AVS Discussions
Movie and TV Discussion => TV series => Topic started by: David Vaughn on August 18, 2026, 01:45:43 PM
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(https://i.imgur.com/OTJEuh5.jpeg)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Rating: NR
Film: 4/5
Plot
With the Yellowstone Ranch behind him, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshalls. Combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, he and his teammates must balance family, duty, and the high psychological coast the comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.
My Thoughts
The show picks up about a year or so after the Dutton’s have sold off the Yellowstone Ranch. Kayce’s life has turned upside down with the death of his wife and he’s struggling to raise his son Tate on his East Ranch property. His quite life doesn’t last long when his former team leader, Pete “Cal” Calvin, approaches him with a new job opportunity.
The series dives deeper into Kyce’s military past and digs into the effects of PTSD and the emotional fallout of losing the love of his life, Monica. The ensemble cast gels quickly and the writers do a good job of providing enough backstory on each character that you’re able to relate to each of them in the first few episodes.
The first season is 13 episodes and the team tackles multiple high-risk fugitive cases, political battle between the US government and the tribal leadership, cartel violence, domestic terrorism and human trafficking, all set against Montana’s beautiful landscapes. The show is very procedural, which I’m generally not a big fan of, but my wife and I really liked Kayce’s character from Yellowstone and wanted to see his story continue.
Luke Grimes slides back into the role effortlessly and since he’s the focal point of the story, his character takes on added depth. That said, this is definitely a check your brain at the door type of show. If the life of a U.S. Marshal had this much action, they’d spend most of their career on administrative leave due to all of the officer involved shootings. Every single episode has someone getting shot, blown up, or involved in some type of chase. Sure, it makes for great TV, but it isn’t remotely believable.
The episodes are spread across three discs and look fantastic in 1080p. I originally watched the show via Paramount+, and while the streaming quality was quite good, the Blu‑ray takes it up a notch. Montana’s wide‑open landscapes look gorgeous, with excellent depth, crisp detail, and natural color reproduction. Close‑ups reveal more texture, and the overall image is cleaner and more stable than the streaming version.
The TrueHD audio is active and engaging. There’s a lot of action in the show, and gunshots, explosions, and vehicle chases all have convincing weight. Surround activity is strong, and the mix does a good job placing effects around the room. Dialog is clean and well‑balanced, even during louder sequences. It’s not reference, but it’s a very solid track for a TV series.
Video 4.5/5
Audio 4.5/5 (Dolby TrueHD 5.1)
Special Features Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyEoKVbsgMQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyEoKVbsgMQ)
Conclusion
This is an entertaining continuation of Kayce Dutton’s story that’s action‑packed, well‑shot, and anchored by a strong performance from Luke Grimes. The Blu‑ray looks and sounds great, easily surpassing the streaming version. Just remember that realism isn’t the goal here because if U.S. Marshals had this much action in real life, they’d never make it through the paperwork. For fans of Yellowstone or Kayce specifically, this is an easy recommendation.
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(I utilized Portrait Displays' (https://www.portrait.com/) Calman color calibration software)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Zidoo UHD8000 Media Player
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner