New ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off Is Beating the Critics’ Odds and Dominating TV Ratings

The Yellowstone universe is still performing strongly across television, even as creator Taylor Sheridan prepares to eventually move on from Paramount.

The report explains that Sheridan has become one of the most important creators for Paramount+, with multiple shows regularly appearing in the platform’s top streaming charts. Even with mixed critical reactions to some recent projects, audience numbers continue to stay strong.

A new spin-off titled Marshals is now part of that trend, even though it has received some of the weakest reviews in the franchise so far. Despite that, the series has still climbed to the top of both CBS and Paramount+ rankings.

The show focuses on Luke Grimes’ character Kayce Dutton after he leaves ranch life behind. In this new chapter, he joins a U.S. Marshals team led by his former military friend Pete Calvin, played by Logan Marshall-Green. Together, they deal with violent crime cases in a dangerous region, using both law enforcement training and survival skills shaped by their past.

This is a big shift from earlier Yellowstone storytelling. Instead of slow ranch drama and family politics, the new series focuses more on fast action, investigations, and chase sequences.

This change in style has surprised many viewers, but it has also helped the show attract strong viewing numbers. Even though critics have been harsh, audiences have continued to watch it in large numbers.

The report also notes that Marshals currently holds low ratings compared to other shows in the franchise. It has been described by critics as lacking the depth and emotional storytelling that made Yellowstone so popular in the first place.

One critic wrote, “Marshals confines Kayce Dutton within a dim procedural that lacks the narrative spark and intrigue that Yellowstone managed instantly, making this one ham-fisted trek.”

Even with those reviews, the audience response has been very different. The show has still become one of the most-watched titles on Paramount+ and CBS, helping strengthen the network’s overall performance during the 2025–2026 television season.

New episodes continue to air weekly, and the storyline is currently focused on a major investigation involving a drug cartel targeting the Broken Rock Reservation. The plot also follows Kayce as he becomes more deeply involved in his new role within the Marshals unit.

The report highlights a growing pattern for Taylor Sheridan’s work. Even when critics are divided, his shows often find large audiences and strong streaming success. This has been a consistent trend across the wider Yellowstone franchise and its spin-offs.

For now, Marshals continues its run on CBS and Paramount+, with new episodes releasing weekly as the season moves toward its finale.

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