A ranching family in Montana faces off against others encroaching on their land. Follow the violent world of the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Led by their patriarch John Dutton, the family defends their property against constant attack by land developers, an Indian reservation, and Americas first National Park.

Review of Yellowstone Season 1 by Peter Walkden

Yellowstone follows the Dutton Family, owners of the well-known ranch. John Dutton, the father of the family and owner of the ranch, are supported by his children, Jamie (Wes Bentley), Beth (Kelly Reilly) & Kayce (Luke Grimes). As the show begins, several elements are quite evident. Firstly, we understand there is a darker past when it comes to the Dutton family, including a tragic loss. Each family member has a different set of skills, and the surname is easily their biggest thing in common.


But John and his family discover that their ranch could be in trouble thanks to local developers and the Indian reservation. All of them have interests in either building around Yellowstone, or worse, they have desires to do whatever it takes to move the Dutton family on and claim the land of



Yellowstone for themselves. Yellowstone is certainly a slow-moving drama series. As it has many characters, the subplots also grow into something more significant as the show moves forward.

The visuals of Yellowstone are genuinely unique. Nothing regarding the visuals can be faulted. Every shot is captured well, and it is pleasing to see. The filmOCOs audio track was also just as great. Sound effects are stunning as are the memorable songs.




Performances are pleasing, and the show is loaded with many characters. None of these characters are boring. Actor Kevin Costner is excellent as the owner of Yellowstone, and I found myself getting curious watching his character trying to do what is best for the ranch and his children. Other actors such as Luke Grimes and Kelly Reilly play unforgettable roles too. Cole Hauser in a supporting role, maybe giving the very best performance I have ever seen within his career.




Overall, Yellowstone Season One is genuinely an excellent TV series. Visually this series is flawless, and the audio track is just as upbeat. I am not a fan of Westerns or shows about cowboys, but this is undoubtedly a solid drama with stunning performances that got me hooked within a matter of episodes. The story is naturally a slow burn, and the build-up towards the season-ending felt rather rewarding.


Peter has written this movie review for Sanity. See more from Peter here