A Ratings Juggernaut Overcomes Critical Backlash
Taylor Sheridan’s television empire has never shied away from polarising critics, but his network drama Marshals faced an unusually rocky start out of the gate. Debuting as one of two official follow-ups to his flagship hit Yellowstone, the CBS series marked a distinct departure from the sweeping “oat opera” family sagas that made Sheridan a household name. Instead, it pivoted sharply into a formulaic broadcast police procedural—a shift that left reviewers unimpressed.
Despite launching as the lowest-rated show associated with Sheridan, holding a dismal 28% audience score and 48% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its debut season, Marshals proved completely immune to bad reviews. The series delivered massive viewership for both CBS and Paramount+, cementing itself as a ratings powerhouse. Now, mere months after wrapping its inaugural run, the series has officially returned for its second season, kicking off a brand-new chapter for fan-favorite character Kayce Dutton.
Course-Correcting the Kayce Dutton Chapter
Starring Luke Grimes as Kayce, Marshals follows the former Navy SEAL and Montana rancher as he transitions into life with a specialized U.S. Marshals unit. The first season drew criticism for trapping a beloved character within a rigid “case-of-the-week” structure, with Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus panning the show as a “dim procedural” that lacked the narrative intrigue of the original series.
With Season 2 now airing on Sunday nights, early reviews indicate that key creative collaborators have actively worked to refine the show’s balance. While Sheridan himself maintains a hands-off, producer role on the franchise while remaining available for creative consultation, showrunner Spencer Hudnut appears to have doubled down on sharpening the procedural elements. Critics reviewing early Season 2 episodes note an improvement over the debut installment, pointing out that while the show still touches on familiar franchise tropes, its grounded procedural structure gives it a clearer identity.
Dominating the Streaming Charts Alongside Sheridan Classics
The strategy to revamp the series is already paying off. Following its Sunday night premiere on CBS, Season 2 has surged back onto Paramount+’s global top-10 streaming charts. The show now sits comfortably alongside Sheridan’s heavy hitters, sharing chart space with Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Lioness, and Dutton Ranch.
For fans navigating the post-Yellowstone era, Marshals offers a weekly dose of action and familiar characters, including appearances by Gil Birmingham and Mo Brings Plenty alongside Grimes. As Season 2 unfolds, viewers are eager to see if the series can sustain its ratings momentum while proving its critics wrong.
