Since its release, Yellowstone has captivated viewers with beautiful landscapes and an Old West sensibility. Contemporary problems and the brutality of human nature unravel throughout its five seasons. Centering on the Dutton family, who manage the Yellowstone Ranch, the show follows their conflicts as they struggle to preserve ranch culture. Gunfights, deaths and rivalries are all part of the family affair. The bingeable and highly entertaining show has since expanded into a franchise with multiple spin-off shows at work.

Perhaps the stunning, nostalgic aesthetic is what makes the show so captivating. There’s something about Yellowstone that really draws viewers into its western world. Yellowstone’s atmosphere holds everything in its universe together throughout all five seasons. What might seem repetitive to some may be considered an honored tradition by others; however, one thing viewers can all agree on is that Yellowstone is one of the best Western shows made in recent years.

5.Season 4 Continues the Clichés From Previous Seasons

Maybe it’s the fact that Season 3 is simply too good to suppress, but Season 4 lands flat and marks the beginning of the show’s downfall. Not a lot happens throughout the season. Even the surprise attack on the Duttons didn’t end up leading the show anywhere new. Disappointment comes when a show fails to meet viewers’ expectations, and Season 4 is a good example of that. Viewers have accused this season of falling back into its own clichés. There’s just nothing new in Season 4 that catches viewers’ attention.

While critics praise the show for taking a stand about preserving ranch culture and telling tales of late-stage capitalism, some viewers turn their noses up as they sense the insertion of politics.

Season 4 has some of the worst twists and repetitive storylines in Yellowstone that make viewers worry that the show has run out of new ideas. The bunkhouse serves as the primary site for Jimmy, but now that he has become a real cowboy, the bunkhouse’s purpose has been completed. Beth has gone from being a difficult but loveable character to someone very toxic. Jamie always messes up. This season once again includes failed assassinations, which seems like a recurring event that happens every season. It does get old in Season 4, especially when most of the scenes don’t contribute to the plot in any significant way. But of course, this season’s importance goes beyond a storyline. Yellowstone tells the story about the American west and John’s way of life. It taps into politics a little too much. While critics praise the show for taking a stand about preserving ranch culture and telling tales of late-stage capitalism, some viewers turn their noses up as they sense the insertion of politics. Some even accuse the show of being an advertisement rather than a proper story.

4.Season 5 Is Predictable

Fans are still waiting for the final six episodes of Season 5 to drop. They’ll arrive just in time for Christmas. However, the responses for the latest season of Yellowstone haven’t been great. After a disappointing fourth season, the entire show is at stake in Season 5. If it continues making the mistakes the show made in Season 4, it could mark the end for Yellowstone. Sadly, while Season 5 does improve slightly so far, it’s still not up to the show’s previous standard. At this point, it seems safe to conclude that the quality of the storylines has declined over the years.

Season 5 is tumultuous. While the show could be holding its cards close to its chest and waiting to hit viewers with a dramatic punch near the end, so far, Season 5 continues along the same lines as Season 4. There’s again not much going on in the season. The killings slowed down at first before picking back up again. The show also runs the risk of falling victim to low-grade melodrama soap with very few important storylines. John becomes the governor, which is interesting, but the rest of the characters seem to be trapped in who they always have been in the previous seasons. The mid-season finale brings in some decent cliffhangers that fans can get excited about. Kayce and Monica decide to move back to the ranch and Jamie plots an attack on John and Beth.

3.Season 3 Is Well Balanced

After two seasons of Old West mentality, the third season of Yellowstone swings back with more contemporary issues. When a massive corporation sets its mind on tearing up the ranch to build an airport in its place, the threat is here, and it is real. While the first two seasons of Yellowstone paint a big picture with massive landscapes, the problems going on are focused and tight. The show attends to everyday problems, instead of big world-saving issues. It is realistic and complicated. Season 3 definitely feels more grounding and real compared to the previous two.

After two seasons of Old West mentality, the third season of Yellowstone swings back with more contemporary issues.

This season is well-balanced with a good amount of melodrama and character studies. It’s less tense compared to the previous season. However, the Dutton camping trip marks a highlight in the show. There are certain dull moments, but the show still manages to keep things engaging enough, filled with occasional “lives at stake” cliffhangers that are less intellectual but still effective. The Dutton family dynamics also give out a modern-day The Godfather vibe.

2.Season 2 Is the Most Intense

The Beck Brothers are determined to antagonize the Duttons. Experts at manipulation and intimidation, the duo are the best antagonists in the show, throwing viewers some disturbing scenes when their actions are being justified. Season 2 is not short on violence. The attack on Beth keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and the Beck Brothers’ storyline is gripping. On the other hand, for a show that tightly focuses on the pain humans inflict on each other and themselves, it also seems to spend a lot of time portraying family drama. Season 2 includes some soapy moments that undermine the seriousness of the show while telling a tale about political power with an Old West sensibility.

It continues to put the Duttons in the foreground, but the camera has also turned to the workers and employees who help things run, which many viewers find refreshing.

It continues to put the Duttons in the foreground, but the camera has also turned to the workers and employees who help things run, which many viewers find refreshing. Jimmy is still learning what it takes to survive in Yellowstone, adding his outsider’s experience to the show. Rip Wheeler is struggling internally as he continues to serve the Dutton family. Cowboy adds in his perspective to help viewers understand the structure and the day-to-day tasks on the ranch. People test each other’s limits and act out of their own interests. They protect themselves and make sure that nothing goes unavenged.

Similar to his ancestor James Dutton, John, the disgruntled Dutton patriarch, has a connection to self-imposed misery. His stubbornness is reflected in everything that’s happening at the ranch and the show, with an emphasis on misery and sorrow. He’s the one making sure everything is under control, and maintaining the balance of things is hard most of the time.

1.Season 1

Season 1 gets credit for launching the entire Yellowstone franchise. The franchise has Season 1 to thank for the two spin-off shows already out and more in the works. The narration, atmosphere and world-building set the tone for everything to come. It’s so effectively captivating that it has drawn a massive fan base since day one.

With political intrigue and new businesses that threaten traditions and the old ways of life, the show ties up contemporary struggles in cowboy fashion.

The feature-length first episode is excellent. The first season tackles the tension between the Dutton family and the neighboring Indian tribes and sharply points out the main family conflicts. Not to mention, greed-driven land developers have their eyes set on the location. With political intrigue and new businesses that threaten traditions and the old ways of life, the show ties up contemporary struggles in cowboy fashion. Season 1 gives the show a strong opening and provides plenty of intrigue for fans to ponder upon. However, some viewers do find the show has a tendency to slip toward over-the-top melodrama. The scene where the meth lab explodes while Kayce and Monica are out on a drive seems too unrealistic.

Many viewers have found Yellowstone bingeable and highly entertaining. Set against the backdrop of mountains, rivers and valleys, the first few episodes are packed with engaging storylines and intriguing characters. Lee’s death in the season finale also sets the stakes high. Natural beauty contrasts against bloody human crimes. The world that’s established in the first few episodes continues to expand over the course of the entire season.