Marshals (2026) Review: Montana Beauty Outshines the Writing
Luke Grimes’s Montana procedural trades Yellowstone’s writing depth for beauty, heart and weekly cases.
UK Platform/Release: Paramount+ UK / 2 March 2026 | BBFC Rating: TBC | Runtime/Episodes: 13 episodes (Season 1)
Scorecard & Industry Consensus
OUR RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (7.5 / 10)
Verdict: Handsome, heartfelt, unevenly written
| Category | Score | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Story & Narrative Realism | 3.5/5.0 | A sturdy case-of-the-week framework, but the writing lacks the sharpness of Yellowstone. |
| Performances & Chemistry | 4.5/5.0 | The lead’s performance creates an emotional bond from the very first episode. |
| Production & Set Pieces | 4.5/5.0 | Montana’s locations and the cinematography are the series’ strongest assets. |
| Pacing & Tension | 3.5/5.0 | Each episode’s self-contained crime keeps events engaging, if less layered than serialised drama. |
| Sound Design & Score | 3.5/5.0 | Competent and unobtrusive, supporting the visuals without leaving a lasting impression. |
Industry Consensus (Reference Only):
- Rotten Tomatoes: 42% (Critics)
- IMDb: 6.5 / 10
- Metacritic: 57 / 100
Quick Audience Guide
| Watch It If | Skip It If |
|---|---|
| You love sweeping landscape photography, want a character-led crime drama with a weekly case, or are curious about the Yellowstone universe without prior homework. | You expect Yellowstone’s dense, serialised writing and dramatic weight, or you dislike procedural, episode-by-episode storytelling. |
The Standout Moment: The Montana vistas, captured in the series’ sweeping landscape photography, form its defining sequences, the kind of imagery that makes viewers daydream about buying a plot and leaving the modern world behind.
High-Impact Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stunning Montana Locations: Breathtaking landscapes make Montana feel like a character in itself, tempting viewers to abandon city life entirely.
- Striking Cinematography: Handsome, carefully composed visuals give every episode a cinematic sheen well beyond the usual weekly procedural.
- Magnetic Lead: The lead’s performance forges an emotional bond from episode one, earning instant sympathy even from viewers new to Yellowstone.
- Accessible Entry Point: No prior knowledge of Yellowstone or 1923 is required, making this an easy gateway into the wider franchise.
Cons
- Diluted Writing: The scripts lack the sharpness and dramatic weight that made Yellowstone such compelling, character-rich television.
- Formulaic Structure: The case-of-the-week format is enjoyable but predictable, offering little of the serialised ambition of the franchise’s earlier entries.
Deep Editorial Critique
Direction & Tactical Realism
Marshals belongs to the Yellowstone universe, yet it asks nothing of the viewer in advance. Familiarity with the parent series, or with its acclaimed prequel 1923, is a bonus rather than a requirement. The premise is disarmingly simple: a widowed father raises his son in Montana while he and his law-enforcement colleagues tackle the crimes that surface across the region.
That simplicity defines the show’s structure. Each episode presents a fresh crime and follows the team as they work it out, a format that rewards casual viewing and makes for consistently enjoyable television. It is a more contained proposition than the sprawling family saga that preceded it, and the series is comfortable with that.
The cost is most visible on the page. Whatever its other strengths, the writing never approaches the standard of Yellowstone, and the series feels lighter for it. This is the one area where the comparison is unflattering, though it does not undermine the series’ broader appeal.
Production Scale & Visual Impact
Visually, Marshals is a triumph. Its Montana locations are so striking that the landscape becomes a character in its own right, and the cinematography frames them with real confidence. For viewers who dream of retreating from the noise of modern life, the series offers a palpable sense of calm.
That visual polish elevates the weekly events as well, giving even a self-contained crime story a scale and texture beyond its format. The sound design supports this without drawing attention to itself.
Performances & Tension
The series’ emotional core is its lead, whose performance is strong enough to create a bond with the audience immediately. That connection is established in the opening episode and holds throughout, so viewers new to the Yellowstone universe still feel invested in his fate. His grief and his relationship with his son anchor the drama.
Tension is generated mainly by the case-of-the-week structure, which keeps events engaging from one hour to the next. It lacks the cumulative dread of a long-form serial, but the performances ensure the stakes feel personal.
Rachel Rosie is a Writer & Editor at BriefLedger, based in London, UK. She holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Publishing from the University of the Arts London (UAL). Rachel writes about entertainment, culture, television, movies and trending stories, with a focus on clear, engaging and well-researched content.
