The Madison Review (Paramount+)
From Oscar Nominee Taylor Sheridan, the Lord and Master of the Yellowstone franchise, comes his latest addition to the small screen. The Madison, which centres around the Clyburn family as they move from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan to the quiet and idyllic Madison River, Montana, in an attempt to deal with grief, in the wake of a family tragedy.
First, let’s make it clear that only the first three episodes were made available for review, and sometimes, therein lies the issue. Despite its stellar all-star cast of Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Patrick J. Adams and even Matthew Fox (who marks his first TV appearance since the end of Lost), there’s little about this series that makes the type of impact you’re used to when it comes to a Taylor Sheridan show.
The dialogue is clunky and stilted, and a reminder that no one actually speaks like this in real life. The story is predictable and dull, and sure, it looks great, with the cinematography being outstanding, as any show set in the rural valleys of Montana would be. That’s thanks to DoP and Director Christina Alexandra Voros, who does a decent job of directing. Whilst Pfeiffer shines, especially in the early onset and heights of her character’s grief, what about the supporting cast? Well, in the first half of the season, they fail to convey enough of pretty much anything to convince the audience to care about them. Only time will tell if that changes in the latter half of the season.
Given the series has already been renewed for – and filmed – its second season, let’s hope it gives us more time to get to know the Clyburn Clan as Sheridan envisioned. It’s disappointing for a cast so well-known and a series so hyped up to be this… for the lack of a better word, boring. But, in the midst of the gloom, there are some highlights of this series. Once again, Pfeiffer and Russell are brilliant together, and you really buy into the fact that they are a married couple, and it really is Pfeiffer who carries the series on her back. Perhaps one of the more entertaining parts of this series is the score. Brenton Vivian excels with his moving and sometimes emotional score throughout, bringing that familiar vibe we’re used to hearing from him.
One thing is clear, though: this isn’t Yellowstone, and whilst some are expecting it to be, it couldn’t be any more different. Yet… you can’t help but be amiss by the similarities of the two, when it comes to the Taylor Sheridan ‘world’. The feared familial matriarch, the over-eager-to-please son, and the boss-ass bitch of a daughter. Sheridan has tried to stray away from the Duttons and their adventures and tries to open himself up more as a writer. He’s made it clear that this isn’t a spin-off, but he’s just not found the right note or tone, or even the right voice of these characters, and everything feels the same.
For this reviewer, it’s more The Meh-dison than The Madison.
★★
On Paramount+ from March 14th (Eps 1-3) / Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Patrick J. Adams, Matthew Fox, Elle Chapman, Beau Garrett, Amiah Miller / Created by Taylor Sheridan
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