I admit, I am a fan of nearly all of Taylor Sheridan‘s shows—it started with Yellowstone for most of us, and it’s moving onto The Madison. I’m not someone keen on soapy TV and overly dramatic content, but as I get older, something about such shows brings me comfort and safety, despite Sheridan himself being as unpredictable as they come with his characters and arcs.
There is also considerable negativity surrounding (most of) his work, which is understandable. However, at this stage, how many people are just hate watching Sheridan’s shows? Or, more importantly maybe, how many have started hate-watching and turned into true fans? Personally, I’m neither; I’m a huge fan of Sicario, Wind River, and Hell or High Water, and I decided to trust him with his TV shows, too. So far, I have been both disappointed and excited, so as a Taylor Sheridan fan, here’s how I’d rank all 12 of his shows.
12
‘The Road’ (2025–Present)
I’m not the biggest fan of country music, nor am I the biggest fan of reality series (exceptions: Survivor and The Traitors), so The Road ranks last for me, simply because of those terms. However, this reality competition that Sheridan produced for CBS is a very intriguing part of his roster, and he, as an avid fan of country music and cowboy culture, brings his personal stamp to The Road. Firstly, he pulls out all the stops by bringing out some of the famous names and faces in country music, but also, he himself appears throughout the show to provide some support and advice.
The Road is essentially about Keith Urban and Blake Shelton choosing 12 unknown country singers to accompany Urban on a cross-country tour as his opening acts. Throughout the eight episodes, the contestants prepare to sing in front of large live crowds with the help of Urban, Shelton, sound technicians, vocal coaches, and even Sheridan at some points; the episodes also intertwine their personal stories, allowing viewers to connect with them and their journey. I can see why The Road feels comfortable and entertaining, but I can’t say I love the series too much. Still, the production value is incredible, and the singers are really talented and likable, so it’s cool.
11
‘The Last Cowboy’ (2019–Present)
The Last Cowboy is a show in the same vein as The Road, but I think I liked it a little more because it was interesting to learn about this side of cowboy-ism that I rarely got the chance to get to know. It’s another reality competition, except this time, the competitors are horse trainers vying for the title of a reining champion. For anyone unfamiliar, reining is a competitive sport in which horse trainers “rein” their horses according to a pattern, whether it’s a circle, spiral, or whatever the trainer decides.
The Last Cowboy is interesting because it shows this part of the world that is rarely seen in the mainstream. It’s also fun to watch how these horse trainers (I like to just call them cowboys) communicate with their horses and the type of relationship and understanding they establish with the animals. While the show has been going steadily, viewers agree that it’s become slightly repetitive, rarely raising the stakes; still, because it’s fun and well-made, it’s a pretty fun watch that could easily attract new fans to competitive reining.
10
‘Marshals’ (2026–Present)
I like Luke Grimes, I like Tatanka Means, and I love Logan Marshall-Green… So why is Marshals not working? Obviously, many would say it’s because Sheridan didn’t write the show, though I don’t think that’s the show’s biggest downside—Sheridan is far from the best writer in the industry. What he is, however, is the one most in tune with his own IP, and so Marshals could be lacking in quality because of the lack of familiarity between author and screenplay. It was signed over to CBS and created by Spencer Hudnut as a crime procedural series, and there have been three episodes so far, with impressions far from raving; they are quite lukewarm, rather.
Marshals is a Yellowstone spin-off, following John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) youngest, Kayce Dutton (Grimes). In Yellowstone, Kayce is the one most in tune with his family’s rancher calling, taking care of their massive plot of land in Montana. Kayce also has a wife, Monica (Kelsey Asbille), and a son, Tate (Brecken Merrill), and seems like the only person with some common sense on the ranch. In Marshals, Monica is sadly gone due to an illness, and Kayce and Tate share a very awkward father-son dynamic. When Kayce’s Navy SEAL friend, Marshal Pete Calvin (Marshall-Green), asks him to join his team, Kayce seems reluctant but decides chasing bad guys is better than awkwardly sitting around and waiting for his son to herd some cows. I think the biggest reason Marshals is still a bit hard to accept is because it lost the prestige drama feel of Yellowstone and received a network TV format, with case-of-the-week shenanigans. It’s hard to watch Yellowstone in that context, but my hopes are high that it can take a turn for the better in later episodes, because the cast deserves the show to keep going.
9
‘Mayor of Kingstown’ (2021–Present)
Mayor of Kingstown reached an all-time high with its latest season. Season 4 is good, exciting, and entertaining, and it took us a while to get here, but we got some greatness from it. It’s grim, I won’t lie, so it’s not one of my favorites; I prefer Sheridan’s horse-handling, ranch-loving drama to these gritty, urban jungle narratives. However, Jeremy Renner amps up the volume on his performance, and the show gets more cohesive and solid with raised stakes, especially in Season 4. Other viewers agree, since IMDb scores on the final two episodes of this season are rated 9.2 and 9.
Mayor of Kingstown follows the McLusky family, most notably the second of three brothers, Mike (Renner), who becomes the “mayor” of his hometown, Kingstown, after his older brother, who held that same title, dies in prison. Being “mayor” means being the bridge between the police and the criminals of the town, negotiating peace at every turn and compromising wherever necessary. It’s not an easy job, and Mike tries his best, despite being surrounded by opportunists and saboteurs. Mayor of Kingstown is a very solid crime drama, and fans of gritty series like it will undoubtedly love this show.
8
‘The Madison’ (2026–Present)
Considering this show just started, it’s pretty high on the list. The Madison is visually gorgeous, and it’s all thanks to director Christina Alexandra Voros, who captures the magic of Montana’s vastness and wilderness in the most romantic and seductive way possible. I personally have a dream of escaping to a ranch and just co-living with nature and animals and watching The Madison feels like an extension of such a dream, despite the dire circumstances that surround the main characters. With three episodes having come out on March 14, and three more arriving on March 21, The Madison promises a classic Sheridan recipe: family drama, a neo-Western twist, and fish-out-of-water situations that help its protagonists discover themselves.
The Madison opens with brothers Preston (Kurt Russell) and Paul Clyburn (Matthew Fox) fishing in the stunning and peaceful Montana wilderness; the scene then cuts to Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer‘s fictional daughter, Paige (Elle Chapman), getting mugged in broad daylight, in a busy street in NYC, without anyone so much as batting an eyelid. This is the first Sheridan-ism. Then, spoiler alert, Russell and Fox die (the second Sheridan-ism), and Pfeiffer is forced to pick up her broken self and retrieve her husband’s body from Montana, realizing what a beautiful and serene place it truly is along the way (the third Sheridan-ism). The Madison is a promising drama, or I’m just truly fond of it already, so I’m placing it high; if anything, it’s one of the most beautifully shot shows I’ve ever seen.
7
‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ (2023)
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is one of the most interesting projects Sheridan’s been attached to, all while being completely within his range. He’s only an executive producer on this show, but the true story of one of the Old West’s first Black US Marshals is a brilliant one, filled with years of pain, hurt, and suffering, but also sacrifice, dignity, and dedication. Bass Reeves is portrayed by David Oyelowo, and if any show can prove his lead-star quality, it’s this one; critics and audiences equally fell in love with this miniseries, and it’s one you could watch over and over if you’re a fan of Westerns.
Lawmen follow Bass Reeves as he escapes slavery; he fled into the Indian Territory, where he learned the local Native American languages, befriended the locals, and found his footing in this new life. Over time, Reeves earned the title of US Marshal, serving in the Indian Territory and covering a vast area of today’s Oklahoma. He served for over three decades. Oyelowo embodies Reeves with confidence and humility, giving him a human and soft edge (no doubt that the Old West forced people to be sharp in every possible way); though gritty and slowish, Lawmen is a pretty cool show. It’s lower on my list because I’ve definitely watched more impactful shows from Sheridan.
6
‘Lioness’ (2023–Present)
Now, fans of Sicario will love Lioness because it feels pretty much the same, except they’re totally different. This is also one of Sheridan’s originals in which he’s also cast himself as a side character, which, fair play to him, is totally allowed. He’s not part of the main cast, but appears occasionally, pulling back to allow Zoe Saldaña to completely shine as the lead. Lioness moved forward pretty fast with its first two seasons, and though it feels like it’s a bit behind now, it’s one of the only Sheridan series that hasn’t experienced either a drastic decline in support or quality.
Lioness follows CIA Clandestine Service agent Joe McNamara (Saldaña), who recruits a standout Marine, Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), and trains her to infiltrate the family of a terrorist financier in Kuwait. Both Joe and Cruz have deep-seated personal issues and trauma that could negatively impact their missions, but both women prove to be incredibly strong, if not overly objective and self-denying at times. Saldaña and de Oliveira are joined by other stellar talents, including Nicole Kidman as the ruthless CIA head, and Morgan Freeman as the US Secretary of State. Lioness isn’t at the top of my list, but I enjoy it when I’m in the mood for some easy suspense and a fun, well-directed show.
5
‘1883’ (2023)
I must admit that I’m a convert when it comes to Westerns, and Western fans will probably dislike what I’m about to say, but 1883 helped me solidify my admiration for the genre. This is the first prequel of Yellowstone, showcasing the true origins of the Montana-based ranch and the Dutton family tree; it’s also a jarring revisionist Western with a romantic subtext, acting as both a loving tribute to the genre and a fairly realistic depiction of life along the Oregon Trail. Although the Duttons never really end up on the Oregon Trail themselves, they are headed to Oregon, for better or worse.
1883 follows James Dutton (Tim McGraw), who, while waiting for his wife Margaret (Faith Hill) and their children Elsa and John to join him in Fort Worth, decides to join forces with Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott), a Union Army Captain. James hopes Shea can help him and his family reach Oregon, so they join the wagon train, but their journey is anything but ideal. With danger, illness, and wilderness threatening every step of the way, the show imagines the footsteps of a founding family that gave its blood, sweat, and tears to reach true happiness. As a converted Western fan, I love 1883, and I’m particularly fond of grimy, revisionist ones (The Searchers, Bone Tomahawk, the likes); 1883 isn’t better than other shows I’ve watched by Sheridan because it’s sometimes a little too bleak even for my taste. However, non-fans or at least more objective Sheridan fans will surely find this show to be his best work.
4
‘Tulsa King’ (2022–Present)
What a joy it was to turn on Tulsa King for the first time and get completely immersed into the world of Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone), an NYC mobster who realizes his own worth, knows how to do business, and shows no fear even in front of the biggest players in the game. Sylvester Stallone is stellar as Manfredi, and his performance livens up the show with each episode; the cast surrounding him is just as good and relevant to the story, but Stallone is just special here. That’s why, as hard as I found Season 3 to watch, it was still one of the best Sheridan-isms I’ve seen.
Tulsa King follows Dwight, an NYC Mafia capo, who serves 25 years on behalf of his boss. After being released, Dwight expects a warm welcome, but learns that the boss has died and been replaced by his son. Dwight is banished to Tulsa, Oklahoma, under the excuse that they plan to branch out there, but he’s wiser than that and decides to go rogue by founding his own crime syndicate in Tulsa. Little by little, with strategic thinking and great people skills, Dwight establishes a hefty crime family filled with loyal people and friends. A lot of the show feels like you’re there with Dwight, but there are some obvious flaws, of course. Tulsa King rarely raises the stakes, or, inversely, the outcomes of the severely high stakes are underwhelming; it makes things go up so they can go down, which is all in the service of leaving Dwight alive and well. Compared to some of Sheridan’s more realistic ideas and shows, this one will sometimes ask you to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride, and very often, I do, too.
3
‘Yellowstone’ (2018–2025)
Yellowstone is the key that unlocks all doors, aka the skeleton key of the Sheridanverse. It’s the first major series Sheridan fully wrote, and he occasionally stars in it, too, as a playboy cowboy who trains horses and dates Bella Hadid. It’s fine. Yellowstone, to me personally, isn’t the best he could give us because it gets really tiresome and sloppy in the final season, and because it’s quite grim—not 1883 grim, just generally very grim: family members are out for (each other’s) blood, everyone’s greedy, kind of psychotic (John Dutton, for example, brands his workers, which is just one of the weird things he does), and very open to any sort of criminal activity that entails keeping the land—and in the end, the land isn’t even theirs anymore. As much as all this is wild, I love Yellowstone, and it’s really why I started getting myself into this whole universe.
Yellowstone follows the Duttons, settled on their Montana ranch called Yellowstone. The family consists of John, the patriarch, his daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly), adopted son Jamie (Wes Bentley), and the youngest son, Kayce, whom we already mentioned. Beth is financially savvy, Jamie is a skilled politician and lawyer, and Kayce is a nature man to the bone, which are all qualities John Dutton possesses, and each of his children mirror him in some way. Across five seasons, we watch as the family erodes and gives into their own vices and ideas of keeping the land; it’s a tragedy in five parts, showing how all that expansion in the 1880s meant little when the Duttons self-destructed almost 150 years later. If you observe it from that point of view, the saga of Yellowstone is actually brilliant, and the very first moment we learned Sheridan isn’t afraid to sacrifice important characters.
