The worst thing about Yellowstone is that its seasons have to end. Yes, the Taylor Sheridan drama about a ranching family in Montana who look to defend their land against those who wish to take it from them delivers a fantastically addictive third season, continuing to build on the incredible storytelling of the first two seasons. The frustration of only having 10-episode seasons is definitely there, as they go by so quickly, and the captivating saga of the Dalton family just leaves you wanting more as soon as each one ends. It’s just all so damn good!
If you’ve yet to begin watching Yellowstone then I’d just stop reading this review right now and go start; however, if you’ve watched the first two seasons and were wondering how season three holds up, or what it may be about, I’ll touch on that briefly so as to avoid any potential spoilers. This season picks up not long after the last season ended, and with the death of Dan Jenkins last season, Market Equities – a ridiculously wealthy and connected fortune 500 company – picks up his land and looks to expand further. This expansion, of course, threatens the Yellowstone, and John Dutton (Kevin Costner) won’t have it.
That’s the gist of the main threat of the season, though fans of the series know that there are so many more wheels turning and character arcs expanding that the brief synopsis above doesn’t do the season any real justice. There are some wonderful additions to the cast, one of which I was thrilled to see in Josh Holloway. I had no idea he’d signed onto the show, but as one of Sawyer’s biggest fans, let me tell you that this was a welcome surprise. He plays Roarke Morris, a wealthy investor who likes to play hard and fast in order to get what he wants. He’s working alongside Market Equities to bring Montana into the future (read: make themselves insane amounts of money) and he plays the arrogant, used to getting everything he wants character perfectly.
Also new to the game is Karen Pittman, who plays Market Equities CEO Willa Hayes. She’s ruthless, and a great nemesis to Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly,) who is usually the one making big moves to come out on top. Lastly there’s rancher Wade Morrow, who’s played by Boots Sutherland. This character has unknown ties to John, and while the reasoning for his sudden appearance on the neighbouring land is suspect, John’s grudge against the man runs deep, and the tension in their scenes together is strong.
There’s just so much that begins to come to a head this season, and just when you think you know where a storyline may be going, Sheridan flips the script and takes you somewhere else. The fact that you’ve such an incredible cast is also what makes this show so great. There are shows out there that have a solid lead, or a strong core, but Yellowstone just knocks it out of the park in every role from top to bottom. Everyone embodies their characters with everything they are, and that’s one of the main reasons that this show is so engrossing.
What’s also great is the show delves into Native American issues, with incredibly strong characters such as Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham,) Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille,) and fresh to the cast is Q’orianka Kilcher, who plays a very cool new character named Angela Blue Thunder, who is the closest thing Rainwater has to a Beth. The supporting cast of this group is also wonderful, and there’s a really intense, heartbreaking subplot that these characters go through in the third season that really shines a light on the injustices that happen on these reservations on any given day.
Season 4 of Yellowstone debuts in November, so for those looking to catch up, you’ve got time and there’s no better time to start than now. For those who have already watched season three, now’s a good time to pick it up on Blu-ray and give yourself a nice recap before the next season begins. If Season 3 is any indication of where this show is at creatively then we should be thrilled, as it seems to just be hitting its stride. Now if we could just talk them into filming seasons back to back to back so that we don’t have to wait…
Blu-ray Video and Audio Review:
Like its predecessors, Season 3 of Yellowstone looks gorgeous here on Blu-ray. The landscapes, the overall vibe of the show…everything is just breathtaking. The show has a fantastic grit to it, while also keeping things bright and beautiful on the visual front. The land truly is a character here and it’s showcased spectacularly.
The audio is also top tier, with the sound mix and dialogue shining through perfectly, and the score just accentuating everything on the screen. This is one of the best looking shows on TV, and it’s clear that Sheridan has made it clear how vital it is that the land both looks and sounds as important as important to the audience as it is to the Duttons.
Special Features:
Behind the Story – Each disc has a section of featurettes called “Behind the Story.” There’s one for each episode on the disc, and they range between five and 10 minutes, give or take. Each one sees the actors and sometimes main members of the crew, such as Sheridan talk about that specific plot points and character moments for that episode. They’re a nice addition for the viewer to gain some extra perspective of how these actors view the actions of the characters they’re playing, and ideal to watch after each episode, or at the end of a disc binge before you put in the other one.
Meaner Than Evil: Making Yellowstone Season 3 – This is the major feature for the set, coming in at just over 40-minutes in length and delving deep into the story of the season, the characters introduced, how the arcs intersected and progressed over the course of the season and what the future may hold for those involved. Just a really solid behind-the-scenes piece for fans to watch while waiting for season four to begin.
Working the Yellowstone: Director Stephen Kay – First up this season we take a quick look at Kay’s work over the course of the series, as the featurette comes in at a brief three-and-a-half minutes long.
Working the Yellowstone: SFX Supervisor Garry Elmendorf – Next up we get to watch the show’s VFX master at work in a fun four-minute piece.
Inside Yellowstone: Season 3 – This is a four-and-a-half minute featurette that just sees everyone praise one another (and rightfully so) for the season we’ve just witnessed and how it differs from the ones that came before it.
Yellowstone: Stories from the Bunkhouse – These ongoing series featurette returns once again, and much like Behind the Story, these features take a look at the character progression of those inside the bunkhouse, which is always fun. While the main story is the heart and soul of the series, the bunkhouse certainly has its own share of drama, and it’s great to see the cast involved talk about where they think it’s all headed!
Paramount Pictures Presents Yellowstone Season 3. Created by: Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Written by: Taylor Sheridan. Starring: Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Jefferson White, Lloyd Pierce, Josh Holloway, Karen Pittman, Gil Birmingham, Ian Bohen, Denim Richards, Forrie J. Smith, Q’orianka Kilcher. Running time: 431 minutes. Rating: 14A. Blu-ray Released: May 18, 2021.
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