Yellowstone is like the advent of the pet rock. Those that get it....get it. It's okay if you don't get it cause I have NO idea why I have enjoyed this show so much.
This is a story of a modern day rancher, his family and their land.....yep, these factors are the cornerstone of each episode...the Duttons have a cook, lots of trucks, horses, cows (note-- refer to them as cattle), a helicopter and a a beautiful log cabin situated on the fictional Yellowstone Ranch in Montana....there's a bunk house full of rowdy ranch hands, loyalty, and a love of the land that is noble. They also brand (yes, you heard me right--BRAND) those ranch hand "family members" who aren't blood related. Those family members are related by experience...if you are "Yellowstone"....you are Yellowstone for life. It's a shoot 'em up, ride hard, put away wet, blow up your neighborhood type of tv series on Paramount. There are Native Americans, one-liners, cowboys, scenery and one hell of a storyline each week. The F word is bantied about as casual as the word....the.
It is crude, rude, and lewd.
But, I digress. This tv show has sucked me into its vortex like few others on tv. Oh, I'm an advocate for old school "Hill Street Blues", "St. Elsewhere", Stephen Boscow, Aaron Sorkin tv.....but a modern day Western? This isn't my normal fare. AND I look forward to Sunday nights to see what might happen next.
I am trying to analyze why I like it. It is believable but unbelievable. Violent. The f-word is used by everyone involved. I mean the f-bomb isn't a bomb....it's more like a word that can be used every part of speech. It's not Longmire for sure. You commit a sin against the "family"-- you'll be taking a ride to the train station....and this train is that long, dark train to meet your maker. I kind of like this eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality. But, I digress.
My favorite character is Rip.
Rip listens far more than he talks. He's an enigma....a tall, dark, sunglass wearing cowboy-- a Shaman who proclaims that he lives to take care of the family. He is like a wild animal-- he watches everything and is continually on guard. He reminds me of a wolf, a loner....Rip is always on the periphery....even though he loves the Dutton daughter, Beth, and they are soon to be married. He might be considered feral.
NOTE: Beth and Rip got married in the final episode of Season 4 after she kidnapped a priest....and as John Dutton whispered, "BUT, we aren't Catholic." She just used a little gun....the priest isn't going to press charges....
Since the onset of the Covid experience, many of us have become a little more like Rip than we care to admit. We watch where we are, we watch who we associate with, we are careful, cautious and continually on guard. We protect our families by sanitizing our hands or staying away from dense numbers of people congregated together.
I've lost too many people who I respect and care about due to illness during 2019-2021 span. I am cautious. I will continue to be cautious. I'm not scared. I am listening to doctors that I know and trust.
For those of you that want to chide me about this. Turn the channel.
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