Marshals Doubles Down On Taylor Sheridan’s Divisive Strategy-Shift In Season 2

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More information about season 2 of Marshals has been revealed, showing CBS’s continued support for Taylor Sheridan’s new direction, even though it’s proven controversial. The series, the first in the Yellowstone universe to air on traditional television, brings back Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton. The story follows Kayce as he adjusts to life after Monica’s death and unexpectedly finds himself working with the U.S. Marshals, which forms the central plot of the show.

Even though it pushed the boundaries of television, the new show Lawmen: Bass Reeves quickly became a hit. It’s officially the most-watched program on network TV for the 2025-2026 season, which is remarkable since it started airing late in the year. It surpassed Tracker, which had been the most popular show for most of its run. As expected, CBS has ordered another season of the series. However, despite its success, not everyone is a fan of the show’s approach. Unfortunately for those viewers, season two of Lawmen: Bass Reeves won’t be changing its storytelling style, which differs from Yellowstone.

Marshals First-Look Images Highlight Its Procedural Nature

Only weeks after the first season ended, CBS has confirmed that filming for Marshals season 2 is already underway in Utah – the same location as season 1. They shared some first-look photos featuring Josh Grimes returning as Kayce, looking serious while on horseback with a gun. There was also a more casual photo of Tatanka Means and Ash Santos, who play Miles and Andrea, returning for the new season. While details about the plot haven’t been released, the photos suggest the show will continue its focus on case-of-the-week style stories.

Now that Monica’s storyline has concluded and Beth and Rip’s story continues in Texas on Dutton Ranch, the Yellowstone sequel is moving more towards a case-of-the-week format. The show’s title change to focus on the U.S. Marshals first hinted at this shift. Recent updates about season 2 of Marshals show the season will center on the Marshals and their cases, rather than relying on connections to the original Yellowstone series or characters like Thomas Rainwater and Mo. While some viewers haven’t loved this change, CBS is clearly committed to building the show around its new main characters and their work.

Why Marshals Being A Yellowstone Procedural Is So Divisive

It was likely that Marshals would become a standard procedural drama once it moved from streaming to CBS. Network television generally favors this format because it allows for many more episodes – typically 10 to 20 per season – than streaming shows. By making Marshals a procedural set within the Yellowstone world, Taylor Sheridan increases its chances of lasting longer than the original Yellowstone series.

While the new show represents a significant change for fans of the Western genre, some haven’t fully embraced it. The weekly case-of-the-week format, combined with longer, unfolding storylines, is drawing criticism, especially from those used to the fast-paced, twist-filled episodes of Yellowstone. Compared to that show, Marshals can feel slow. However, many of the most successful TV shows rely on this procedural format, so if the creator finds the right mix of familiar and new elements, the show has the potential to appeal to a wider audience.

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2026-06-09 15:31