Following a successful first season run, one of Taylor Sheridan’s best series is back to continue its winning ways on streaming following the

premiere of Season 2 earlier this month. Released in November 2024, the neo-Western that some critics say “makes Yellowstone look like PBS” became an instant hit on Paramount+, and even earned itself a Golden Globe nomination.

 

 

Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Landman made its triumphant return to Paramount+ on November 16, 2025, with its Season 2 premiere that picked things up a few weeks after the explosive Season 1 finale. The new season is already proving to be just as successful as the first, especially when you consider that the series is currently…

 

The ratings for “Yellowstone” season 5 part 2 without Kevin Costner prove that the series is still a bona fide hit. Over 16 million people tuned in to watch the premiere episode, but many of those viewers were probably curious to see how the show dealt with its leading star’s messy departure. However, while the furious response to John Dutton’s death among the fan base indicates that many viewers feel that the show has suffered in quality without Costner, the truth is that “Yellowstone” has been on a downward spiral for quite some time.

 

 

That’s not to say that Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western series is bad, mind you. “Yellowstone” boasts a strong cast of characters who are fun to hang out with under any circumstances; the show would still be entertaining if it solely centered around its main ranchers playing cards and drinking beers in the bunkhouse. Furthermore, while the plot holes are larger than the “train station” the Duttons throw their victim’s bodies into, “Yellowstone” admirably distracts viewers with fun soap opera-esque drama, action-packed mayhem, and lush scenery. Sure, it’s a mess, but it’s an entertaining and visually stunning one.

 

 

In season 2, Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) kills reporter Sarah Nguyen (Michaela Conlin) because she intends to publish a story about his family’s corruption — a story he initially helped her out with before backtracking. No one even investigates her suspicious death afterward, which is strange as she worked for a magazine whose editor would have been aware of the expose she was working on. “Yellowstone” clearly isn’t concerned with standard journalistic practices.

That said, the third and fourth seasons of “Yellowstone” take the cake in regard to convenience. Roarke Carter (Josh Holloway), a primary antagonist, is murdered by a rattlesnake that Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) launches at his face and his death isn’t mentioned afterward. Meanwhile, the season 3 finale sees John get shot several times while Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) gets blasted in an office explosion, but everyone is happy and healthy again in the season 4 premiere. The list goes on.

Convenient conclusions to storylines have always been an issue on “Yellowstone” to some degree. However, the early seasons had stakes, as evidenced by Tate Dutton (Brecken Merrill) being kidnapped by neo-Nazis and the Beck brothers killing the family’s cows. These moments made us fear for the Duttons’ safety and livelihood, proving that “Yellowstone” is capable of delivering intense storylines when it wants to.