The expansion of the Yellowstone universe hits a rough patch right out of the gate. The new spinoff series Marshals, which follows Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) as he leaves ranch life behind to join an elite unit of lawmen, has received the worst Rotten Tomatoes score of any show in the beloved Western franchise. Critics have weighed in on the first episodes, and the numbers are not pretty for this highlyๆๅพ ็ continuation of the Dutton saga.
The series arrives on CBS on March 1, 2026, with a lot of weight on its shoulders. It is the first direct sequel to the record-breaking original series that ended in December 2024. But unlike its predecessors, which often scored high with critics, Marshals is starting its journey with a disappointing critical reception.
The Worst Critical Debut for the Franchise
According to multiple reviews aggregated on the site, Marshals has scored lower than any other entry in the Yellowstone franchise. For comparison, the original Yellowstone had its ups and downs, starting with a 58% score for its first season before climbing to a perfect 100% for Season 3 and landing at 79% for its divisive final season. The prequels 1883 and 1923 both received strong reviews during their runs. Marshals, however, has debuted to a score that sits below all of them .
Critics point to the shows shift in tone as a major reason for the low score. Newsday called the series a “mostly boilerplate CBS procedural” that shows promise but fails to capture the magic of the original show. The review noted that while the horses look great, the show often feels like a “dumb and violent” network crime drama rather than the nuanced family saga fans fell in love with .
The change in creative control appears to be a factor. Unlike previous Sheridan shows, Marshals is not written by Taylor Sheridan. Instead, Spencer Hudnut, known for his work on SEAL Team, serves as showrunner. While Sheridan remains involved as an executive producer, the different writing style has led to a show that feels less like Yellowstone and more like a standard cop drama set in Montana .
What the Critics Are Saying About the Show
Reviews for Marshals are mixed, with praise for the performances but criticism for the formulaic storytelling. Men’s Journal offered a more positive take, describing the show as having that “feel-good Yellowstone magic” and comparing its vibe to hits like Tracker or Reacher. That review highlighted how the show serves as a fresh beginning for Luke Grimes as a leading man and noted that new viewers can jump in without having seen a single episode of the mother ship .
However, the positive reviews are in the minority. The consensus among critics suggests that while Luke Grimes delivers a solid performance as Kayce, the material surrounding him does not live up to the high standards set by the franchise. The show follows Kayce as he joins fellow Marshals Belle Skinner (Arielle Kebbel), Andrea Cruz (Ash Santos), Miles (Tatanka Means), and Pete Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green) to take on gang members, cartels, and other threats in Montana .
One of the biggest points of criticism is the handling of Kayce’s personal story. The show implies that his wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille) has been killed off between the end of Yellowstone and the start of Marshals. Kelsey Asbille was noticeably absent from the Los Angeles premiere event, confirming that she did not make the jump to the spinoff. A scene in the trailer shows a sheet being placed over a body in Kayce’s bed, with Kayce later lying alone, suggesting a tragic end for the character. Fans have already reacted angrily online, with one Reddit user posting, “They did Monica dirty! How can they kill her off like that?” .
“I thought ‘Yellowstone was over,” said Luke Grimes about his surprise at the show continuing. “I didn’t see any chance of it continuing โ especially with Kayce’s arc ending so sort of perfectly.”
Despite the critical drubbing, the show does bring back several familiar faces. Gil Birmingham returns as Thomas Rainwater, Mo Brings Plenty reprises his role as Mo, and Brecken Merrill is back as Kayce’s son Tate. These connections to the original series provide some continuity, even as the shows format shifts to a more procedural style .
Release Schedule and Streaming Details
Marshals premieres on Sunday, March 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS. The show will air weekly in the same time slot. For those who prefer to stream, the episode will be available the next day, Monday, March 2, on Paramount+. Viewers with a Paramount+ Premium account can watch the show live as it airs on Sunday night .
The series is expected to run for 13 episodes in its first season, though CBS has not officially confirmed the episode count. The show filmed in Utah over the summer and fall of 2025, returning to locations used in the early seasons of Yellowstone .
For global audiences, the availability may vary. Viewers in the UK, Canada, Australia, and India should check their local Paramount+ services or broadcast partners for specific release dates, as international streaming rights often differ from the US schedule.
Luke Grimes hopes that the fans who followed Kayce for five seasons on Yellowstone will give this new chapter a chance. Speaking at the premiere event, he addressed the fanbase directly.
“I hope you like it, that’s what I would say,” Grimes told Entertainment Tonight. “I hope the original fans will still like it.”
He also described the show as very different from its predecessor. “It’s a very different show, it’s a lot quicker pace, there’s a lot of action in the show,” Grimes explained, highlighting the shift from slow-burning family drama to action-packed procedural .
The show marks the first Taylor Sheridan project to air on CBS rather than the Paramount Network or Paramount+, though all entities fall under the same corporate umbrella. The network picked up the series to strengthen its Sunday night lineup, placing it after 60 Minutes and before hits like Tracker and Watson .
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Cast Changes and New Additions
The cast of Marshals brings together a mix of returning veterans and exciting new talent. Besides the confirmed returns of Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty, and Brecken Merrill, the show introduces several new series regulars.
Logan Marshall-Green joins as Pete Calvin, Kayce’s old military buddy who recruits him into the Marshals service. Arielle Kebbel plays Belle Skinner, a fellow Marshal who, along with her colleagues, will form the core of the team. Ash Santos takes on the role of Andrea Cruz, and Tatanka Means portrays Miles Kittle. Country music singer Riley Green also appears in a guest starring role as Garrett .
Brett Cullen, known for playing Batman’s father in Joker, recurs as Harry Gifford, the head of the Montana Marshals unit .
The show was originally announced under the working title Y: Marshals, but CBS confirmed in January 2026 that the title had been simplified to just Marshals. A CBS spokesperson explained that the “Y” was always considered “silent” internally and that the shows logo would still feature the letter, but the official title is now simply Marshals .
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