Obsessed with Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone? Don’t Miss This 8-Episode Series Everyone Mistook for a Spinoff!

Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise currently focuses on spinoffs and prequels of the iconic original neo-Western drama, but until the story of the modern-day Duttons picks back up, there is a perfect show for those looking for more gritty Western action. As it stands, the Yellowstone franchise has at least two series in development that can continue some of the narratives that ended abruptly when the finale for season 5 became the show’s series finale. A Michelle Pfeiffer-led drama titled The Madison is already in production, and a Beth and Rip-centric spinoff is also reportedly in the works.

There are more related projects in development, including the next prequel series that focuses on past Duttons, 1944, and 6666, which will follow the adventures of Jefferson White’s Jimmy Hurdstrom on the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas (which was featured in seasons 4 and 5 of Yellowstone). There are no release dates available for any of those four projects, though, meaning that once the second season of 1923 ends, Yellowstone fans will have some waiting in store. Fortunately, that provides an opportunity to catch another Taylor Sheridan show that should satisfy fans of Yellowstone and its prequels.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Is Perfect To Watch While Waiting For Yellowstone To Continue

The Limited Series Chronicles The Exploits Of A Famous Frontier Marshal

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is a limited miniseries that stars David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, a real former slave turned deputy U.S. Marshal in the years following the American Civil War. After being commissioned as a deputy U.S. Marshal in 1875, Reeves ranged across a massive territory in modern-day Oklahoma and Arkansas hunting down criminals. Per the Encyclopedia Brittanica, he finished his career with over 3,000 arrests, and killed 14 outlaws wanted for various severe crimes. The show checks in at various points in Reeves’ life, and includes plenty of Western gunslinger action along with a slow-burn story of vengeance.

While Taylor Sheridan was only an executive producer on Lawmen: Bass Reeves, it still checks off many of the notable traits of his shows; it has balanced pacing, a thrilling narrative, and excellent action. In addition to the Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated Oyelowo, the show features stellar performances from stars like Dennis Quaid, Donald Sutherland, and Barry Pepper as the unsettling villain Esau Pierce. The eight-part series about the life of the famous lawman is an entertaining watch for any audience, but it is especially thrilling for those who love classic and neo-Westerns.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Isn’t A Yellowstone Show, But It Shares A Lot In Common

It Spotlights Diverse Perspectives And Has Plenty Of Western Action

For quite some time leading up to the release of Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the show was branded as a prequel to the Yellowstone spinoff 1883, and would therefore be set in the same universe as the modern-day Duttons, just in the distant past. While that, of course, led to the notion that the ancestors of Yellowstone characters could appear, the show was rebranded as part of an anthology series. While no other Lawmen-branded series have been announced, David Oyelowo recently expressed his optimism regarding a second season of Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves – Key Details
Release Date	Created By	Episode Count	Streaming Network	RT Tomatometer Score	RT Popcornmeter Score
Nov. 5th-Dec. 17th 2023	Chad Feehan	8	Paramount+	79%	93%

Despite the show being unrelated to Yellowstone, there are plenty of connecting threads that encourage fans of the modern show embrace Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Aside from the Western action and tropes, the show’s setting in an area formerly known as Indian Territory means the show includes a number of diverse perspectives, particularly regarding the Indigenous People and former slaves who lived in that area. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is a must-watch for any fan of Yellowstone, and is a great way to pass the time until the next project from the Yellowstone universe debuts.