Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone no doubt revived the Western genre, and it also brought a modern spin that made it such a hit among fans. However, not everyone is impressed with the show’s direction and storytelling, and a lot of critics immensely display their hate towards the series.
Sheridan could not care less, not because he is ignoring the bashers but because he designed it to evoke hate from these types of viewers. He firmly believes the show is for people who like the genre and are open to trying out new things, even if it means breaking the rules of storytelling.
Taylor Sheridan Does Not Give A Hoot About Yellowstone Haters
Speaking with The New York Times, director Taylor Sheridan admitted he is not bothered by the hate Yellowstone constantly receives from its detractors. For him, it does not matter whatever reaction he gets from his critics knowing the show was not crafted for them.
“I don’t care if critics hate it, and I don’t care if they like it. I’m not resentful. I just simply do not care. I’m not making it for them; I’m making it for people who live that life. The audience has expanded beyond that because, you know, a lot of people love westerns.”
Sheridan acknowledged the fact that most of the criticism the franchise endures is the plot and the structure of the narrative itself, though the filmmaker confessed he just wanted to mess up the timelines for fun and nothing more. It’s up to the viewers to take it as it is or make a fuss about it.
“I think one of the reasons the critics haven’t responded to Yellowstone is that I’m breaking a lot of story rules. I’ll jump the plot ahead for no reason whatsoever except that I wanted to, and it’s entertaining. The people who get it eat it up, and t he people that try to look at it with a critical eye see a mess.”
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Lastly, he noted the diverse themes and tones in the show that made it more interesting, especially the variety of Western hints that bring more color to the story. This mishmash vexes the critics because they cannot follow the course.
“But that’s what I love about Yellowstone, the way that it flows from being campy to melodramatic to intensely dramatic to violent. It’s every old western and new western and soap opera thrown together in a blender. And yes, I think it infuriates and confounds some people who study storytelling. They don’t understand why this thing’s such a hit.”
Apart from the solid cast and complex characters, people love the fresh take on the world of cowboys and their trades. Yellowstone became successful because it offered something new to something that has always been familiar.
Taylor Sheridan Reveals Yellowstone Was Meant To Spark Hate From Critics
In another conversation with The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Taylor Sheridan echoed the same sentiments and addressed the backlash that Yellowstone suffers at the hands of its bashers. The reason, according to the director, was its lack of cohesive narrative.
“It has no plot, really. Don’t take my land, I want your land. In that, I have a lot of opportunities to poke fun, but also kind of point out different points of view, and kind of really study a way of life and a world. There’s a lot of defiance in the way I do it. It’s not surprising that critics hate it because it’s designed for them to hate.”
This is definitely a bold move from one of the most prolific filmmakers of this generation, and with fans anticipating the arrival of Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 in November 2024, there will be more surprises and unexpected moments to see that will surely trigger the haters again.