Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, The Madison follows a New York family who trade the rhythms of Manhattan for the untamed beauty of Montana’s Madison River valley.

The Madison was first announced as a spinoff of Yellowstone, but this no longer appears to be the case. As the series arrives this weekend, it does so as a standalone drama, and that’s really for the best. In a television landscape filled with reboots, spinoffs, and series built on existing IP, it’s refreshing to start something new without worrying about extra homework. If audiences already feel fatigue from keeping up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, imagine how complicated things might have become if The Madison were fully tied into a larger Yellowstone universe.

After following the Dutton family for years, Taylor Sheridan turns his attention to the Clyburn family, led by Stacy (Pfeiffer) and Preston (Russell). Stacy and Preston have two daughters: Abby (Beau Garrett) and Paige (Elle Chapman), the latter of whom is married to Russell McIntosh (Patrick J. Adams). Abby is divorced and has two daughters of her own, Bridgette (Amiah Miller) and Macy (Alaina Pollack). On the Montana side of things, we meet their neighbor Cade Harris (Kevin Zegers) and Deputy Sheriff Van Davis (Ben Schnetzer).

Across six episodes—whose run times vary—The Madison channels its love story through what may be Sheridan’s most intimate drama yet, putting resilience and transformation at the forefront of a study in grief and human connection. The neo-Western unfolds against the contrasting backdrops of Manhattan’s restless energy and the wide-open beauty of southwest Montana, examining what continues to hold this family together. Six episodes might not feel like enough, and in many ways that’s true. Fortunately, filming on season two wrapped weeks before the first season premiere.

Behind the scenes, Breton Vivian composes the score. Vivian is no stranger to Sheridan’s television world, having previously written music for Yellowstone, 1883, 1923, and the Yellowstone spinoff Marshals. While The Madison stands apart from that franchise, Vivian delivers a score that never feels too far removed from his earlier work on the Dutton-focused series. The connection is evident from the moment the show’s theme begins. Even as the series leans into a more intimate tone, the music feels perfectly suited to its scope.

Most Sheridan-created series typically run around ten episodes per season, though Lioness, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and 1923 have each maxed out at eight. The final season of Yellowstone stretched to fourteen episodes, giving Sheridan his longest season order to date. One benefit of launching with a six-episode first season is that The Madison is releasing all of its episodes over a two-week span rather than following the usual weekly rollout. A longer release window might have kept the show in the conversation a bit longer.

Alas, the studio has requested that much of what makes The Madison a series cannot be discussed. As such, I cannot really go into details on a number of things, especially the pilot until after those episodes are made available. There are beautiful things to enjoy about the series and some that could be better, but having so many restrictions on what can and cannot be discussed makes it a challenge.

With Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell anchoring the story, The Madison proves that Taylor Sheridan can thrive on a more intimate scale. If the first season feels a bit brief, it nevertheless sets the stage for a compelling continuation. I’m curious to see where things go in the second season but in the meantime, there’s plenty left to unpack once the first season concludes on March 21.

CREATOR/WRITER: Taylor Sheridan
DIRECTOR: Christina Alexandra Voros
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Christina Alexandra Voros, Michael Friedman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Keith Cox
CAST: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Beau Garrett, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, with Matthew Fox
Special Guest Star: Will Arnett

The first three episodes of The Madison will premiere globally on Paramount+ on March 14. Three episodes will follow on March 21. Grade: 4/5

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