8 Years Later, Taylor Sheridan’s Greatest Western Still Says Everything About America

Since the Taylor Sheridan-helmed Western drama Yellowstone premiered on the Paramount Network in the summer of 2018, the series rose to prominence relatively quickly. Ignoring the initial wave of mixed-to-negative reviews upon release, the series, which concluded its five-season run in December 2024, was a hit with audiences and by Season 3 became one of the most-watched shows in America. Everyone who's heard of Yellowstone has their own opinions on the show, but love it or hate it, there's no denying that Sheridan's overnight takeover as one of the most sought-after creators in Hollywood has largely been met with a desire for more. Even after Yellowstone's finale, that appetite has hardly disappeared. But while Sheridan’s universe has continued to expand, American TV still hasn’t produced anything that has truly replaced the original series’ reach or cultural footprint.