Yellowstone Season 1’s 58% Rotten Tomatoes Score Broke a Major TV Trend That’s Still Wild to Think About 7 Years Later

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Yellowstone is one of television’s foremost franchises, weaving the tale of the Dutton family across generations while they strive to safeguard their cherished ranch in remote Montana. Crafted by Taylor Sheridan, this modern Western TV universe has given birth to a multitude of spinoffs and sequels, delving into various chapters of American history or focusing on characters initially introduced in prior shows. Despite the flagship series concluding after five seasons, Yellowstone remains a thriving phenomenon.

Initially, the success of the 2018 series wasn’t immediately apparent. In contrast, its debut season faced numerous hurdles such as lukewarm criticisms, which appeared to foreshadow doom for its continuation. However, against all odds, it defied conventional television standards during its second season, notably challenging a common pitfall that often plagues successful series.

Yellowstone’s First Season Had a Lukewarm Reception

Yellowstone’s Popularity Only Came Over Time

Initially, Yellowstone, now one of the most acclaimed television franchises, didn’t have such a promising start. When it initially debuted, it wasn’t a blockbuster hit and received mixed feedback from critics. According to review aggregates, the first season of Yellowstone only garnered a 58% approval rating, with critics saying, “Yellowstone is too melodramatic to be taken seriously, overshadowing the talents of its cast and stunning landscapes.” In contrast, audiences were more favorable towards the first season, giving it an overall approval rating of 82%. This indicates a significant 24% gap between the opinions of critics and viewers. Despite this rocky start, Yellowstone was still trying to captivate its audience in its inaugural season.

The initial season of “Yellowstone” wasn’t just receiving harsh criticism without reason. Its narrative, particularly the early storylines, had certain issues that made viewers find it hard to empathize with the characters. As predicted by some comments about the show’s melodramatic nature, the intense emotional displays by the characters in the first season often made the main cast seem unpleasantly unlikeable.

However, the show still garnered attention for its top-notch production quality and a talented ensemble of actors, with Kevin Costner leading the way. Despite the mixed opinions from critics, the first season attracted enough viewers to warrant renewal. This gave creators like Taylor Sheridan an opportunity to address any issues that viewers may have had with “Yellowstone’s” premiere. This also helped “Yellowstone” break a well-known curse in the television industry.

Yellowstone Didn’t Experience a Sophomore Slump Like Most Other Shows

Yellowstone Only Got Better With Its Second Season

Contrary to many other successful TV series that often struggle to maintain quality in their second seasons (a phenomenon known as the “sophomore slump”), Yellowstone surprisingly thrived and even outdid itself during its second season. Unlike shows like Heroes, which saw a significant drop in viewer interest after its first season, Yellowstone managed to exceed expectations by not only avoiding the sophomore slump but actually enhancing its quality. Critics gave Season 2 an impressive 89% approval rating, representing a substantial increase of 31% compared to the first season. The audience score, though not as dramatically, also saw an improvement, granting Yellowstone‘s sophomore season a 90% approval rating.

The enhanced appreciation ratings on Rotten Tomatoes indicate that the quality of the Sheridan-produced series, Yellowstone, has noticeably improved. This upgrade smoothes out some of the show’s initial flaws, making it more enjoyable overall. Character development is strengthened through less excessive melodrama and storylines that make characters more relatable. The Duttons, who were previously portrayed as morally complex, now confront the Beck brothers, who are far more malevolent than they, causing the Yellowstone main cast to appear heroic by comparison. Throughout its second season, the series becomes significantly more likable due to these character transformations. Ultimately, Yellowstone establishes itself as a captivating tale about family, heritage, and the wide chasm between them, which resonates strongly with both critics (82% approval rating) and fans (76% approval rating), demonstrating a substantial improvement in quality since its debut season.

How Yellowstone Grew to Become a Phenomenon

The Yellowstone Franchise Is Bigger and Better Than Ever

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I must admit that a certain TV show, initially met with lukewarm responses upon its premiere in 2018, has remarkably soared in popularity over the past seven years. The original series ran for an impressive five seasons, culminating in a thrilling finale at the end of 2024 – a conclusion that most viewers agree beautifully tied up all the loose ends of the show’s intricate storyline.

Interestingly enough, two prequels, titled “1883” and “1923,” have been produced to delve deeper into the Dutton family’s history across different eras. These limited series have also garnered significant success, attracting a stellar cast that includes big names like Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Tim McGraw, and others.

The Yellowstone saga keeps growing with fresh spin-offs, each focusing on new aspects of the Dutton family storyline post the series finale. For instance, Y: Marshalls ventures into an entirely distinct genre, introducing a unique procedural style to Taylor Sheridan’s universe. On the other hand, Dutton Ranch, a spinoff centered around Beth and Rip, delves deeper into their escapades following Yellowstone. Furthermore, Michelle Pfeiffer is set to join the Yellowstone family in an entirely new spin-off titled The Madison. Although this spin-off takes place within the same world as the original series, it has only loose connections to it. In summary, Yellowstone has transformed its initial reception from its debut season into a hugely successful TV franchise that continues to thrive without signs of slowing down.

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2025-05-25 01:21