‘Marshals’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Parallels ‘Yellowstone’s Debut

The new series, a spin-off of Yellowstone, is a surprising addition to the franchise. Early reviews are sharply divided – it could either be a huge hit like the original, or quickly fade into obscurity. Luke Grimes returns as Kayce Dutton, now working as a U.S. Marshal and leaving the Yellowstone Ranch behind. However, the show faces a challenge with its significantly different format compared to the main Yellowstone series on Paramount+.

Now set in Montana, the story follows Kayce Dutton as he uses his experience as both a cowboy and a Navy SEAL in his new job. He works alongside teammates Pete Calvin, Belle Skinner, Andrea Cruz, and Miles Kittle, and together they must cope with the emotional toll of being the last defense against the area’s violence while also fulfilling their family obligations.

Early reviews for the new series are mixed, currently at 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s based on only five reviews so far. What’s clear is that this show is a bigger departure from the original Yellowstone than spin-offs like 1883 and 1923. While some, like Ana Dumaraog from ScreenRant, praised the series and acknowledged the risk, they also believe it could be very rewarding.

Both Katie Doll from CBR and Alex Maidy of JoBlo agree that moving a popular character into a standard police procedural might not work. They worry it won’t capture what made Yellowstone so appealing. While many network dramas use this familiar format and can be successful, Marshals might need to attract Yellowstone fans to truly succeed.


CBS

Being the first show spun off from Yellowstone to air on a major network will definitely give Marshals a big start in terms of viewers. However, the show will need to be compelling enough in its early episodes to keep people watching. Viewers who approach Marshals without expecting it to be exactly like Yellowstone might actually enjoy its unique style and story.

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Just because a show gets mixed reviews from critics doesn’t mean viewers won’t enjoy it. Audiences often find value in movies and TV shows that critics miss, and Marshals might connect with viewers in a way the Yellowstone finale didn’t. Interestingly, the first season of Yellowstone only received a 58% rating from critics initially, meaning Marshals is currently performing better than the show that launched Taylor Sheridan’s popular Paramount universe nearly a decade ago.

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2026-02-26 00:32