial, it's still easily the most likeable western world in a long time. I'd venture to consider Costner and Hauser as absolute gods on whom this stands and falls, regardless of how the ending turn out in the fifth season. (11/05/2023)

You can see with Sheridan that he has a positive relationship with what he is filming and talking about. He gives Yellowstone a specific touch, keeping an eye on the details, the various cowboy traditions and rituals, respectful of this particular way of life, but also cinematically sweeping and complex. The first season had a simple task: to outline the main plot and introduce characters that are so complex and internally torn that those 9 episodes are hardly enough. (06/16/2023)

The opening 20 seconds already make clear that this will be something extraordinary. The Yellowstone pilot looks like a 21st century Game of Thrones, except the king wears a cowboy hat instead of a crown, and the Croatian Kings Landing is replaced by a magnificent log cabin with many acres of land in the untamed landscape of Montana. So far, the characters are a bit one-dimensional, but the cards are clearly and promisingly dealt in the beginning. “Just tell me who to fight ? Everyone.” (06/06/2023)

A seeming slowdown that allows the viewer to explore the complexity of the main characters and gradually peel off more and more layers and perceive their motives, attitudes and, in fact, their overall identity. I suppose this trend will continue for a few more episodes, the creators of GoT did it in a similarly subtle way. So far, a modern western that the creators are holding firmly by the reins. (06/07/2023)

Some of the situations are surprisingly too straightforward and simplistically presented, but if the whole thing works, everything will be fine. There are still many characters whose identities and motivations the viewer has to unravel and place them somewhere. The most interesting by far, aside from Kevin Costner's character, is Kelly Reilly and her Beth, who is literally off the rails in places. (06/08/2023)

Probably the shortest episode so far, and a lot happens very quickly. Beth shows up slightly crestfallen, but with a brilliant strategy. She’s superb in the funny scene in the bar. Kelly Reilly's acting repertoire is admirable, she handles a number of different situations with breathtaking precision. And this time there are plenty of fights and a proper dose of cowboys. Yellowstone has its own distinctive character and slowly and subtly gets under the viewer's skin, whether they are ready for it or not. (06/10/2023)

Another acting tour-de-force by Kelly Reilly. I haven't seen mental anguish played so brilliantly in a long time, but you believe Beth in every gesture. The best scene is the interrogation, of course. (06/10/2023)

This episode brings that moment when you are no longer very much looking forward to what will happen next, but then you see your favourite characters trying to get out of a major predicament. Apparently that's the key to what elevates a good series to a unique one. (06/10/2023)

An adventure episode with some typical western elements, a magnificent bear, Japanese tourists and one exceptionally gritty scene. Gradually, it seems that each episode reveals the secrets of one of the characters. Here we start to get under Rip's skin and it is quite possible that he will be a big favourite for many fans of the series. (06/16/2023)

Rip and his past are the main domain of this season, his character is very well written and brilliantly acted. It's also interesting to watch Beth, whose schemes seem believable and realistic within limits, which is a nice change from most of the others. And to make matters worse, the son and father have a little squabble. All the character work is top-notch, it's just that the accidents and killing are maybe too much in the context of the nature of the series. (06/16/2023)

A balanced episode that doesn't look like the last one, probably because it wasn't planned to be the last one from the beginning. Everything is relatively calm heading into the finale, which remains open and ready for the second season. Rip is once again the darling of the crowds and the cowboy vibe permeates this episode all around. (06/16/2023)

A tad better than Season 1. This season does a good job developing all the key characters. It doesn’t stand still or stagger, we get more and more under the skin of the main characters, sometimes the creators allow it more and sometimes less. But when the key conversations, decisions and actually touching moments come, it's clear that the writers and casting didn't fail. In addition, this season was peppered with excellent neo-cowboy mobsters and the Beck brothers, who added the appropriate flavour to the already very interesting mosaic of individualism and desire for power. (06/30/2023)

A more leisurely start, similarly conceived to the one in the first season. It's a tease almost all the way through, only for the creators to land a mighty blow at the end. It’s quite effective again. (06/20/2023)

A fantastically lively Beth and a great clash of male egos – Rip vs Kacey. To make things more interesting, the whole final scene is like one big teaser for the next episode. Kevin Costner plays the hostile morose to perfection. (06/20/2023)

Pretty decent romance from Costner, as an actor has shown that he can still handle the more subtle scenes – once a bodyguard, always a bodyguard – and as his character in Yellowstone proves that he's not just a grumpy old grouch, but a flesh and blood man who can take off his armor and at least occasionally function "normally". It will also be interesting to follow the new players on the scene. (06/24/2023)

A detective episode, new interesting characters on the scene (more Kelly Rohrbach, please) and once again Beth ruling the show. Her complicated, unpredictable and ambiguous character is an exhibition of the work of the writers and the actress herself. (06/24/2023)

A surprising maneuver by the worst-acted character in the series so far. Jamie is an interesting figure full of wrongs and inner turmoil, but Wes Bentley doesn't have the range to play this character the way it demands. Anyway, given the development of the story and the pace, it's still a great show. (06/28/2023)

An episode where, exceptionally, almost nothing goes wrong, and that in itself is quite a rarity. So, more or less, it's all about deepening the feuds and wounds of our favourite characters. And if that was not enough, there are also some likeable cameos from supporting roles. (06/28/2023)

For a long time it seems to be the high standard we are used to, but the last few minutes take it to another dimension and remind us of the toughest "civil" violence, which we can enjoy in the sense that the brutality is still within acceptable limits, but at the same time the scene is naturalistic, dynamic and most importantly extremely gripping. Sheridan is in his element, like a fish in water. (06/28/2023)

The Becks are portrayed brilliantly and make more than worthy opponents to the rest of the cast. An interesting meeting of the three main players, otherwise the investigation begins and there is a relative calm after a difficult previous episode. Beth will never be the same, that’s for sure. (06/28/2023)