Game Of Thrones Meets Yellowstone In FX's 7-Part Crime Drama Series

MovieStillsDB Published Jul 20, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT Liz Hersey is an Editor and Critic for ScreenRant's TV team, editing, reviewing, writing, and creating content about the iconic shows you love to watch. She began her editing career at ScreenRant in 2019, shortly after joining the site as a Writer that same year. With a passion for all things books, Liz frequently attends Toronto literary events and conferences, and loves interacting with her book lover community. In addition to being an avid reader of the romance and thriller genres, Liz is a writer of several short stories, and is currently at work on a young adult witch novel. When she's not working, reading, or writing, Liz can be found seeing movies at her local cinema, attending live jazz events, or curling up on the couch to binge her favorite TV shows. You can reach her at liz.h@screenrant.com. Sign in to your ScreenRant account In the 21st century's golden age of television, no two shows captured the popular prestige TV zeitgeist quite like Game of Thrones and Yellowstone, and the best elements of both series are hugely present in FX's seven-season crime drama series. Game of Thrones and Yellowstone are both widely credited with repopularizing their respective genres, high fantasy and the neo-Western, for the small screen, but their successes are more multi-layered than people might think. With Yellowstone's sweeping Montana vistas and Game of Thrones' epic battles and fantastical Westeros setting, both shows have the cinematic quality of a silver screen blockbuster movie. However, those alone aren't enough to capture viewers and get them to stay; it's the gripping human drama, the backstabbing for the Iron Throne or the Dutton family tearing itself apart from the inside, that keeps the series at the top of the pop culture heap. Sons of Anarchy, the seven-season biker gang drama created by Kurt Sutter, airing on FX from 2008-2014, perfectly captures that formula. Set in the fictional Charming, California, the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (aka SAMCRO), defends their NoCal town with a John Dutton-like fervor from outside threats like drugs and rival gangs. However, though SAMCRO may present a united front, just like the Duttons, the Lannisters, or myriad other Game of Thrones houses, beneath the surface lies a lethal power struggle. At the heart of it is Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), the club's young vice president, who, upon the birth of his first child and the discovery of a manifesto written by his SAMCRO founder father, wants to steer the Sons of Anarchy in a more legitimate direction. This does not sit well with certain members, including Jax's stepfather and SAMCRO president Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman), who derive power from the club's criminal activities. While it was huge during its run, since Sons of Anarchy ended in 2014, the show isn't talked about nearly as much as Game of Thrones and Yellowstone, despite its similar themes and much more satisfying conclusion. Sons Of Anarchy Is One Of The Best Crime Drama Series Of The 21st Century Like the word "iconic​​​​," "Shakespearean" has lost its meaning due to overuse. What the term really means when describing prestige TV drama is a series centered around a power struggle as intense as it is intimate, and often on a grand political scale. While Game of Thrones and Yellowstone certainly fit this description, the Bard's influence is even more directly seen in Sons of Anarchy, much to the show's merit. Many have dubbed Sons of Anarchy as "Hamlet on motorcycles," and you don't need a degree in English literature to see the character comparisons. The morally grey idealist Jax Teller is our 21st-century Hamlet; his power-seizing, widow-marrying Claudius-esque stepfather is Clay; Gemma Teller-Morrow (Katey Sagal), Sons of Anarchy's answer to Gertrude, uses her matriarch status to maintain control; the doomed Opie Winston (Ryan Hurst) is Jax's best friend with Horatio-level loyalty; and Tara Knowles (Maggie Siff) suffers from the fate of Ophelia as Jax's love interest. It's not just that these characters are stand-ins for their Hamlet counterparts; it's the exquisite performances of the actors that carry the show's emotional heft and keep the audience engaged. Moreover, through its gritty, 21st-century crime drama lens, Sons of Anarchy proves that Hamlet's themes of corrupt power and the trappings of loyalty and legacy — also crucial to Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy — are just as relevant today as they were over 400 years ago. Taylor Sheridan Became A Screenwriter Because Of Sons Of Anarchy Yellowstone is the show that launched Taylor Sheridan's hugely successful and prolific career as a TV series creator, writer, and executive producer, and interestingly, it wouldn't have happened without Sons of Anarchy. Before Sheridan became a screenwriter, he was an actor, with the biker drama being one of his most well-known credits. Sheridan played Deputy Chief David Hale in Sons of Anarchy, first appearing in the show's second episode before being brutally killed off in the season 3 premiere. Hale served as a moral compass of sorts and was an antagonistic figure for the club, making him a perfect dramatic foil to Chief Wayne Unser (Dayton Callie), a loyal ally to SAMCRO. However, despite being such an integral part of the series, Sheridan felt his wage was unfairly low, and when he tried to negotiate for a higher salary, he was refused. Rather than continuing to star on one of TV's most popular crime dramas while being forced to work a second job, Sheridan quit acting entirely and decided to start telling stories rather than appearing in other people's. The Sheridan-verse · Ranch Assessment Taylor Sheridan Trivia Challenge 🏠 Yellowstone Protect the ranch 🐴 1883 The Oregon Trail 🌾 1923 Drought & dust 🔒 Kingstown Prison politics 🎼 Tulsa King Made man, new town SADDLE UP → 01 The Dutton family has controlled the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States for over a century. In which state is the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch located? A Wyoming B Montana C Idaho D Colorado ✓ Correct! The Yellowstone Dutton Ranch sits near the border of Yellowstone National Park in Montana. The show is filmed primarily in Montana, with the real-life Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby serving as the Dutton homestead. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is Montana. The Dutton Ranch borders Yellowstone National Park in Big Sky Country. While the rugged landscape could pass for Wyoming or Idaho, the show is set — and largely filmed — in Montana. NEXT → 02 John Dutton is the iron-willed patriarch who will stop at nothing to protect his family’s land. Which Oscar-winning actor portrayed him for the first four seasons of Yellowstone? A Sam Elliott B Josh Brolin C Kevin Costner D Kurt Russell ✓ Correct! Kevin Costner brought gravitas and quiet intensity to John Dutton, anchoring Yellowstone as one of the most-watched shows on cable television. His departure ahead of Season 5B became one of the biggest stories in TV. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is Kevin Costner. While Sam Elliott did appear in 1883, Josh Brolin has his own Sheridan series (Outer Range isn’t Sheridan’s), and Kurt Russell hasn’t joined the Sheridan-verse. Costner defined John Dutton. NEXT → 03 In the prequel series 1883, a Civil War veteran leads his family on a brutal wagon-train journey from Texas to Montana to find a new home. What is the name of this original Dutton patriarch? A James Dutton B Jacob Dutton C John Dutton Sr. D Emmett Dutton ✓ Correct! James Dutton, played by Tim McGraw, is the Civil War veteran who leads his wife Margaret and their children on the perilous journey west. His daughter Elsa narrates the series, and the family’s arrival in Montana establishes the Yellowstone Ranch. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is James Dutton. Jacob Dutton is the character Harrison Ford plays in 1923 — James’s brother. John Dutton Sr. doesn’t appear until later generations, and Emmett Dutton doesn’t exist in the Sheridan-verse. NEXT → 04 On the Dutton Ranch, certain cowboys receive a permanent mark of loyalty — a hot-iron brand seared into their skin that signifies a blood oath to the ranch. What symbol is this feared brand? A A “D” inside a circle B A horseshoe C A skull and crossbones D The letter “Y” ✓ Correct! The branded “Y” is the Yellowstone Ranch’s livestock mark, but for ranch hands, wearing it on their chest means a lifelong oath of silence and loyalty. “Taking someone to the train station” is what happens to those who betray it. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is the letter “Y” — for Yellowstone. The brand is both a ranch identifier and a mark of absolute loyalty. Characters like Rip, Kayce, and Jimmy all bear the “Y” brand, signifying they’ve sworn their lives to the ranch. NEXT → 05 In 1923, the Dutton family battles drought, Prohibition, and encroaching modernity during the Great Depression era. Which legendary Hollywood actor plays patriarch Jacob Dutton? A Robert Redford B Harrison Ford C Clint Eastwood D Tommy Lee Jones ✓ Correct! Harrison Ford stars as Jacob Dutton alongside Helen Mirren as his wife Cara. Ford’s casting marked his first major television role and brought massive star power to the expanding Sheridan-verse. The series is set during Prohibition and the early Depression. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is Harrison Ford. In his first major TV role, Ford plays Jacob Dutton, brother of James Dutton from 1883. Helen Mirren stars opposite him as Cara Dutton. Their star power helped make 1923 Paramount+’s biggest premiere. NEXT → 06 Beth Dutton’s volatile love story with a tough ranch foreman is one of Yellowstone’s most beloved storylines. The two eventually marry in a surprise ceremony. Who is Beth’s husband? A Lloyd Pierce B Walker C Rip Wheeler D Jimmy Hurdstrom ✓ Correct! Rip Wheeler, played by Cole Hauser, is John Dutton’s most loyal enforcer and Beth’s husband. Taken in by John as a teenager after a traumatic past, Rip would do anything for the Dutton family — and his fierce devotion to Beth became a fan-favorite romance. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is Rip Wheeler. Lloyd Pierce is the bunkhouse elder, Walker is a ranch hand and musician, and Jimmy Hurdstrom is the hapless cowboy who eventually gets sent to the 6666 Ranch in Texas. Only Rip won Beth’s wild heart. NEXT → 07 In Mayor of Kingstown, a family serves as power brokers in a Michigan town where the prison industry is the only business. Which family navigates this dark world of incarceration and corruption? A The McLusky family B The Reilly family C The Kingsley family D The Dutton family ✓ Correct! The McLusky family, led by Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner), acts as unofficial mediators between prisoners, gangs, police, and politicians in Kingstown, Michigan. The show is one of Sheridan’s grittiest explorations of the American justice system. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is the McLusky family. Jeremy Renner stars as Mike McLusky, who inherits the role of “mayor” — an unofficial power broker between inmates, gangs, and law enforcement. The Duttons are Yellowstone’s dynasty, not Kingstown’s. NEXT → 08 One Dutton sibling is an adopted son and ambitious lawyer who frequently clashes with his family — sometimes even conspiring against them. His complex loyalty drives much of the show’s drama. Who is he? A Kayce Dutton B Lee Dutton C Tate Dutton D Jamie Dutton ✓ Correct! Jamie Dutton, played by Wes Bentley, is the adopted son and Harvard-educated lawyer whose desperate need for his father’s approval and political ambition create some of Yellowstone’s most dramatic betrayals. His rivalry with Beth is legendary. ✗ Wrong trail, cowboy! The answer is Jamie Dutton. Kayce is John’s biological youngest son (a former Navy SEAL), Lee is the eldest son who dies in Season 1, and Tate is Kayce’s young son. Only Jamie is the adopted lawyer who conspires against the family. REVEAL MY SCORE → Round-Up Complete Your Ranch Record / 8 Are you a ranch foreman — or headed straight to the train station? ↻ RIDE AGAIN Sheridan first found success as a screenwriter in movies, writing acclaimed scripts for Sicario (2015); Hell or High Water (2016), which earned him an Oscar nomination; and Wind River (2017), which also served as Sheridan's feature film directorial debut. Then, in 2018, he and John Linson captured lightning in a bottle with the premiere of Yellowstone​​​​​​, launching Sheridan into TV superstardom. Though it's a shame Sheridan left Sons of Anarchy the way he did, and the Yellowstone co-creator may hate to admit it, the former's influence is clearly seen in the latter. This isn't a dig at Sheridan but, ultimately, an appreciation of masterful TV storytelling. Release Date 2008 - 2014 Network FX Showrunner Kurt Sutter Cast Charlie Hunnam Jax Teller Katey Sagal Gemma Teller Morrow Directors Paris Barclay, Guy Ferland, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Peter Weller, Billy Gierhart, Kurt Sutter, Stephen Kay, Adam Arkin, Paul Maibaum, Phil Abraham, Terrence O'Hara, Allen Coulter, Charles Haid, Charles Murray, Karen Gaviola, Mario Van Peebles, Michael Dinner, Seith Mann, Tim Hunter Writers Dave Erickson, Misha Green, Liz Sagal, Regina Corrado, Mike Daniels, Kem Nunn, Roberto Patino, Gladys Rodríguez, Peter Elkoff, Marco Ramirez, James D. Parriott, Julie Busher, Pat Charles, Stevie Long, David Labrava, Vaun Wilmott Franchise(s) Sons Of Anarchy