Marshals' Record-Breaking Rotten Tomatoes Score Addressed By Yellowstone Boss Ahead Of 2026 Return

Published Oct 3, 2026, 3:40 PM EDT Sign in to your ScreenRant account Exclusive: Marshals showrunner Spencer Hudnut is responding to the Yellowstone spinoff's record-low Rotten Tomatoes score. Although Yellowstone became one of Paramount+'s biggest streaming hits, Taylor Sheridan's series ended with season 5 amid Kevin Costner's controversial exit. Thankfully, the story didn't end there, as the show's conclusion opened the door to two sequel spinoffs on the surviving Duttons. The first to launch was Marshals, focusing on John and Evelyn's youngest son, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes). Unfortunately, critics were split, with a franchise-low 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the audience score was even worse at 28%. In an interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns, Hudnut addressed the show's critical reception and acknowledged that some viewers "weren't fully on board in our understanding of what" Marshals was trying to be. According to the showrunner, anyone expecting the next season of Yellowstone was never going to get that from the CBS spinoff: "Yeah, I definitely saw reviews. I saw some that made me feel good, and I saw some that — I think some people weren't fully on board in our understanding of what the mission of this show was. That this show was going to be for CBS, that it was going to have a procedural engine, and if they were expecting the next season of Yellowstone, that's not what they were going to get, and I couldn't do anything about that." Unlike past Yellowstone spinoffs, which premiered on Paramount+, Marshals became the first in the franchise to shift to a traditional broadcast on CBS. The series follows Kayce as he joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, giving it a more procedural format. However, that shift came at a cost, with reviews criticizing the weak writing, pacing, and lack of serialized storytelling. Hudnut added that some viewers who were initially critical seemed to come around after sticking with the show through the end of season 1. While he acknowledged that writers are inevitably aware of what people are saying, he said he ultimately has to "tune it out" and focus on the show he, Grimes, CBS, and 101 Studios are trying to make. I also think people who stuck with the show, who maybe were critical at first, and stuck all the way through through the end of the season, were kind of pleased with the progression of the show. So, I know what my marching orders are from Amy Reisenbach at CBS, and David Glasser at 101 Studios, and the show that Luke Grimes and I are trying to make. So, I was very pleased with that, and, again, Yellowstone fans who are on the Beth train have that show to watch, and people who were looking for a little more dynamic action can come find our show. So, yes, as a writer and an artist, you definitely are aware of what people are saying, but you got to tune it out, and it kind of comes with the territory of being in the CBS box, I think. Yellowstone season 1 was the only other time that any installment in the franchise earned a "rotten" designation with 58%, but audience response was far better with 82%. Since then, the remaining seasons and other spinoffs have earned scores above 60%. Meanwhile, some installments, like both 1923 seasons and Yellowstone season 5, have critics and audiences divided. However, Marshals season 1 is the first in the franchise where critics and audiences were unanimous in their negative reviews, and both Rotten Tomatoes scores were record lows. Every Yellowstone season Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Yellowstone season 1 58% 82% Yellowstone season 2 89% 89% Yellowstone season 3 100% 87% Yellowstone season 4 91% 81% Yellowstone season 5 79% 41% 1883 89% 78% 1923 season 1 88% 58% 1923 season 2 100% 51% Marshals season 1 48% 28% Dutton Ranch season 1 90% 85% Despite that distinction, Marshals found considerably more success with viewers. Season 1 saw strong viewership and quickly earned a season 2 renewal just days after its premiere. That gap between its critical reception and viewership makes Hudnut's comments about understanding the show's "mission" particularly relevant as it moves forward. As a result, Marshals season 2 will continue to prove that it doesn't have to follow in Yellowstone's footsteps to win over its original audience. In fact, it's establishing its own identity and pivoting from its usual Western style. In the same ScreenRant interview, Hudnut confirmed that the sophomore installment will incorporate legal drama through Thomas Rainwater's storyline as he heads to Washington, D.C., to fight the mine threatening his community. Although the CBS series is the franchise's black sheep, Marshals still has plenty of connections to the wider Yellowstone universe. Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), a fan-favorite Yellowstone character, now leads her own series, Dutton Ranch, which also features her husband Rip (Cole Hauser). There are hopes for a crossover between the two shows, but that hasn't transpired yet. Meanwhile, Marshals season 2 will also bring another familiar face into Kayce's story, as Jefferson White returns as Jimmy Hurdstrom in a recurring role. As a result, season 1 showed that its critical reception was only one part of the show's overall performance. Now, Marshals season 2 has the opportunity to build on the identity Hudnut says the show was always intended to have. Marshals season 2 premieres October 4 on CBS. Marshals - Season 1 Release Date March 1, 2026 Network CBS Series Marshals Episodes 13 Season Number 1 Episode List Piya Wiconi, Zone of Death, Road to Nowhere, The Gathering Storm, Lost Girls (1), Out of the Shadows (2), Family Business, Blowback (1), In Low Places (2), Playing with Fire (1), On Thin Ice (2), The Devil at Home, Wolves at the Door