All 7 Taylor Sheridan TV Shows, Ranked Worst To Best

As the creator of Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan has become one of the most prominent producers in modern television by creating seven shows for Paramount+ and the Paramount Network, all of which range in quality. Sheridan’s TV production career began with the tremendously popular Yellowstone series, which stars Kevin Costner and tells the story of the wealthy land-owning Dutton family. The show’s appeal has already prompted two spin-off shows, 1883 and 1923, with more on the way, including one led by Matthew McConaughey and another prequel titled 1944.

Taylor Sheridan has developed standalone crime, thriller, and Western TV series outside the Yellowstone franchise. He’s worked on the series Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, Special Ops: Lioness, and the recently released series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, a miniseries that’s been met with immediate critical acclaim, based on the true story of the first Black U.S. Marshal. Sheridan’s work has provided content to make Paramount+ a competitor in the streaming service landscape, though none of his work has taken off quite like Yellowstone.

7, Special Ops: Lioness

Taylor Sheridan created the series.

Taylor Sheridan tried something new with Special Ops: Lioness, seemingly putting all the pieces together for a successful spy thriller, but the series’ first season fell short of the mark. The show stars Zoe Saldaña as Joe, a CIA officer leading the Lioness program. Nicole Kidman plays a supporting role in the series as Joe’s boss, and Morgan Freeman also guest starred. Special Ops: Lioness is worth a shot for fans of the Jack Ryan-like genre of CIA thrillers, but it’s Sheridan’s least compelling TV series overall.

6, Mayor Of Kingstown

Taylor Sheridan co-created the series with Hugh Dillon.

Taylor Sheridan proved he could bring more to the table than just Westerns with Mayor of Kingstown, a series awaiting its third season. The series stars Jeremy Renner and features Aidan Gillen and Kyle Chandler in supporting roles. Renner plays Mike McLusky, an ex-con who becomes the “Mayor” following the death of his older brother, making him responsible for mediating between gangs, prisoners, and law enforcers. The fictional Kingstown is known for its prison industry, allowing the series to explore themes of systemic racism, corruption, and the more extensive American prison system.

5, Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Taylor Sheridan served as an executive producer.

The new Paramount+ miniseries is off to a promising start, exploring the life of Bass Reeves, a Marshal who apprehended thousands of criminals in his career. Reeves is played by Selma star David Oyelowo, who’s joined by Lauren E. Banks, Dennis Quaid, and Donald Sutherland in supporting roles. Initially, the series was planned to be part of the Yellowstone universe but moved forward as a standalone miniseries with eight episodes releasing. The show is riveting, filled with strong performances, and recognizably Sheridan, despite his lesser involvement in the project.

4, 1923

Taylor Sheridan created the series.

The second Yellowstone prequel, 1923, was released in 2022 to mostly positive reception. Acting legends Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, who play Jacob and Cara Dutton, lead the 1923 cast during the Prohibition and Great Depression Eras. The excellent acting continues the Yellowstone universe’s reputation for prestige television, and the series had a solid opening season. 1923 displayed encouraging potential to set up a longer story, showing that the story of the Dutton Ranch could be appealing across different eras.

3, Tulsa King

Taylor Sheridan co-created the series with Terence Winter.

Bringing Sylvester Stallone on to lead a crime drama created by Taylor Sheridan is extremely exciting, and Tulsa King managed to be one of the best TV shows on Paramount+. Stallone plays Dwight Manfredi, a Mafia capo released from prison who’s sent from New York to Oklahoma to set up a criminal base of operations. After 25 years behind bars, Manfredi hopes to establish a new life for himself while balancing the old and the new. Stallone’s performance is the best part of the series, exploring a type of Mafia character the classic action hero never explored throughout his career.

2, 1883

Taylor Sheridan created the series.

The first Yellowstone prequel, 1883, was a phenomenal success, delivering a lightning-in-a-bottle singular season. Aside from the talented leading names of Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Sam Elliott, young actress Isabel May is a standout, delivering a refreshing new perspective to the Western genre. The spirit and adventurous nature of a teen girl lead is a perfect juxtaposition to the harsh frontier environment, allowing the series to barrel toward 1883’s tragic ending. While 1883 may see the franchise at its highest, most riveting stakes, Yellowstone is still Taylor Sheridan’s best show due to the long-form story and ensemble of thoroughly explored characters.

1, Yellowstone

Taylor Sheridan co-created the series with John Linson.

Taylor Sheridan’s first major series was Yellowstone, and nothing has surpassed the original. The series chronicles the lives of the Dutton family as they defend the titular ranch from various threats, from neighboring landowners to massive corporations seeking to modernize the state of Montana. It explores nuanced themes of greed, land, and power in the United States while balancing those broader concepts with complex familial dynamics. While the series may have considerable low points, it has the best television seasons in the Yellowstone franchise and the most intricate characters Taylor Sheridan has written. While a case can certainly be made for 1883, Yellowstone’s epic scale and influence pull it ahead.

Yellowstone explores a similar concept to shows like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, which follow a morally complex anti-hero character as they balance the challenges of their cutthroat occupation with the difficulties of raising a family, usually leaning more toward their work than their kids. Seeing the effect John Dutton has had on his children and how each plays a role in the family enterprise is the most fascinating aspect of the series, offering an exciting paradigm. The series is filled with supporting characters like the Bunkhouse team and compelling antagonists like the Beck Brothers or Roarke.

Yellowstone awaits the second half of season 5, which is set to premiere in late 2024. Kevin Costner’s well-documented drama surrounding the series could end up tainting the show’s legacy if he’s not involved in the final run. If the last episodes are abysmal in his absence, it will undoubtedly affect the long-term perception of the series. In contrast, an apt, satisfying conclusion could solidify Yellowstone as one of the staple examples of the 21st-century Western genre, regardless of the mediocrity of season 4 and season 5, part 1.