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Sometimes, the hero’s journey takes a detour, and the hero ends up getting lost along the way. Taylor Sheridan, who once rode in on a white horse withYellowstone, changing the Western genre forever, now finds himself in a bit of a creative dust-up.
With his storytelling empire slowly starting to fray at the edges, we’re all left wondering: Has Sheridan lost his golden touch, or are we just witnessing the inevitable slow burn of a once-brilliant career?
Sheridan has built a career as a film and television powerhouse, with shows likeYellowstone,Mayor of Kingstown, andSpecial Ops: Lionessfilling up TV screens across the world. But recently, the man who could do no wrong has found himself caught up in a whirlwind of mixed reviews, questionable decisions, and fans who are starting to feel more than a little bit betrayed. So, let’s break it down – here are 5 reasons why fans are starting to lose trust in Taylor Sheridan.
1The fall ofYellowstone
Once,Yellowstonewas the show that had us all hooked, glued to our screens with its ruthless family drama, wide-open vistas, and cowboy grit. But what’s that they say about all good things coming to an end? Well,Yellowstonehas started to feel a little bit like it’s overstayed its welcome, like that uncle who refuses to leave after the party’s clearly over.
The early seasons ofYellowstonewere lauded for their gripping, multi-layered narrative. But lately, some episodes have left fans shaking their heads, with complaints about plot holes and lackluster dialogue.
Take, for example, a previously thought-provoking scene where John and Rip discuss a cowhand’s murder—it was left open-ended, allowing the audience to fill in the gaps. But compare that to a more recent episode, where Rip’s harsh threat to Walker came across as flat and uninspired, offering none of the depth or tension fans had come to expect. The change in tone has many wondering ifTaylor Sheridan’s storytellingmagic has run its course.
Ergo, the series started off with a bang, but as it’s gone on, the storytelling has become… well, let’s just say it’s taken a nosedive. Lacking impact. The big moments? Predictable. Fans (seeReddit) are left feeling like they’ve been duped by a show that once had so much promise. And don’t even get us started on John Dutton’s death — the man who fought tooth and nail for his family, only to go out like that? Fans were left wondering if Sheridan had lost his touch or was just out of ideas.
2. Weak female characters
Let’s talk about the women. Or rather, the lack of strong, interesting women in Taylor Sheridan’s work. In the world ofYellowstone, the Dutton men are tough, relentless, and stoic. They have layers and stories that unfold gradually, showing the depth of their characters. The women, however, seem to get a raw deal. From Beth’s unrelenting violence and fury to Sarah’s manipulative scheming, the female characters are often reduced to exaggerated traits. While they might make a strong impression initially, these portrayals quickly become predictable andone-dimensional “caricatures”.
Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) starts out as a bold, brash woman who doesn’t back down from a fight. She’s the perfect foil to her father’s iron will, the voice of rebellion within the family. But, over time, what was once a sharp, empowered character starts to lose its integrity. Instead of being allowed to evolve, Beth spirals into something less: a woman who, despite all her bravado, seems stuck in a loop of self-destructive decisions, her strength fading into hysteria.
Then there’s Monica Dutton. If Beth is the explosive, emotional storm, Monica is the quiet, suffering wife, stuck in an endless loop of playing second fiddle. Fans have criticized Sheridan for not allowing his female characters to fully develop, instead relegating them to background noise while the men get all the glory.
3. More projects, less punch
Taylor Sheridan is undoubtedly a master of the Western genre, but his focus on his$350 million Texasranch may be drawing more attention than his actual work. According to reports, he rents out the ranch forYellowstoneproductions, but fans are questioning if his investment in such a large property is distracting him from maintaining the quality of the show’s scripts. It appears that Paramount is indulging Sheridan’s every whim, perhaps because the financial success ofYellowstonehas given him enough leverage to do so.
The sheer scale of his empire, which spans various other projects like1923,1883,Tulsa King, andMayor of Kingstown, means that Sheridan has become a powerful force in Hollywood. But this has raised concerns. While his empire grows, the quality of his work seems to be taking a hit, leaving viewers wondering if he’s sacrificing storytelling for spectacle.
Before his reign overYellowstone, Sheridan was heralded as a storyteller with a unique voice—a voice that critics and audiences alike praised.Sicario,Hell or High Water, andWind Rivernot only resonated with moviegoers, but they also garnered critical acclaim. Each of these films had a distinct edge, grounded in gritty realism and heartfelt emotion, making them standout examples of modern Westerns.
Hell or High Water, for example, earned an astonishing 97% onRotten Tomatoes, whileWind Riverpulled in an 87% rating onRotten Tomatoes. These films put Sheridan on the map as a true master of his craft.
But now, things have taken a turn.Special Ops: Lioness, his attempt at diving into the spy thriller genre, failed to leave much of an impact, earning a middling 56% on (Rotten Tomatoes). Similarly, his crime thrillerMayor of Kingstownhas drawn even more criticism, with only a 33% approval rating on thesame platform. Despite his undeniable talent, it’s clear that Sheridan’s recent projects don’t hold the same fire as his earlier work.
Fans who once saw Sheridan as the guy who delivered quality entertainment are now starting to wonder if he’s just in it for the paycheck. Is he spreading himself too thin? The man has a knack for crafting compelling stories, but at some point, it’s like he’s trying to juggle too many projects at once — and dropping a few balls along the way.
4 . Character arcs that make you go, “wait, what?”
Ah, the twists! The turns! The surprise deaths! Or, well, that’s what it used to feel like. Taylor Sheridan’s knack for surprising audiences with shocking character arcs has become a bit of a joke. Rememberwhen John Dutton’s deathwas supposed to be the climactic moment ofYellowstone? The jaw-dropping revelation leaves everyone gasping, questioning everything they thought they knew. WhenYellowstonereturned with the second half of Season 5 on November 10, that moment came swiftly—but not with the impact anyone was expecting.
‘Such a huge middle finger to all the fans’: Kevin Costner Is a Visionary for Exiting Yellowstone as Taylor Sheridan Proves It in Latest Episode
We’ve seenYellowstonepush boundaries with its tense family dynamics, shocking moments, and gut-wrenching decisions. John Dutton, played by the legendaryKevin Costner, was the rock that the entire show revolved around. So, when his death was revealed, fans were primed for a major emotional gut punch. What we got, however, was something that hardly landed.
The way John Dutton’s death was handled was almost anti-climactic. It wasn’t an epic fight or an emotional farewell. Instead, it felt like a lazy attempt to remove a central character. The cause of death? A gunshot wound to the head. The theory? Suicide. And yet, the twist wasn’t thrilling—it was puzzling. Fans were left with a bitter taste in their mouths, unsure whether Sheridan had planned this moment out or if it was just another random, rushed decision. The supposed ‘shock’ was neither shocking nor earned.
Sheridan’s attempt at shock value seemed forced, and fans were left wondering if the writer was too eager to pull the trigger on a character death that felt… rushed.
5. Legal drama and behind-the-scenes tension
Oh, the drama isn’t just on screen. Taylor Sheridan’s off-screen drama has also made headlines recently, with legal disputes popping up left and right. Most notably, his trademark infringement lawsuit against actorCole Hauserover a coffee company caused a bit of a stir. According toYahoo, in a trademark infringement lawsuit filed in November 2023, Sheridan’s company, Bosque Ranch, claims that Hauser’s logo for Free Rein Coffee bears a striking resemblance to its own trademark.
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Both logos feature a superimposed F and R, and according to the lawsuit, this similarity could cause confusion among consumers. Sheridan alleged that Hauser and his team never sought permission to use a mark that is“confusingly similar”to the one used by Bosque Ranch, especially when both brands are in the business of selling cowboy-themed products.
And if that wasn’t enough, there are also the ongoing reports of tensions between Sheridan and the cast — scheduling conflicts, creative disagreements, and just a general sense that all is not well behind the scenes. Meanwhile, another pot was boiling over between Sheridan and Kevin Costner, whose portrayal of John Dutton made him the heart ofYellowstone. Sheridan found himself at odds with the actor, who chose to prioritize his own projects, namelyHorizon: An American Saga, over his role in the final episodes ofYellowstone.
Costner’s departure wasn’t just a minor detail—it was a seismic shift for the show. Sheridan expressed frustration, stating that when lawyers get involved, everything turns messy (viaThe Hollywood Reporter):
Once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting.
Fans who once admired the family-like atmosphere ofYellowstoneare now questioning whether that closeness was all a mirage. Legal squabbles and behind-the-scenes drama don’t exactly scream stability, and that’s definitely contributing to the growing distrust among the fanbase.
At the end of the day, what’s really bugging fans is the feeling of betrayal. Sheridan was once the man who gave us something new, something exciting. But now, it feels like he’s just mailing it in. The shows that used to feel fresh and exciting are now starting to feel like rehashed versions of themselves. Fans are left wondering: Is this really the same Sheridan who wroteSicarioandHell or High Water? Or has he lost the spark that made him a household name?
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3309
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
