‘Yellowstone’ Fans Slam Season 5 Episode 13 for Bella Hadid Casting and Terrible Writing

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As a seasoned cinema enthusiast with over three decades of watching and analyzing various genres under my belt, I must say that Taylor Sheridan’s recent decisions regarding “Yellowstone” have left me more than a little bewildered. While his unparalleled success in creating hit after hit cannot be denied, the latest season has been a rollercoaster ride of controversy and fan disillusionment.

Fans of the highly acclaimed series, produced by Taylor Sheridan, are growing disillusioned just before its finale – a sentiment partly due to Taylor Sheridan himself. While there’s no denying his success as a showrunner – with his shows occupying the top three spots on Paramount+’s US TV chart – some viewers find his increasing self-indulgence grating, particularly since he appeared in Season 5’s penultimate episode as Travis Wheatley and introduced a real-life supermodel as his onscreen girlfriend.

There is something to be said for anyone being able to produce hit after hit, and Sheridan has touched a rich vein with shows like Yellowstone (and its many spinoffs and prequels), Tulsa King, and Lioness. However, the controversy that has surrounded Yellowstone Season 5B has taken a toll on Sheridan’s golden touch. From Kevin Costner’s highly publicized departure from the show, to several character deaths that have not gone down well with audiences, and a plummeting Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes, the current run of episodes appears to be digging itself a grave as it heads into its final episode.

In the most recent broadcast on Sunday evening, certain viewers criticized the episode for prioritizing extensive screen time for Sheridan’s character over plot development. Termed “self-indulgent,” the return of Travis Wheatley (interpret that as you wish), portrayed by Sheridan, was a series of posing scenes and horseback riding, along with the introduction of supermodel Bella Hadid as his girlfriend, which left many in disbelief. As one user on X/Twitter succinctly stated:

“Why the f*ck is Bella Hadid in Yellowstone?”

Taylor Sheridan Slammed by ‘Yellowstone’ Fans

A year ago, Yellowstone appeared poised to become an exceptional TV show. Although its initial season received mixed reviews, it steadily gained more viewers and admiration with each subsequent run, suggesting a promising future for Season 5 and beyond. However, the departure of Costner shifted things rapidly, foreshadowing a rocky conclusion to the series.

Despite another significant character’s death and extensive focus on Sherdian’s face, the once captivating narrative appears to be losing momentum and heading towards a conclusion that seems to hold little interest for many viewers now. As @gabspeaking expressed in their Twitter post, it’s as if one of the wheels has fallen off the bandwagon, causing it to careen towards an ending with diminishing enthusiasm.

Perhaps, had Taylor Sheridan devoted more attention to his studies on writing, ‘Yellowstone’ might not have evolved into a questionable portrayal of a midlife drama.

Besides being on their own, @Hesadawg and isabella571976 both expressed their dissatisfaction with Taylor Sheridan’s latest writing on the Yellowstone series. Hesadawg criticized the recent episode as the worst he’s ever seen, questioning Sheridan’s motives for incorporating himself into the storyline and negatively impacting Rip’s character. Isabella571976, meanwhile, compared Sheridan unfavorably to Kevin Costner, stating that while Costner exudes class, Sheridan seems unrefined, and she prefers it when he has fewer lines. Both viewers expressed dislike for this particular episode, feeling that it has made the show less appealing than before.

Yellowstone’s conclusion on December 15th is eagerly anticipated by many viewers, yet it’s apparent that the primary motivation behind their weekly viewings wasn’t to admire John Dutton flexing his muscles. Instead, the series’ allure lay elsewhere.

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2024-12-09 15:01