Are Montanans Over Yellowstone as the Show Ends?

Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone might be ending, but the drama it unleashed in Montana could linger for years. Since 2018, Montana has been featured on television screens all across the globe.

Now, with the second half of the final season airing, Montanans are divided: relieved to see it go or sad to lose the spotlight?

Cowpokes and Indians...Montana Stereotypes

For many locals, Yellowstone feels more like a Hollywood fantasy than real Montana. The show has created a stereotype that all Montanans must be either cowpokes or psychopaths... Now that I think about it, I cannot only blame a silly TV show for that. However, Montanans are known for being hearty and tough. Which is a stereotype we will gladly own.

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What is accurate is Montana’s fear of growth. Ironically, the show’s success has fueled a population boom, turning the “Last Best Place” into a hot spot for Wall Street investors and cowboy-hat-wearing influencers. That is NOT how everyday life is in Montana. They’re tourists “playing dress-up.”

Saying Goodbye

So, how do Montanans feel about the show's ending? Some will miss it, while others are glad to stop explaining that ranch life isn’t all murder plots and gubernatorial campaigns. Whether you’re mourning the Duttons or ready to reclaim Montana’s quieter identity, one thing’s certain: Yellowstone’s impact won’t fade anytime soon.

According to a recent article from the Economist

Fans sorry to see the series end will be heartened by the fact that Mr Sheridan has created a kind of cowboy cinematic universe, with two “Yellowstone” prequels (“1883” and “1923”) already out and another drama set in Montana (“The Madison”, starring Michelle Pfeiffer) in the works. Yet one group is especially looking forward to the finale: actual Montanans.

Take a drive in the Bitterroot Valley and you will see hundreds of vehicles with "anti-Y" decals slapped on. It's clear that Taylor Sheridan has worn out his welcome with some residents of the state.