Marshals Season 2 Story Direction Is A Great Sign For Yellowstone Fans

Published Aug 14, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things She has spearheaded the effort to make the site an authority on broadcast shows, initially starting with The Big Bang Theory franchise, NCIS, and One Chicago before taking on the specialization in general. Ana has also covered a wide-spread of topics in the past — from franchises like, the MCU and Star Wars, to classic TV favorites, such as Frasier and MASH. Ana brings clarity and enthusiasm to every story she tackles—whether reporting on new releases or offering deep dives into fan-favorite franchises. Her coverage translates complex entertainment developments into engaging, audience-focused content. The new story direction for Marshals season 2 is great news for Yellowstone fans. Marking Luke Grimes's return as Kayce Dutton after Yellowstone's ending on Paramount Network in 2024, the project was also a major leap for the franchise. While Taylor Sheridan's universe has had a great record on streaming and cable, Marshals is the first time that it lives on network TV. Unsurprisingly, it didn't waste time finding its audience, but impressively, it quickly shot to the top of the ratings for the 2025-2026 cycle. Despite only having 13 episodes thus far, Marshals has already established its identity, separating it from its predecessors from the same universe. Because it's on traditional broadcast, it is mostly procedural, with Kayce's new team — Cal, Belle, Andrea, and Miles, tackling a new case every week, with the expectation that by the end of the hour, the matter is resolved. That said, it's also understandable that those who loved Yellowstone and miss it wish that it would be more like its parent series. Marshals Season 2's Return Paves The Way For A Dutton Ranch Crossover As well-received as Marshals season 1 was, there were some aspects of it that could have been better. For starters, it never felt like Tate had a purpose beyond being an accessory to Kayce's story and a reminder of Monica's death. This was disappointing, considering how the character is old enough to have his own arc. Secondly, and involving the bigger franchise, was how it didn't have any crossover with Dutton Ranch — Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser's own Yellowstone sequel as Beth and Rip. While there were references to them, Marshals didn't have any crossovers despite their overlapping broadcast schedules. With Marshals season 2 officially coming back, CBS can finally stage the much-anticipated reunion among John III's surviving heirs. Granted that the crossover could also take place in Dutton Ranch, Kayce's story being on network TV and having more episodes makes it a better avenue for the proposed narrative. This way, CBS can dedicate more than one episode to the story without it taking over a significant chunk of its run. For context, because Dutton Ranch is on Paramount+, season 1 only had 9 episodes, which will likely also be the case in its sophomore year. How Taylor Sheridan Is Still Telling Yellowstone Season 6 In Two Different Shows Marshals and Dutton Ranch were hits from the get-go, making their respective renewals unsurprising. Admittedly, both projects had to go back and undo the respective happy endings for Kayce and Beth, with the death of Monica and the fire at Dillon ranch, but it was the only way to make this new chapter of their lives have a compelling launch. It's no secret, however, that when Yellowstone ended, it was still at the top of its popularity, which meant that it could have gone for at least a couple of episodes. However, the death of John III, motivated by the exit of Kevin Costner, set up an early end. With both Marshals and Dutton Ranch now carrying the torch of the neo-Western franchise, Beth and Kayce's respective stories are the best alternative to Yellowstone season 6. Of course, there are some changes to their narratives, but at its core, these characters would have been the new lead characters of the flagship anyway after the loss of John III. Now, the only thing that could make this better is a proper crossover between the shows with an on-screen reunion of the surviving Dutton kids. Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series. SIGN UP NOW! Marshals Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Network CBS Kayce Dutton transitions from life on the Yellowstone Ranch to joining an elite unit of U.S. Marshals in Montana. Merging his cowboy heritage and Navy SEAL expertise, he tackles the challenges of balancing family, duty, and the psychological toll of combating regional violence. Yellowstone 7/10 Release Date 2018 - 2024-00-00 Network Paramount Network Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 20, 2018, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.