Taylor Sheridan's Marshals is making waves on Paramount+, currently sitting at No. 4 on the platform's U.S. Top 10 TV chart. But while the spin-off is drawing viewers, it's also facing a critical crossroads: can it carve out its own identity beyond the massive shadow of Yellowstone?
The series picks up 15 months after the explosive Yellowstone finale, following Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) as he tries to rebuild his life. After the tragic death of his father, John Dutton (Kevin Costner), and the sale of the family ranch to the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Kayce is adrift. His wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille) is gone, and his role as Livestock Commissioner is a thing of the past. But when his former Navy SEAL teammate, Pete "Cal" Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green), shows up with an offer to join the U.S. Marshals Service, Kayce finds a new purpose—one that feels both ironic and fitting for a man who once lived outside the law.
Despite its strong streaming numbers, Marshals is struggling with critics and audiences alike. The show currently holds a 48% Tomatometer score and a 28% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to Yellowstone's 83% and 76% respectively. Even Sheridan's other hit, Lioness, outshines it with a 77% Tomatometer score. The criticism often points to the show's procedural, case-of-the-week format, which feels a world away from the layered, philosophical storytelling that made Yellowstone a phenomenon.
Season 1 also drew ire for its handling of Monica's death, which happened off-screen and felt dismissive to longtime fans. The finale's villain twist was another letdown, lacking the organic buildup that Sheridan is known for. These missteps have left Marshals with a reputation as the weakest link in the Sheridan universe, even as it continues to attract viewers.
But there's hope for Season 2. The show has a rich ensemble of characters with compelling personal struggles. Cal is battling cancer, Belle (Arielle Kebbel) is protecting her family after an assassination attempt, and Miles Kittle (Tatanka Means) is torn between his duty as a Marshal and his loyalty to the Broken Rock Reservation. These threads offer a chance for deeper emotional storytelling, giving audiences a reason to invest in the people behind the badges.
As Marshals continues to air on CBS and stream on Paramount+, it's clear that the Yellowstone name alone won't sustain it. The show needs to forge its own path, much like Kayce is trying to do. If Season 2 can lean into its characters' personal journeys and move beyond the procedural formula, it might just find its footing. Otherwise, it risks being overshadowed by the very legacy it's trying to escape.
For more on the expanding Sheridan universe, check out our take on why Tulsa King stands out among his crime dramas. And if you're curious about other streaming sensations, see how Anya Taylor-Joy's Sacrifice took Netflix by storm.
