Although Taylor Sheridan began his career as an actor, audiences today know him best for his screenwriting, particularly his modern take on the Western, such as the hit drama Yellowstone. The Yellowstone universe continues to expand—it’s already led to two spinoffs, with more in the works, including the forthcoming The Madison. In addition to his TV work, Sheridan is also known for his film career, which includes his “Modern America Frontier” trilogy of Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River.
Sheridan hasn’t just found success with Yellowstone, however. His other dramas, such as Mayor of Kingstown, have also been praised by fans and critics alike. Similar themes can be found throughout his work, most notably that of family dynasties, but no matter the story, Sheridan has proven his ability to tell compelling stories centered around a particular place. Taken together, his television projects form a sprawling body of work that reflects a clear creative voice that continues to keep his fans excited.
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‘The Last Cowboy’ (2019–Present)
In the competition docuseries The Last Cowboy, a number of contestants train horses in reining by guiding them through a series of obstacles, all leading up to the Run for a Million. The arena-based competition, created by Sheridan in 2019, sees the riders competing to win $1 million. The series also highlights professional trainers, judging criteria, and the rigorous preparation required to compete at the highest level of the sport.
Sheridan is practically regarded as a modern-day cowboy thanks to his work in neo-Westerns, so it’s no surprise that he took elements of the genre to the world of reality TV. While that means The Last Cowboy is not as heavy on the drama and twists as his scripted series, it still provides an interesting inside look at the world of reining competitions and the work it takes to successfully train a horse and win the prize.
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‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ (2023–Present)
Set just after the Civil War, Lawmen: Bass Reeves tells the story of one of the first Black deputy U.S. marshals west of the Mississippi River, Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo), who began life enslaved. Lawmen is based on a true story of Reeves, who was responsible for arresting thousands of criminals and became one of the most respected lawmen of his era. The series traces Reeves’ rise as he enforces the law across dangerous and largely ungoverned territory.
Oyelowo is fantastic as he introduces modern audiences to Reeves and helps convey what he accomplished in his storied career—although Lawmen doesn’t quite live up to its immense potential. With its Western setting and plot, it’s no wonder Sheridan is involved; the series is distinctly separate from the Yellowstone universe, even though it fits right in. The themes will also be familiar to Sheridan fans, particularly the theme of justice.
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‘Special Ops: Lioness’ (2023–Present)
CIA operative Joe (Zoe Saldaña) balances her personal and professional lives in the spy thriller Special Ops: Lioness in her work as a leader of the Lioness program in the war on terror. Nicole Kidman also stars as Joe’s boss, Kaitlyn Meade, and also features Morgan Freeman. The series is based on an actual military program, drawing inspiration from real-world operations in which female operatives are embedded undercover to gather intelligence in places male agents cannot easily access.
Lioness unsurprisingly won fans over quickly. It’s an engaging, fast-paced series, and similar to Sheridan’s other work, the show features plenty of high-stakes twists. For the most part, however, it stands out as a very different show, leaning more heavily into modern espionage and global politics than the frontier-style power struggles that define much of Sheridan’s other work. But with a female-centered story, it still presents something different from familiar espionage plots.
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‘Tulsa King’ (2022–Present)
After 25 years in prison, New York mafia boss Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) is released and sent to Tulsa, where he begins to build a new criminal empire in Tulsa King. Cut off from his old power base, Dwight recruits local allies and expands his operation while navigating unfamiliar territory and rival interests.
Tulsa King has been a fan favorite and has continued Sheridan’s trend of creating beloved dramas, and it also continues his trend of interesting characters and moral ambiguity. Dwight’s great all on his own, and the show’s villains only make things better. The show also features the same grit that can be found in much of Sheridan’s other work. Stallone’s commanding presence anchors the series and gives it a distinct tone within Sheridan’s broader television slate.
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‘Mayor of Kingstown’ (2021–Present)
Crime drama Mayor of Kingstown stars Jeremy Renner as the fixer and head of the McLusky family—who run Kingstown’s prison system—and tries to keep the peace in town. His role places him at the center of negotiations between inmates, law enforcement, gangs, and politicians, all while violence threatens to erupt at any moment. Sheridan co-created the series with Hugh Dillon, who also draws on his own experiences to help shape the show’s tone.
Mayor of Kingstown’s focus on the prison system in particular allows it to take a close look at issues such as systemic racism, corruption and more, including the problems inherent with the prison system functioning as a business. The show features intense storylines and interesting characters, or, as Renner himself puts it, “everyman characters in extraordinary circumstances.” Like some of Sheridan’s other projects—most notably Yellowstone—the series also deals with family dynamics, especially when business is involved.
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‘1923’ (2022–Present)
1923 follows the Dutton family—here, Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren)—into the 20th century with all the challenges the era brings, from the Depression to Prohibition and more, all while the ranch faces problems of drought, cattle theft, and more. The family must also fend off rival ranchers and powerful figures trying to take control of their land. Like 1883, the series is narrated by Elsa Dutton (Isabel May).
While not as interesting as 1883 or Yellowstone, 1923 tells an entertaining story in its own right. By being set in a different era, the series is open to numerous storytelling possibilities, which it takes full advantage of while also moving ever closer to the current generation of the Dutton family. Ford and Mirren deliver the exact stellar performances audiences have come to expect of them, and they’re a delight to watch as they set the stage for the Dutton family to come.
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‘Landman’ (2024–2025)
If there’s one state that Taylor Sheridan is very familiar with, it’s Texas, especially West Texas; and what’s not to like about the rugged, beautiful land? This land serves as the backdrop for Landman, which is based on the Boomtown podcast produced by the state magazine, Texas Monthly. Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), an oil “Landman” for a large oil company, not from round’ those parts, who comes to the oilfields of West Texas to investigate a deadly accident.
Landman showcases just how far oil companies are willing to go to cover up accidents at the expense of the public. As Tommy digs deeper, he uncovers corporate corruption, dangerous shortcuts, and mounting pressure from executives determined to protect profits at all costs. Not only is the story gripping, but the cast, which includes Demi Moore in a standout role as Cami Miller, is what truly makes Landman a must-watch and one of Sheridan’s best.
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‘1883’ (2021)
As the first spinoff of Yellowstone, prequel miniseries 1883 followed an earlier generation of the Dutton family as they left behind poverty in Texas in the years after the Civil War and joined a wagon chain heading for Oregon. The family ultimately settled in Montana and began what would become John Dutton’s ranch in Yellowstone. James and Margaret Dutton were played by real-life country music couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
1883 was one of the strongest of Sheridan’s shows, especially among the others in the Yellowstone universe. Its more focused approach to storytelling made it easier to care about the characters and what they accomplished, on top of being a fascinating look at the beginnings of the Dutton family and the way we know them today. The series also featured Tom Hanks in a memorable cameo during a flashback sequence.
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‘Yellowstone’ (2018–2024)
Neo-Western drama Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the patriarch of the Dutton family, who controls the largest ranch in the United States and is often in conflict with everyone from land developers to neighboring Native American tribes because of it. Those battles force the family to defend their land through political pressure, legal fights, and outright violence.
Yellowstone was a huge success for Sheridan, turning into one of the most-watched cable dramas of its era and cementing his place as a dominant force in television.. The compelling series kept viewers hooked with plenty of twists and turns, not to mention plenty of drama from the Dutton family, and while the family’s exploits can sometimes get a little over-the-top, they’re still entertaining to watch. Yellowstone is also notable for its gorgeous scenery, practically a character in itself. Taken as a whole, Yellowstone stands as Taylor Sheridan’s best and most defining work to date.
Yellowstone
- Release Date
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2018 – 2024
- Network
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Paramount Network
