There is a lot of gratuitious homosexuality in shows these days. Gotta throw the special interest groups a bone, whether it adds to the narrative or detracts.
Sheridan tries to reflect how the common man and woman have always had to live in America - precariously. It wasn’t easy in 1883 or 1923 or 2025. No one is coming to help. In fact a lot of progressive leaders actively ignore working class families to promote luxury beliefs.
Secondly Sheridan never forgets the common man or woman is often black or indigenous. The American west always had black and Mexican cowboys and settlers had a complex relationship with native peoples.
I think he is a very talented film maker and the left can take a page out of his book. Don’t preach to people. Meet them where they are. Make their lives better. Stop pushing agendas like identity politics as let’s face it they all do it from white liberal guilt. FDR, JFK, LBJ and even Clinton and Obama had the common (man) touch.
And for me this movie just nails it - a lot that is wrong with the US today has very little to do with what most folks would consider a “luxury belief” system.
I view capitalism as the MAIN luxury belief system , the American myth writ large .
This is where we see/find commonality - because it burns a wide swath through most citizens lives - only a few benefit.
There is actually a very good definition online of this term where they argue it assuages the guilt of the middle class but imposes huge costs on the poor. Unlimited migration is the most obvious. Wages get suppressed and there is a crush on resources for the poorest in society. I vote progressive and have an advanced degree but my background is 10000% blue collar. Best friend ran a waterside workers union.
American capitalism is red tooth and claw. It’s always been a struggle for working folks to survive. My belief is MAGA will collapse as it’s obviously a scam. After it will come real demand for human and worker rights.
Thanks for this. I have quite literally wanted to “talk about Taylor Sheridan.” I can’t stand the heavy-handed melodrama in much of his work, and the sense that I am being manipulated into rooting for a strange blend of classically strong-man values paired with liberal tolerance. But I keep showing up to watch more of his stuff.
Exactly. Look there’s nothing wrong with great entertainment. And my hats off to the guy. I just think it’s really cool. That people from all walks can be watching the same thing, coming back for more, and clearly much of Hollywood feels the same way.
I too have trouble watching these shows it took me a while to understand the broken psychology of many of his characters laid bare before us. I find the shows a bit disconcerting they make me think of a few of Clint Eastwood’s movies Unforgiven, Grand Torino, and Mule as examples great movies but the hero’s are horribly flawed, to the point of being ‘bad’ people. However, you end up rooting for them. In both Sheridan’s and Eastwood’s stories the gray area of humanity seems to shine through. That’s what makes these stories so compelling. No one is ‘all good’ or ‘all bad’ we are all flawed. In a sense we can relate to these characters because ( however disturbing it may be) we see ourselves in them, we understand what might motivate a person to do something egregious, underhanded or violent, that we cant imagine doing ourselves, but certainly have thought about.
That’s a good article. I don’t agree with you politically at all, but that’s the beauty of Substack. We can all get along in the sandbox if we are just decent humans. I don’t pay too much attention to who the writer is but now I will. I wasn’t even aware of who he was as an actor. I just enjoy the shows. 1883 was excellent as well as Lioness and the Landman. I just wanted to say thanks for the enlightening commentary and I’ll keep reading
This mostly leftie loves his shows. Best out there aside from the work over on Apple. I've watched both seasons of Lioness twice. Binged them over Thanksgiving as a fantastic discovery. Awaiting Spencer's return on 1923. Beats the fluff and propaganda and formulaic shows out there by a mile.
Yes! We do need to talk about Taylor Sheridan. Here's a theory: Sheridan is Cormac McCarthy light. McCarthy is William Faulkner light.
Moral unpredictability is common to Sheridan and previous existentialist stories, but where Sheridan differs is his heroes are at the center of their communities, while old noir is about outsiders. Is this Sheridan pulling off something new, or trying to have it both ways? Unlike McCarthy, Faulkner, Sheridan delivers satisfying justice. It sells.
The Big Sleep is an informative contrast film. Written by Faulkner, it has a moral unpredictability and a squirely masculinity that's undeniable but hard to pin down.
Good or bad are relative terms. Respect your opinions. But common ground, a place for conversation, a step back to understand if then, how can we come together and discuss, this is more to the point.
Yes, you noticed too that gay man are conspicuously absent from the Sheridan universe, among others, and that environmental ideology is treated as naive buffoonery, while vaguely agricultural vast private properties, corruption, corporate criminality, militant vigilantism, and oil interests are treated with pathos.
Sheridan is admirable, to be sure, including in stamina, as who can account for his output?
But we need a dozen Sheridans, at least ten David E. Kelleys, (whose once-edgy works now appear to be homespun tales of virtue), a reinvented-for-video Mamet (to keep him from lamenting in prose, as is his current métier), a healthy David Milch, and an array from The Americans.
Others may think otherwise or have others to propose. Please do.
I am very suspect of his treatment of women, especially Beth of Yellowstone. Beth is not a bad ass, Beth is a broken down traumatized woman who has heart but so rarely capable of baring it. Sheridan puts her in the ring with other women, most notably her father’s lover, into a knock down drag out fight. Men just love it when women fight each other!!!! It’s tiring and ridiculous that Beth is as angry as she is! And who is she that Taylor needs to see her beat to a pulp so many times? Investigate that!!!
Like I said, this is a series I have not watched. I just find it, well, melodrama. Not anything I can really take seriously. I recognize it’s his most popular show, don’t get me wrong, just not a fan.
I notice that some of these comments revolve around the inherent violence in his shows and films. Which , to me, is less about Sheridan and more about screen violence. Probably ripe for a different post. I for one, think screen violence can and should be scary, realistic and terrifying. Certainly the scenes with Native Americans in 1923 (refer to this year’s Oscar nominated doc, SUGARCANE), and the Dalton scenes are AWFUL. But shouldn’t they be? It makes me think of the original Star Trek episode where two planets continue their war by drawing numbers and people walk into incinerators, and Kirk points out that they have removed the horror of war, which is a deterrent. The recent spate of body horror I find more disturbing, like THE SUBSTANCE. It’s a different kind of exploitation because we can make it technologically now.
I guess I don't see the difference in your two examples. I will, however, note that sexualized violence by men and women towards women is more present than any sexualized violence towards a man in his work.
Sheridan frequently highlights the plight of the Indians and their historic mistreatment in his movies. He’s making the point again in this movie. I’m not sure what point he’s making in the whipping scenes. Just seems like gratuitous sex and violence to me. Guess I’m just old fashioned!
I go back and forth between whether to love or hate his shows, but Bass Reeves might be next. Just learned he was one of/the most know black lawmen in the West. Another example how he highlights all aspects of western history.
Matt I also binged on “Justified” all six seasons. I bought it on AppleTV I really enjoyed it! You probably saw it already. I have Yellowstone, 1883, 1923, Landman is so damn good too! Billy Bob is priceless OMG!!! “I am going to get a Dr Pepper, You want anything? No Daddy, I am glad I can talk to you about these things…”
Take a bare skeleton of long past events (we really know surprisingly little about Reeves) and write the story up using strictly 21st century values and characters. None of his other shows do this, which makes Bass Reeves a bit odd to watch. Obviously, if you’re a white producer covering a black story, you have to tread carefully in Hollywood, so it’s hard to fault, but the product is less than authentic. Denzel would have been a better choice to develop the material.
As I noted, which makes the homosexual relationships between women feel like they are there gratuitously.
There is a lot of gratuitious homosexuality in shows these days. Gotta throw the special interest groups a bone, whether it adds to the narrative or detracts.
Sheridan tries to reflect how the common man and woman have always had to live in America - precariously. It wasn’t easy in 1883 or 1923 or 2025. No one is coming to help. In fact a lot of progressive leaders actively ignore working class families to promote luxury beliefs.
Secondly Sheridan never forgets the common man or woman is often black or indigenous. The American west always had black and Mexican cowboys and settlers had a complex relationship with native peoples.
I think he is a very talented film maker and the left can take a page out of his book. Don’t preach to people. Meet them where they are. Make their lives better. Stop pushing agendas like identity politics as let’s face it they all do it from white liberal guilt. FDR, JFK, LBJ and even Clinton and Obama had the common (man) touch.
What would you say is “Luxury belief”?
My very favorite is Hell or High water
And for me this movie just nails it - a lot that is wrong with the US today has very little to do with what most folks would consider a “luxury belief” system.
I view capitalism as the MAIN luxury belief system , the American myth writ large .
This is where we see/find commonality - because it burns a wide swath through most citizens lives - only a few benefit.
There is actually a very good definition online of this term where they argue it assuages the guilt of the middle class but imposes huge costs on the poor. Unlimited migration is the most obvious. Wages get suppressed and there is a crush on resources for the poorest in society. I vote progressive and have an advanced degree but my background is 10000% blue collar. Best friend ran a waterside workers union.
American capitalism is red tooth and claw. It’s always been a struggle for working folks to survive. My belief is MAGA will collapse as it’s obviously a scam. After it will come real demand for human and worker rights.
Hey, folks, stay on topic please. Way off here.
My hell or high water orig post completely on topic
yup, just the last one and its post that prompted it. Much appreciated!
I didn’t use the term luxury beliefs - Perhaps delete that (?) I find it inflammatory
Thanks for this. I have quite literally wanted to “talk about Taylor Sheridan.” I can’t stand the heavy-handed melodrama in much of his work, and the sense that I am being manipulated into rooting for a strange blend of classically strong-man values paired with liberal tolerance. But I keep showing up to watch more of his stuff.
Exactly. Look there’s nothing wrong with great entertainment. And my hats off to the guy. I just think it’s really cool. That people from all walks can be watching the same thing, coming back for more, and clearly much of Hollywood feels the same way.
I have to wonder why Hollywood has not followed that script as of late. Seems as TV is where most of the quality programming is made now.
I’m looking forward to Martin Scorses new series The Saints asap
Godspeed 😎
What I love are the 'strong woman values' & vidication for the underdogs (indiginous communities).
I too have trouble watching these shows it took me a while to understand the broken psychology of many of his characters laid bare before us. I find the shows a bit disconcerting they make me think of a few of Clint Eastwood’s movies Unforgiven, Grand Torino, and Mule as examples great movies but the hero’s are horribly flawed, to the point of being ‘bad’ people. However, you end up rooting for them. In both Sheridan’s and Eastwood’s stories the gray area of humanity seems to shine through. That’s what makes these stories so compelling. No one is ‘all good’ or ‘all bad’ we are all flawed. In a sense we can relate to these characters because ( however disturbing it may be) we see ourselves in them, we understand what might motivate a person to do something egregious, underhanded or violent, that we cant imagine doing ourselves, but certainly have thought about.
Sopranos comes to mind as well, although not written by Taylor it’s great tv.
That’s a good article. I don’t agree with you politically at all, but that’s the beauty of Substack. We can all get along in the sandbox if we are just decent humans. I don’t pay too much attention to who the writer is but now I will. I wasn’t even aware of who he was as an actor. I just enjoy the shows. 1883 was excellent as well as Lioness and the Landman. I just wanted to say thanks for the enlightening commentary and I’ll keep reading
If this is the only comment I got on this post, it was worth it! Much appreciated.
This mostly leftie loves his shows. Best out there aside from the work over on Apple. I've watched both seasons of Lioness twice. Binged them over Thanksgiving as a fantastic discovery. Awaiting Spencer's return on 1923. Beats the fluff and propaganda and formulaic shows out there by a mile.
Agree on the long wait for 1923!
Agree
Spencer, hurry. The ranch needs you!!
I found myself asking these same questions while being dragged full-on willingly and engrossingly into Landman. Thanks for this!
He rides the fine line of entertaining, unrealistic, flawed heroes, and truth. Sometimes ugly truth.
Yes! We do need to talk about Taylor Sheridan. Here's a theory: Sheridan is Cormac McCarthy light. McCarthy is William Faulkner light.
Moral unpredictability is common to Sheridan and previous existentialist stories, but where Sheridan differs is his heroes are at the center of their communities, while old noir is about outsiders. Is this Sheridan pulling off something new, or trying to have it both ways? Unlike McCarthy, Faulkner, Sheridan delivers satisfying justice. It sells.
The Big Sleep is an informative contrast film. Written by Faulkner, it has a moral unpredictability and a squirely masculinity that's undeniable but hard to pin down.
For anyone keeping score, it appears that male to male sexual violence has finally been addressed in the new season of 1923.
Good or bad are relative terms. Respect your opinions. But common ground, a place for conversation, a step back to understand if then, how can we come together and discuss, this is more to the point.
Common ground isn’t so common anymore .
Sad really 🙁.
Godspeed 😎
Yes, you noticed too that gay man are conspicuously absent from the Sheridan universe, among others, and that environmental ideology is treated as naive buffoonery, while vaguely agricultural vast private properties, corruption, corporate criminality, militant vigilantism, and oil interests are treated with pathos.
Sheridan is admirable, to be sure, including in stamina, as who can account for his output?
But we need a dozen Sheridans, at least ten David E. Kelleys, (whose once-edgy works now appear to be homespun tales of virtue), a reinvented-for-video Mamet (to keep him from lamenting in prose, as is his current métier), a healthy David Milch, and an array from The Americans.
Others may think otherwise or have others to propose. Please do.
I for one think THE DIPLOMAT is one of the best things on TV. I am also a fan of THE MORNING SHOW. There are others. The most recent TRUE DETECTIVE.
Love both
I am very suspect of his treatment of women, especially Beth of Yellowstone. Beth is not a bad ass, Beth is a broken down traumatized woman who has heart but so rarely capable of baring it. Sheridan puts her in the ring with other women, most notably her father’s lover, into a knock down drag out fight. Men just love it when women fight each other!!!! It’s tiring and ridiculous that Beth is as angry as she is! And who is she that Taylor needs to see her beat to a pulp so many times? Investigate that!!!
Like I said, this is a series I have not watched. I just find it, well, melodrama. Not anything I can really take seriously. I recognize it’s his most popular show, don’t get me wrong, just not a fan.
Yes, agreed. I loved her fearlessness but she endured a lot of punches.
The whipping scenes with Timothy Dalton turned me off. I just quit watching.
I notice that some of these comments revolve around the inherent violence in his shows and films. Which , to me, is less about Sheridan and more about screen violence. Probably ripe for a different post. I for one, think screen violence can and should be scary, realistic and terrifying. Certainly the scenes with Native Americans in 1923 (refer to this year’s Oscar nominated doc, SUGARCANE), and the Dalton scenes are AWFUL. But shouldn’t they be? It makes me think of the original Star Trek episode where two planets continue their war by drawing numbers and people walk into incinerators, and Kirk points out that they have removed the horror of war, which is a deterrent. The recent spate of body horror I find more disturbing, like THE SUBSTANCE. It’s a different kind of exploitation because we can make it technologically now.
We could already tell he was an evil man; did we gain anything from learning just how evil he was?
I guess I don't see the difference in your two examples. I will, however, note that sexualized violence by men and women towards women is more present than any sexualized violence towards a man in his work.
Sheridan frequently highlights the plight of the Indians and their historic mistreatment in his movies. He’s making the point again in this movie. I’m not sure what point he’s making in the whipping scenes. Just seems like gratuitous sex and violence to me. Guess I’m just old fashioned!
The horrific Indian treatment scenes were justified, however.
What about Lawman Bass Reeves?
I go back and forth between whether to love or hate his shows, but Bass Reeves might be next. Just learned he was one of/the most know black lawmen in the West. Another example how he highlights all aspects of western history.
Matt I also binged on “Justified” all six seasons. I bought it on AppleTV I really enjoyed it! You probably saw it already. I have Yellowstone, 1883, 1923, Landman is so damn good too! Billy Bob is priceless OMG!!! “I am going to get a Dr Pepper, You want anything? No Daddy, I am glad I can talk to you about these things…”
Just finished Lamdman. Those quotes nailed it the dialogue 😆
Yes he was a Badass!!! The actor who plays him is brilliant!
I did see LAWMAN. I forgot I’d seen it.
Never seen it
Take a bare skeleton of long past events (we really know surprisingly little about Reeves) and write the story up using strictly 21st century values and characters. None of his other shows do this, which makes Bass Reeves a bit odd to watch. Obviously, if you’re a white producer covering a black story, you have to tread carefully in Hollywood, so it’s hard to fault, but the product is less than authentic. Denzel would have been a better choice to develop the material.