The amount of work thatTaylor Sheridanhas done over the past few years has been incredibly impressive. He has created seven shows in the past seven years, all after being anAcademy Award-nominated screenwriter. Sheridan’s movies and TV career have relied on the western genre, and he has done a lot to expand it himself.
When watching a Sheridan show, there is bound to be some toxic masculinity, a character that surprises everyone with their intellect, and some mean putdowns. He has done a good job of building worlds where the writing is sharp, andthe actors have a lot of dialogueto chew on.
Here are the best characters that Taylor Sheridan has created.
10Jimmy Hurdstrom
Played by Jefferson White in ‘Yellowstone’
Jimmy was a bumbling and helpless ranch hand put through hard initiations at the Yellowstone Ranch. He’san ex-con who didn’t really get alongwith anyone and was hired by Rip, and learns how to handle his job at the ranch. As time goes on, he settles into his own, and in Season 2 ofYellowstone, he tries his hand at bronco riding. He ends up being pretty good, and realizing this is a way for him to make money, he commits to it.
Unfortunately, Jimmy suffers a setback and, through months of painful rehab, is able to get back to his normal self. But he still owes family debts to the Duttons. Luckily, John Dutton takes pity on him and clears the debts in exchange for Jimmy moving to the 6666 Ranch in Texas. Jefferson White makes Jimmy lovable, and despite going through some hard times, he becomes a better man because of them.
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9Kayce Dutton
Played by Luke Grimes in ‘Yellowstone’
Kayce was Yellowstone’s moral compass, much different from that of his siblings Jamie and Beth. He’s incredibly smart and a brilliant tactician, having been aformer U.S. Navy Seal.He becomes a Livestock Agent before eventually taking over the Yellowstone Ranch. He lived with his Native American wife, Monica, and son, Tate, on the reservation near the ranch.
His father, John, eventually convinces the entire family to move onto the Yellowstone property. This brings challenges for his family, but nothing that he can’t handle. Luke Grimes plays him with confidence with no ounce of cockiness. Kayce is levelheaded and sure of himself, making him someone any person would want by their side during a crisis.
8Joe McNamara
Played by Zoe Saldaña in ‘Lioness’
Lionessis a gritty spy thriller that features Zoe Saldaña in the lead role as Joe McNamara, a CIA senior case officer who leads a program featuring female operatives, specifically fighting in the war on terror. The show features plenty of intense action sequences but the best kind of drama is beyond the gun battles. Saldaña has been praised for her portrayal of Joe, leading the missions with a cool sensibility.
Joe has to juggle different operatives and help them come through to complete missions. At the same time, all of the Lionesses are dealing with personal issues that they have to check at the door to complete their roles. Joe tries to lead by example, which can be difficult. She is an intriguing characterthat fans hope they see more ofif the show continues.
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7Elsa Dutton
Portrayed by Isabel May in ‘1883’ and ‘1923’
Elsa Dutton has become the historian of the Dutton family, being a main character in1883and serving as the narrator in both that series and1923. Audiences find out more about the Duttons through Elsa’s narration in the series, opening up a direct connection between viewers and the show. Elsa is the 17-year-old daughter of James and Margaret, played by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, in1883. She and her familyare traveling westas a part of an expedition.
Elsa is incredibly smart and resourceful, understanding the political and social landscapes that her family encounters as they travel. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t recognize the “enemies” as human and shows compassion in places where others might not. Isabel May is superb in the role, and Elsa, despite being a teenager, is looked upon to carry more than a 17-year-old should.
6Dwight “The General” Manfredi
Played by Sylvester Stallone in ‘Tulsa King’
Bringing Sylvester Stallone to the small screen was a genius idea to bring fans in forTulsa King. The show features Stallone as Dwight Manfredi, a mafia capo released after a 25-year prison sentence. His New York-based boss sends him to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to start up a criminal branch of business there. Dwight, having lived that life for many years and it being ingrained in him, accepts and starts to set up a network.
Stallone plays Manfredi with a cool about him, meaning people are drawn to him even if they know what his business is about. He sets up a network in a pretty short fashion, despite not knowing anybody in Oklahoma. He makes women fall for him. He convinces people to do bad things, all because he seems like the right guy to follow. What could have been a “fish out of water” storyis electrified by Manfredi’s charisma.
5Rip Wheeler
Played by Cole Hauser in ‘Yellowstone’
Rip Wheeler was never supposed to beas iconic as he became. That’s in large part due to Cole Hauser’s performance as him. But it’s also because, asYellowstonewent on, audiences saw two sides of a complex man. Rip was taken in by John Dutton as a boy and raised to serve the ranch from a young age. He eventually becomes the lead ranch hand, and in the beginning of the series, he is more of a bully and enforcer.
His romance with Beth Dutton offers a bit of a tonal shift for both characters, and the backstory that follows provides a better look at why Rip does some of the things he does. He is a compelling character whose quiet ways are mixed with moments of lashing out. But Rip’s loyalty is his biggest strength and fault.
4Cara Dutton
Played by Helen Mirren in ‘1923’
Helen Mirren is one of the most legendary actresses still working today. She has brought weight, depth, and charm to characters for over 60 years, and Cara Dutton is no different. The matriarch of the Dutton family, she and Jacob Dutton, played by Harrison Ford, are brother and sister-in-law of Tim McGraw’s character in1883. She and Jacob take in Spencer and John Sr. and raise them as their own. Cara is a woman whoputs her family above everythingand focuses on getting the most for those around her.
Any fan will find Cara a pleasure to watch on screen. She makes tough decisions, and even though her husband may be seen as a more senior member of society, everyone knows she’s calling the shots. 1923 tells the story of how the Duttons gained the land and built up their empire despite battling the Great Depression, drought, and other catastrophic events in the early 1900s. Through it all, Cara is the one pulling the family forward.
3John Dutton
Played by Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’
John Dutton is the central character inYellowstone,and there aren’t many actors who could have given the performance that Kevin Costner did. Unfortunately, Costner’s disagreements with Sheridanended John’s storyline earlierthan many would have preferred. But that doesn’t mean John didn’t get a fully grown character arc that was thrilling to watch. The leader and owner of the Yellowstone Ranch, John stopped at nothing to see that his family was moving forward and never backing down to anyone.
There were times that John was a bit of a one-note character, almost so that the audience assumed there was something cooking on the back burner that John would reveal in due time to switch a situation in favor of the Duttons. But that was okay because of how exciting those situations were. John’s run for political office only showed his thirst for power. Not even his own children would stop his ambitions.
2Tommy Norris
Played by Billy Bob Thornton in ‘Landman’
The part of Tommy Norris inLandmanwaswritten specifically for Billy Bob Thornton. It almost feels like Sheridan created the character based on Thornton’s turn inBad Santa. The drama features a lot of R-rated moments for Norris, played with delight by Thornton, who gives everything a bit of humor, even in the darkest ways. It’s these kinds of roles that Thornton excels at and he brings Norris to life.Landmanis set in modern-day West Texas and follows the oil scene and everything that goes into making it a multi-billion-dollar business.
Tommy knows everything there is to know about the oil industry and, because of that, can play people in it from multiple angles. His personal life is a bit of a mess, but his kids, Cooper and Ainsle,y give him a run for his money while being incredibly important to him. Seeing Norris navigate discussions with wealthy people while never looking up to them and Thornton just dominating the role makes it already iconic 10 episodes into the series.
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1Beth Dutton
Played by Kelly Reilly in ‘Yellowstone’
As sharp-tongued as any character in recent memory, anyone who gets into a fight with Beth Dutton may not make it out with any semblance of dignity. Kelly Reilly is effervescent as Beth, who will stop at nothing to see that the Yellowstone Ranch and the Dutton family thrive. This even means going toe-to-toe with her brother most of the time. She is whip-smart and can deliver a tirade of insults at the drop of a hat.
First and foremost, she is loyal to her father. She shows a compassionate side during her arc, butbecause of her past, she believes she’s too hardened by her experiences to be able to be loved. She’s a fascinating character to watch evolve, and any scene with her with a glass of liquor in her hand is memorable. Beth is one of the reasons why Yellowstone was so big: fans either loved her or hated her, but they always watched her.
