Nielsen has published the final ratings for the 2025-2026 TV season, covering 35 days of viewing across different platforms. CBS had the most-watched broadcast TV show, while overall—including both broadcast and streaming—Stranger Things was the most popular. Marshals came in at number five.
I’ve been keeping up with all the new shows, and it’s been interesting to see what’s popular! Besides streaming, shows like Tracker, High Potential, Matlock, and Sheriff Country are getting a lot of attention. But honestly, the Yellowstone spin-off has been a huge hit – it actually became the most-watched show on regular TV when it premiered on March 1st, pulling in almost 20 million viewers! It’s funny though, because even with those numbers, people seem really divided on whether they actually like it or not.
What Is Marshals About?
“Marshals” is the next chapter in the popular “Yellowstone” universe, following the success of the original series on CBS and Paramount+. Created by Spencer Hudnut, it’s the fourth installment in the franchise, joining “1883,” “1923,” and “Dutton Ranch.” The show brings back familiar faces Luke Grimes, Brecken Merrill, Mo Brings Plenty, and Gil Birmingham from “Yellowstone,” and also introduces new cast members Logan Marshall-Green, Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos, and Tatanka Means.
The show centers around Kayce Dutton, who leaves his family’s ranch to become a U.S. Marshal dedicated to protecting the state of Montana. He faces the challenge of juggling his demanding job with raising his son, Tate, on his own after the tragic loss of his wife, Monica.
Marshals Got the Worst Reviews of All the Yellowstone Spinoffs
The latest installment, Marshals, is receiving significantly lower ratings than previous series entries. Critics gave it a score of just 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences rated it even worse at 28% – the lowest scores for any show in the franchise. In contrast, 1883, 1923, and Dutton Ranch all enjoy high critical approval with scores of 89%, 94%, and 89% respectively.
According to one critic, the Marshals spinoff feels like a sign of the original series running out of steam. While praising actor Kevin Costner’s performance, she notes the character has been written into a corner with no compelling future storyline. The critic also points out that Kayce’s arc in Marshals suffers from the same issues the Yellowstone finale successfully avoided. Ultimately, she finds Marshals to be somewhat predictable and unremarkable, blending into the large number of shows on network television.
Many critics share similar opinions. The Daily Beast described the show as remarkably predictable, while The Hollywood Reporter felt it relies too heavily on established storylines, preventing characters like Kayce from developing independently. Slate noted that while the show is exactly what viewers expect, Taylor Sheridan’s performance as Marshall is a surprising standout, bringing more energy to the scenes than the rest of the cast.
Even though critics had mixed reactions, the show Marshal will return for a second season thanks to strong viewer numbers. The renewal was announced quickly – just twelve days after the first season premiered. A short, 30-second preview released this month showed Kayce in a dangerous situation at East Camp, hinting at future trouble for the Dutton family, while still keeping some storylines secret.
Marshals is streaming on Paramount+.
2026-07-21 01:06