“Yellowstone” is that rare series species that gallops onto the primetime television landscape, unheralded, and quickly captures the public’s imagination — growing stronger with each passing season while cementing its place in the pantheon of classic family dramas.
As The Post reported, “Yellowstone” will end after the second half of its fifth season — reportedly amidst tension between star Kevin Costner and series co-creator Taylor Sheridan for reasons vaguely hinted at in various press reports.
The issue here is not so much that “Yellowstone” will call it quits — every show runs its course, eventually, and it’s always best to go out on top.
But it’s the Shakespearean fashion in which this drama is playing itself out, both offscreen and in front of the cameras.
Not one single frame has yet to be shot for the series’ swan song, and that’s a shame.
“Yellowstone” fans, who’ve embraced John Dutton (Costner) et al. from Day One, and propelled the series to the top of the TV heap as it shattered viewership records (on cable, no less, and on a newly rebranded network), deserve so much more — even if “Yellowstone” has been repeatedly snubbed by Emmy voters. (But, as most aggrieved fans of shows across the spectrum would agree, “What do they know?”)
Here’s the thing: without its loyal fanbase, “Yellowstone” would still be acclaimed, but only critically, which doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot when all is said and done (I suspect most critics, and I’m including myself here, secretly know this).
It’s all-about the bottom line and showing a profit — in this case for Paramount Network and its subsidiaries — and that rarely happens when a show engenders good press but paltry viewership.
It just doesn’t work that way.
Costner and Sheridan know this, as well — one more reason for them to “take one for the team” and start filming the final episodes already, personal feelings be damned.
Who knows? Maybe this will happen. Maybe it won’t. But it should … and now.
Let’s face it, “Yellowstone” fans deserve their series to “stay classy” to the end, to reimburse them, if you will, for all the time and emotion they’ve invested in this television series.
With so much else out there, they could have gone elsewhere … but they never did.
That, in itself, speak volumes.
The fans should not have to wait, for who knows how long now, for the second half of Season 5 to return, though I don’t doubt they will do so if that’s the case.
They deserve Costner, whose career was revitalized by “Yellowstone” and Sheridan — a former actor who’s spun his gem off into other shows (“1883,” “1923,” “Tulsa King,” “Mayor of Kingstown”) — to put their egos and differences aside for the sake of the “Yellowstone” universe, which will now reportedly include Matthew McConaughey, and to reach some sort of truce by any means necessary.
I don’t think anyone would quibble with this particular situation vis-à-vis its atmosphere of workplace tension (we’ve all been there, done that), which is never fun.
But that shouldn’t matter. Costner and Sheridan need to iron out their differences, even if only temporarily, put their egos and bickering aside, and ensure that “Yellowstone” gives its fans one final roundup for the ages.