Netflix’s New John Dutton Western Replacement Takes the Biggest Risk Yellowstone Never Dared to Take After 5 Seasons

Netflix’s new western explores a John Dutton-like charactertaking risks with the archetype that yellow stone never fully embraced it. Waiting for yellow stone Season 5, Part 2 is almost two years away, and although the final season of the hit Paramount Western is just a few weeks away, Netflix has released a new series to rival it. Territory follows an almost identical premise, following the Lawsons, a fictional family who have owned a huge Australian cattle ranch for generations, and their struggle to maintain control during a succession conflict.

Since Yellowstone Season 1the series raised questions about the future of the titular ranch in John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) absence. He embodies forgotten and dying ideologies, and although he has several children, he lacks a suitable heir who can maintain the ranch as he or his ancestors did. THE Territory cast features veteran Western actor Robert Taylor as Colin Lawson, a character who fills a similar mold for the Netflix show. A critical difference in his characterization makes Colin Lawson a fascinating figure.

Territory pledges to make Colin Lawson detestable

Colin Lawson is not a sympathetic character and contributes to the territory’s history

It’s easy to compare Territory for shows like yellow stone or Succession or even movies like The godfatherwhich show a capable patriarch without reliable heirs. However, unlike yellow stonewhich features John Dutton as the main character and often goes out of its way to make his cause sympathetic, Territory focuses on the heirs of the Lawson family. Instead of feeling sorry for Colin Lawson for having no heirs to protect his generational estate, Territory examines how Colin Lawson’s parenting methods and leadership ideologies weakened animal agriculture and left it unprepared.

Although Colin Lawson has important moments where his choices benefit the protagonists, it is unanimous among the characters that he is a horrible person. The show portrays him verbally and physically abusing his son Graham and doesn’t try to justify his behavior with positive or heroic moments. Territory embraces the idea that a man like Colin Lawson is toxic and ultimately harmful to everyone around him despite the external image of strength. His methods may have worked in previous generations, but failing to modernize and work together ended up costing his family dearly.

Yellowstone never really let John Dutton be the villain

John Dutton is horrible, but the show never fully acknowledges him

John Dutton has become one of the most iconic characters on television in recent years, with a remarkable performance by Kevin Costner. On the one hand, there is some artistic merit to Taylor Sheridan’s approach, showing that although John may be an incredibly flawed man, there is some honor in his actions. Yellowstone Ranch may have more land than anyone deserves, but the show ponders the idea that it’s noble to retain the natural beauty of that land rather than letting it be turned into an airport or some other capitalist enterprise. This turns John Dutton into a sympathetic anti-hero.

At least, that’s the outward portrayal of John Dutton. When reviewing his actions, he is manipulative, corrupt and abusive. John Dutton is a narcissistic sociopath who projects an outward image of nobility. By all accounts, he he must be the bad guy, but yellow stone remains ambiguity around this issue. It’s an interesting approach in theory, but Paramount’s show oscillates around its evil so often that maintaining this ambiguity creates a strange tonal inconsistency. John Dutton has committed so many manifestly terrible acts that it is almost ridiculous to suggest that his morality is subjective anyway.

The biggest differences between Colin Lawson and John Dutton

John Dutton is still the boss

Colin Lawson and John Dutton crucially serve as patriarchs of their respective cattle ranching kingdoms. Marianne Station is one of the largest cattle stations in the world in Territorywhile Yellowstone Ranch is one of the most prominent in the US, meaning they both own huge land holdings that have been passed down from generation to generation. ONE The critical change for Colin Lawson is that he no longer manages Marianne Station at the start of the Netflix series.having passed responsibilities to his son Daniel.

Characters in Territory form archetypes similar to those yellow stonewith Lee Dutton playing a Daniel Lawson-like role as his father’s ideal heir. In TerritoryGraham Lawson is actually the eldest son, but his father ignored him, considering him weak. Despite probably being the same age, the Netflix series suggests that Colin Lawson is out of touch while John Dutton is still actively involved in yellow stone. Colin even gets into a fight in the first episode and is publicly mocked for his age when he loses, which is hard to imagine happening to John Dutton.