Share this @internewscast.com
Contains Spoilers for “Marshals” Season 1 Episode 1 — “Piya Wiconi”
Paramount Network
The debut of CBS’s new drama “Marshals” left a significant portion of “Yellowstone” fans unimpressed, particularly due to implications for the character Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes. Among the criticisms, one point resonated deeply with viewers: the perceived unnecessary demise of Monica Dutton, portrayed by Kelsey Asbille.
Monica’s death in the series’ first episode sparked immediate controversy. Many viewers found the storyline excessively tragic, especially considering Kayce’s past losses. One fan commented on a “Yellowstone” subreddit, expressing, “He’s lost his mom, dad, oldest brother, adopted brother, his second-born child, and now his wife. That’s a bit much,” highlighting the overwhelming nature of Kayce’s hardships.
Critics also argued that Monica’s untimely end undermined the conclusion of Kayce’s journey in “Yellowstone.” A viewer noted, “Killing Monica is such sloppy writing and really changes how I feel about the end of Yellowstone for Kayce. So much of how that show ended is really meaningless with Monica dying shortly after,” reflecting a sense of dissatisfaction with the narrative choices. However, Monica’s fate wasn’t the sole grievance for loyal fans regarding the new series’ direction.
Despite its ambitions, many fans felt that “Marshals” lacked originality, resembling typical CBS dramas rather than offering something distinct. One Reddit user expressed, “It’s not good. Like a generic network show with Luke Grimes shoehorned into it. Can tell Taylor Sheridan had minimal involvement,” pointing to the show’s failure to stand out.
The reduced involvement of Taylor Sheridan, who serves only as an executive producer for “Marshals” rather than its writer or showrunner, is a point of concern for viewers. Additionally, some criticisms were directed at Luke Grimes, with one user stating, “Kayce was the weakest character and Luke Grimes the weakest actor; he had the least charisma of all the leads on Yellowstone. Why they thought he could headline his own show really beggars belief,” highlighting skepticism about Grimes’ ability to lead the new series.
Fans don’t think too highly of Marshals so far
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Despite its ambitions, a good number of fans felt that “Marshals” was far too much like every other CBS drama in existence instead of something unique. “It’s not good. Like a generic network show with Luke Grimes shoehorned into it. Can tell Taylor Sheridan had minimal involvement,” remarked a Reddit user.
The fact that Sheridan isn’t as involved in “Marshals” as he is with his other shows in the “Yellowstone” universe — here only acting as the show’s executive producer instead of writing or showrunning – remains a disquieting factor for many viewers. Still, some blamed Luke Grimes’ acting for their malaise. “Kayce was the weakest character and Luke Grimes the weakest actor; he had the least charisma of all the leads on Yellowstone. Why they thought he could headline his own show really beggars belief,” said u/IceStorm22.
For many, this first dose of Kayce’s future proved to be the only thing a show about the Dutton clan shouldn’t be – boring. “I really tried to like it. But I litterally fell asleep twice,” remarked u/jlive9. Kayce’s future looks like it’ll be anything but sedate, yet with Monica gone — and the action turned way up — audiences just might reject this sojourn into Kayce’s new life.
