By Susan Granger
Taylor Sheridan’s hit neo-Western series “Yellowstone” ended with Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) selling the Dutton ranch for a nominal fee to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, keeping a small parcel, known as East Camp, for himself, his Native wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and their son Tate (Brecken Merrill).
Set awhile later, “Marshals” begins as Kayce’s old Navy SEAL buddy, Pete Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green), asks him to join a Montana-based tactical unit that’s part of the U.S. Marshals.
“Gangs, cartels, race warriors – it may look like God’s country, but the devil’s running free out here,” he says, providing Kayce with a road-to-redemption.
But always soulful Kayce’s still grieving over the loss of Monica to a cancer that’s plagued the Reservation due to toxic runoff from encroaching federal building projects that Tribal Chairman Rainwater and his traditionalist protector Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) are opposing.
Kayce’s tough-talking, beer-guzzling new crew includes Belle Skinner (Arielle Kebbel), a former ATF undercover operative with a family history she’d rather keep secret; sassy, Bronx-bred Andrea Cruz (Ash Santos), seeking vengeance for her father’s death; and indigenous Miles Kittle (Tatanka Means), a former Marine/member of the Broken Rock tribal force who joins up with the feds.
They’re supervised by arrogant U.S. Marshal Harry Gifford (Brett Cullen), who has a huge Dutton chip on his shoulder and doesn’t trust Kayce, whom he believes carries the Dutton legacy.
Based on archetypal characters created by Taylor Sheridan & John Linson, it’s shaped by showrunner Spencer Hudnut and follows a formulaic ‘case-of-the-week’ procedural plot.
Still to come in May is “Dutton Ranch,” a franchise sequel following Beth Dutton’s (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser)’s efforts to start a new Dutton ranch. Plus – sometime in the future – there’s “1944,” following the “1883” and “1923” prequel.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Marshals” is a generic, spinoff 6, renewed for a second season and streaming on Paramount+.
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Susan Granger
Westport resident Susan Granger grew up in Hollywood, studied journalism with Pierre Salinger at Mills College and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in Journalism. In addition to writing for newspapers and magazines, she has appeared on radio and television as an anchorwoman and movie critic for many years. Read all her reviews at susangranger.com.
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