Every Taylor Sheridan ‘Yellowstone’ Series’ Season 1 Ranked From Weakest To Best

The ‘Yellowstone‘ universe has grown into one of television’s biggest franchises, and with each new spinoff comes a fresh debate among fans about which chapter actually delivers. Taylor Sheridan’s cowboy saga has spawned prequels, sequels, and now a full-blown extended universe spanning multiple decades and states.

With critical scores now in for every debut season across the franchise, from the original ‘Yellowstone’ to the newest arrivals, it felt like the right moment to line them up and see how they truly stack against each other, based strictly on their first season reception.

‘Marshals’ (2026)

Sitting at the bottom of the pack is ‘Marshals,’ the newest entry in the franchise and the first to trade the cable drama format for network procedural television. The series stars Luke Grimes reprising his role as Kayce Dutton, an ex Navy SEAL who leaves the family ranch behind to join an elite unit of U.S. Marshals in Montana.

The show premiered on CBS on March 1, 2026, and marked the first time a franchise entry debuted on linear broadcast rather than Paramount Network or Paramount+. Kelsey Asbille’s Monica was written off between shows, a twist that left longtime viewers unsettled going into the premiere.

Critics were not kind to the shift in format. The season currently holds a 48 percent approval rating, the lowest of any entry in the Sheridanverse so far. Despite the rocky reception, CBS renewed ‘Marshals’ for a second season, so Kayce’s story is far from finished.

‘Yellowstone’ (2018)

The show that launched an empire actually lands second to last when it comes to its debut season. ‘Yellowstone’ premiered on June 20, 2018, on Paramount Network and introduced audiences to John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, as he fought to protect his sprawling Montana ranch from land developers, a neighboring reservation, and America’s first national park.

The first season set up the family dynamics that would define the franchise, including Beth’s fierce loyalty, Jamie’s political ambitions, and Kayce’s uneasy return to the fold. Even with that foundation, the debut season holds a 58 percent approval rating.

It is a surprising number considering how massive the show eventually became, growing into cable’s most watched series for several years running. Sometimes a slow burn premiere just takes a little longer to win everyone over, and ‘Yellowstone’ is proof that early scores do not always predict long term dominance.

‘1923’ (2022)

Jumping significantly higher is ‘1923,’ the prequel starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton. The series premiered on December 18, 2022, on Paramount+ and dropped audiences into a Dutton family generation battling prohibition, drought, and the earliest tremors of the Great Depression.

The star power of Ford and Mirren gave the show an instant gravitas that critics responded to, and the season also expanded the world beyond Montana with a parallel storyline following Spencer Dutton across Africa. That global scope helped distinguish ‘1923’ from its predecessors in the franchise.

The debut season landed an impressive 88 percent approval rating, a clear sign that pairing two acting legends with Sheridan’s brand of rugged Western storytelling was a winning formula. It set the stage for a second and final season that closed out the story in 2025.

‘1883’ (2021)

Just above ‘1923’ sits ‘1883,’ the miniseries that started the entire prequel trend. Starring Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Sam Elliott, the show premiered on December 19, 2021, and told the story of how the Dutton family first made the journey west to the land that would eventually become the Yellowstone ranch.

Narrated by Isabel May’s Elsa Dutton, the series took a much grimmer and more grounded approach to the Western genre than its predecessor, following the wagon train as it faced disease, violence, and the brutal realities of frontier travel. Sam Elliott’s performance as Shea Brennan was frequently singled out as a highlight of the season.

That approach paid off with critics and audiences alike, earning the season an 89 percent approval rating. The show’s success directly paved the way for ‘1923’ and cemented the prequel format as one of the franchise’s strongest storytelling avenues.

‘Dutton Ranch’ (2026)

At the very top is ‘Dutton Ranch,’ the newest spinoff to carry the Dutton name, which reunites Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. The series premiered on Paramount+ on May 15, 2026, and follows the couple as they attempt to start over in South Texas after selling the family’s Montana land, only to run into a rival ranch determined to protect its own territory.

The cast also brought in Ed Harris and Annette Bening in prominent new roles, giving the season a heavyweight ensemble to match its predecessors. Early reviews praised the show for carrying forward the emotional weight that made Beth and Rip fan favorites throughout the original series.

The debut season currently matches ‘1883’ with an 89 percent approval rating, making it a statistical tie for the best received first season in the entire franchise. Paramount+ has already renewed the series for a second season, so Beth and Rip’s new chapter in Texas is only just beginning.

Where would Kayce’s new procedural life, Beth and Rip’s Texas gamble, or the Duttons’ earliest generations rank on your own list, and did ‘Marshals’ deserve to land at the bottom?