A successful series from the USA is frequently referred to as “Game of Thrones for the right wing.” The creator disagrees and says he can only laugh about it.
Which series is it about? It is about Yellowstone, an American series that produced five seasons between 2018 and 2024. Meanwhile, there are even two prequel series called 1883 and 1923.
Yellowstone was particularly successful in Republican-dominated states in the USA and is often referred to as “Game of Thrones for the right wing” because of this. The creator of the series, Taylor Sheridan, does not appreciate this at all.
Tradition vs. Modernity
Where does the name come from? The comparison with Game of Thrones mainly refers to the great success and popularity of Yellowstone in the USA. There are hardly any similarities in content, and the genres are different. While Game of Thrones is fantasy, Yellowstone can be classified as a Western.
As such, the series is particularly popular in politically right-leaning US states. This could be due to the themes the story addresses. At its core, it revolves around the family of John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, an actor, who is also known as a director of major Westerns. In Yellowstone, he is the head of the family living on a ranch in Montana. The piece of land must be protected from businessmen, but also from the indigenous population.
Traditions play an important role, and modern views are not welcomed. That the series is well-received by right-wing voters is not surprising at first glance. However, the creator of the series believes that this is a superficial view of his work:
They (the media) call it “the show for the right wing” or “the Game of Thrones for Republican states.” When I hear that, I just sit there, laugh, and wonder: “Really?” This series is about the displacement of Native Americans and the treatment of indigenous women, the greed of corporations, the gentrification of the West, and massive land grabs. “Is this a Republican series?”
Taylor Sheridan via theatlantic.com
Sheridan portrays characters whose actions may correspond to Republican views. Nevertheless, their actions have consequences and should be critically examined by the audience.
Sheridan emphasizes how important responsible storytelling is to him. A major inspiration for Yellowstone was the Western Unforgiven starring Clint Eastwood. Have you seen Yellowstone and formed your own opinion? Please let us know in the comments. For fans of Western series, we have a list of recommendations on MeinMMO: 7 Western series with good reviews on IMDb
