The new ‘Marshals’ series brought back Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton on March 1, 2026. The show got off to a huge start with over 20 million people watching the first episode on CBS and Paramount+. But the excitement has cooled down. The show now holds a 47% rating from critics and a 41% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. That makes it the least popular show among viewers in Taylor Sheridan’s whole TV collection.
A Rocky Start for the Yellowstone Spinoff
The first episode broke records. It became the most-watched CBS premiere without an NFL lead-in since 2017. It also set a record as the most-streamed CBS episode ever on Paramount+. CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach called it a “breakout performance” that became “one of TV’s most powerful new series.”
But the excitement dropped quickly. The show moved to fifth place on the Paramount+ U.S. chart by March 6, 2026. Both fans and critics pointed out problems with the show’s new direction.
Why Fans Are Not Happy With the New Show
The biggest complaint is about the show’s style. ‘Marshals’ feels very different from ‘Yellowstone.’ The original show had a slow, deep drama style. The new show follows a faster, case-of-the-week format like ‘NCIS’ or ‘CSI.’ Each episode runs 42 minutes, which is much shorter than ‘Yellowstone’ episodes.
One viewer on Reddit shared their thoughts:
“It was about what I expected for network. It’s just formula fiction, like NCIS or CSI but with a Dutton. I’ll watch, but I won’t feel good about it.”
Another fan said the show lost its soul:
“CBS did not need the show and by eliminating the grit the Sheridan shows had, it was made to be soulless. Pure greed to have it on FCC airwaves and not a cable or streaming.”
Monica’s Death Shocks the Audience
The show revealed that Kayce‘s wife Monica Dutton, played by Kelsey Asbille, passed away from cancer. The cancer is tied to a toxic waste dump near a mine on the Broken Rock Reservation. This decision upset many fans who wanted to see her return.
Luke Grimes told TV Insider that he reached out to Asbille to discuss the “devastating news.” The creators Taylor Sheridan and Spencer Hudnut told The Hollywood Reporter that Asbille was not available to join the spin-off, so they wrote her character out.
The Show Gets Renewed for a Second Season
Despite the low ratings, Paramount+ renewed ‘Marshals’ for a second season just weeks after the first episode aired. The renewal came on March 18, 2026. This shows the streaming service still believes in the show’s potential.
The second season will likely arrive in Fall 2026. Luke Grimes will return as Kayce Dutton. Logan Marshall-Green will also come back as Pete Calvin. Other returning cast members include Brecken Merrill as Tate, Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater, and Mo Brings Plenty as Mo.
What the Cast and Critics Are Saying
Michael John Petty of Collider shared mixed thoughts about the show. He said:
“Marshals is a neo-Western that is full of potential. It’s action-packed, thrilling, and full of everything you could ask for in a Kayce Dutton-led series that fights hard to separate itself from the ‘Y’ that still lingers in the background. It’s not perfect, nor does it claim to be.”
Arielle Kebbel, who plays Belle Skinner, praised Luke Grimes in an interview with People. She called him a “badass” on set. She added, “It’s so cool to work alongside him, but also see him in action, because it really is a totally different side to his character.”
How to Watch ‘Marshals’ in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and India
New episodes of ‘Marshals’ air every Sunday at 8 PM ET/PT on CBS in the USA.
For streaming:
- USA: Watch on Paramount+ (live with Premium plan, next day with Essential plan)
- UK: Available on Paramount+ UK
- Canada: Streams on Paramount+ Canada
- Australia: Available on Paramount+ Australia
- India: Streams on Paramount+ India or Voot (depending on regional availability)
The first season has 13 episodes, running through May 24, 2026.
Guest Stars Add Country Music Flavor
Country singers have joined the cast. Riley Green will appear as Garret, a former Navy SEAL who visits his friends Kayce and Pete to deal with past trauma. Ashley Cooke sang her 2023 song “Next To You” during episode 2, which aired on March 8, 2026.
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A Recent Episode Tackles Serious Issues
The March 29, 2026 episode, titled “Lost Girls,” dealt with missing Indigenous women. Kayce and Miles (played by Tatanka Means) searched for a missing girl named Hailey from the Broken Rock Reservation. The episode ended without a rescue, showing the real crisis of missing Indigenous women across North America.
Mo Brings Plenty, who is from a reservation in South Dakota, called the episode a potential “wake-up call for society.”
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