I not generally a TV guy but I keep hearing about this show and really enjoyed Taylor Sheridan's films (Sicario, Wind River, Hell or High Water) so thought I might give it a shot. The only problem is Boomers and Chuds seem to love the show. I wouldn't think the show is that chuddy because Sheridan's films aren't but maybe he sold out? Or, maybe chuds just see Cowboys and get a hard on?
It depends on how you watch it. If you want a gripping show that's very well acted and written, this isn't it. It's slop. The show is very much a celebration of blue collar conservatism (as told through a wealthy land baron cattle rancher) and rural common sense. But it's so corny and campy at times that it's funny.
blue collar
wealthy land baron cattle rancher
Yup, this tracks with how conservatives view class. The (white, male) wealthy rural landowner with conservative values is working class; while the elementary school teacher in his small town who makes $30k a year and wants trans kids to be respected is part of the "elite ruling class".
Yeah, I have even seen articles where he pushes back against the idea it's a conservative show. Does he just not understand his own themes?
Now, I like power struggles between feudal monarch families, but that's because these people are riding on horseback and fighting with swords. I find shows about struggles within modern rich people annoying, boring, and mostly annoying. So shows like that and Succession were an automatic turn off for me.
I watched the first season and part of the next, I thought it was mostly fine. The Dutton family are very reactionary, but they aren't the only faction to root for so far. It's possible things go downhill later. I haven't kept watching, though, just because I've gotten incredibly picky lately (not because it's lame or anything). But yeah, I also came into it after liking Sheridan's other stuff, but imo it's a little too "tv" for me compared to the quality of his other films.
It's one of the worst "prestige" dramas I've ever seen. The first season is alright, besides having obviously terrible politics, but after that it just starts spinning its wheels and repeating itself. Every single main character has one dimension and shows absolutely no growth whatsoever throughout the course of the show. It's incredibly stupid and doesn't have the dumb guy energy charm of a show like Sons of Anarchy. I still watch it though.
In one of the other threads, users said the original was 100% pure boomercore ("what if you were a badass libertarian and your kids didn't/couldn't hate you for it"), while the most recent spinoff was possibly worth watching. I haven't looked into it yet myself though
