Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Tired’ 5-Step Formula for Landman: Fans Call Out the Recycled Yellowstone Blueprint
Fans Say Taylor Sheridan’s Stories Are Becoming Predictable
Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, and Tulsa King, is facing growing criticism from fans who claim his storytelling has become formulaic.
On Reddit, viewers recently broke down what they call Sheridan’s “tired five-step formula”, arguing that Landman — his latest series starring Billy Bob Thornton — follows the exact same blueprint that has defined nearly all of his projects.
One fan summed it up bluntly:
“Sheridan just hits copy and paste. Rugged hero, small-town corruption, moral dilemma, shootout, redemption. Every. Single. Time.”
For a writer once praised for reinventing the modern Western, the repetition has some fans questioning whether the Yellowstone creator has lost his creative spark.
The “Sheridan Formula” Fans Keep Spotting
While every series has its own setting, tone, and cast, online audiences believe Sheridan’s work can be boiled down to a repeatable pattern. Across his sprawling universe — from 1883 to Tulsa King — fans have identified what they call his five predictable steps:
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The Brooding Antihero — A morally conflicted protagonist (usually played by a grizzled veteran or blue-collar worker) struggles with purpose while clashing with a corrupt system.
Example: John Dutton in Yellowstone, Mike McLusky in Mayor of Kingstown, and now Tommy Norris in Landman. -
The Outsider’s Code — Sheridan’s heroes live by their own law. Whether they’re cowboys, criminals, or oil workers, each believes justice can only come from breaking the rules.
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The Loyal, Silent Partner — Every show features a grounding sidekick or spouse who brings emotional stability — until tragedy inevitably strikes.
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Corporate Greed or Government Corruption — From land barons to oil executives, the villains are nearly always institutions rather than individuals.
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The Inevitable Gunfight or Moral Sacrifice — No Sheridan story ends without a violent reckoning or a lone hero walking away from everything they built.
While this structure once felt refreshing, many fans now say it’s becoming “too easy to predict.”
Sheridan’s Self-Inserts Aren’t Helping
Another sore spot for audiences? Sheridan’s growing habit of appearing in his own shows.
He’s portrayed Travis Wheatley, a horse trader in Yellowstone; made cameos in 1883 and Lioness; and even appeared in his earlier film Hell or High Water. For some, these cameos have crossed from clever Easter eggs into distracting self-indulgence.
As one Redditor wrote:
“Taylor, buddy, we get it — you love horses. But not every show needs a five-minute cowboy monologue from you.”
While Sheridan’s cameos are often brief, fans argue they pull focus from the story, especially when his characters have little impact on the plot.
A Creator Caught Between Quantity and Quality
In fairness, Sheridan’s output is staggering. Since Yellowstone premiered in 2018, he’s created or co-created seven television series, including 1883, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, Special Ops: Lioness, and now Landman.
His success has made him the cornerstone of Paramount’s streaming empire, but it may also be the root of the problem. With so many projects overlapping, critics suggest he’s recycling character arcs and themes to keep up with demand.
In a past interview, Sheridan admitted he rarely outlines his stories before writing:
“I think the best stories are when you don’t plot it out… and you’re as surprised to see what happens next as the person who’s gonna read it.”
That spontaneous approach worked when he was juggling one or two projects. But fans argue that now, with an entire Sheridanverse to maintain, it’s producing diminishing returns.
The Verdict: Genius or Repetition?
Despite the backlash, Taylor Sheridan remains one of the most successful storytellers on television. His signature mix of grit, justice, and Americana continues to dominate ratings, and Landman is already drawing millions of viewers on Paramount+.
Still, fans are hoping for evolution. After all, even the most loyal Yellowstone devotees want something new.
Until then, the debate continues: Is Sheridan building a cinematic empire — or recycling the same Western myth over and over?