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Yellowstone Season 4 Blu-ray Review

Season 4 of “Yellowstone” is an eventful one.

The 10 episode fourth season picks up directly after the season 3 finale in which the fate of several characters was uncertain. The mystery of who is responsible for the coordinated attack on the Dutton family (the patriarch John, his son Kayce, and his daughter Beth) is a major arc. Other key subplots involve the Market Equities plan to build an airport and other properties, Jimmy’s new path with the 6666, Rip and Beth’s relationship, Loyd and Walker’s feud, Kayce’s family (his wife Monica and son Tate), Jamie connecting with his real father and his new son, Beth’s new job, Beth clashing with her father, new characters Summer (a protestor) and Carter (an orphaned child that Beth sort of takes into the Dutton home), and flashbacks of the “1883” era Duttons. 

Created and written by Taylor Sheridan, “Yellowstone” has become a massive TV hit and for good reason. Not only is the series a unique take on the modern western, but it creatively delves into the very real world where cowboys still exist. The notion of this being a bygone era that is becoming erased by progress is something the series deftly explores. Whenever Sheridan focuses on these elements alongside stories about land, nature, and the various cultures in Montana (particularly the Native American culture) the series is at its best. 

Although there are only 2 sequences, the addition of 2 “1883” era flashbacks added much to the season to compare and contrast the Dutton families and show the land then and now. For those that are not aware, “1883” is a prequel spin-off series that just ended its limited series run on Paramount+. It’s even better than “Yellowstone” in this reviewer’s humble opinion. 

Even though “Yellowstone” is an absorbing television show, it’s not without its faults. The outlandish soap opera dysfunctional family drama can get out of hand (particularly with Beth’s actions and Jamie being punished to a seemingly endless degree). It feels more like ”Dallas” in these moments than anything else. It also often feels like the Duttons get away with far too much like they are untouchable. 

Cast wise, there are so many excellent performances here. Kevin Costner has always flourished in the western genre and his role as John Dutton is no exception. He’s a hardened, stubborn family man who sticks to his ideals (and his land). Kelly Reilly’s Beth character may be outrageous at times, but the actress delivers such an electrifying performance. There’s nothing else like her character on TV. Cole Hauser gives the best performance of his career as Rip the Ranch foreman who does a whole lot of dirty work. Wes Bentley’s Jamie character goes through hell in each and every season and the actor really brings the tortured character to life. Gil Birmingham is positively great as Chief Rainwater. It will be interesting to see where his character arc goes.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.00:1 1080p. How does it look? This is the best the show has looked. The picturesque location shooting really shines in hi-def.

Audio Track: Dolby TrueHD 5.1. How does it sound? Expect a stellar 5.1 track.

Extras:
* “Star Trek: Picard” and “Star Trek: Discovery” ads
* “Behind The Story”- Behind-the-scenes featurettes on each of the 10 episodes.
* “Opening Pandora’s Box: Making Yellowstone: Season 4”- A 37 minute making of with episode clips, cast and crew interviews, set footage, discussions about the story and characters and more.
* “Bloodline: Yellowstone Origins”- A behind-the-scenes featurette of the Dutton family flashbacks.
* “Season 4: Back To The Bunkhouse”- A quick featurette on the bunkhouse characters and drama.
* “Yellowstone: Stories From The Bunkhouse”-Actors Jefferson White (Jimmy), Denim Richards (Colby), and Ian Bohen (Ryan) discuss all 10 episodes individually.
* “Inside Yellowstone Season 4”- Another brief featurette that essentially sells the season.
* “Working The Yellowstone: Making It All Happen”- A tribute to the crew and a look at filming in Montana.

March 8, 2022 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | 1883 TV Series, Kevin Costner, western, Yellowstone Season 4 Blu-ray Review, Yellowstone TV Series