Review: The Madison

In The Madison, the latest series from producer Taylor Sheridan, two things are on display: grief and Madison County, Montana.

Grief unites and divides a wealthy New York City family after its patriarch, Preston Clyburn, played by Kurt Russell, dies with his brother on a day trip to a remote fishing site. Madison County brings out their best and worst qualities in the days following a tragic plane crash.

Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Stacy Clyburn, a society woman who manages two unruly daughters, two curious granddaughters, and a hapless son-in-law when they arrive in Montana to settle the dead men's affairs. As she does, she relives her happy marriage through flashbacks, current events, and a poignant journal her husband left behind.

The six-episode series, airing on Paramount Plus, shares many themes and settings with Yellowstone, 1883, and 1923, Sheridan's other acclaimed creations. Among other things, it gives viewers heavy doses of class divisions, family turmoil, and regret, something that hangs over the production like a dark cloud. It also gives them Montana.

As a former resident of the Treasure State, I enjoyed getting yet another glimpse of the mountains, valleys, and rivers that make up God's Country — or at least the part that lies south of Interstate 90. In The Madison, I saw a part of the state I had camped, fished, and explored several times. I particularly liked the segments set in the town of Ennis, where I took my family to Fourth of July parades in the early 2000s.

I liked other things, too, including the general storyline and the growth of characters who were not all that appealing at the start.

I cared less for the regional stereotypes. Nearly all of the New Yorkers were politically correct, potty-mouthed navel-gazers who could not see the forest among the many trees. Some of the Montanans they encountered were clueless hayseeds unfamiliar with even Peloton bikes. F-bombs and "ain'ts" punctuated an otherwise compelling script.

Even so, I enjoyed the series immensely. As with Sheridan's other creations, I found yet another reason not to give up on television in an age of meager offerings. I would recommend The Madison, which has been renewed for a second season, to any viewer in search of a gritty family drama and outstanding natural scenery. Rating: 4.5/5.