The Canceled Western Series That Could Have Been Better Than Yellowstone’s 1923 Spin-Off
The Yellowstone universe has dominated television for years, turning Western storytelling into a modern pop-culture empire. But long before 1923 or 1883 came along, another Western series quietly rode into town — and just as quickly disappeared.
That series was Damnation (2017), a show that might have outshone 1923 if it had been released during today’s Western renaissance.
A Forgotten Gem of the Great Depression
Created by Tony Tost (who later worked on Poker Face Season 2), Damnation aired on USA Network in 2017 and found a small international audience via Netflix. Set in 1931 Iowa, the series captures the raw tension of the early Great Depression, weaving together politics, faith, and rebellion.
At its center is Seth Davenport (Killian Scott), a preacher with a secret mission — to spark a farmer uprising against corrupt businessmen and industrialists. His greatest obstacle? Creeley Turner (Logan Marshall-Green), a Pinkerton enforcer hired to crush the rebellion — and, unbeknownst to the locals, Seth’s estranged brother.
Their brutal conflict, mirroring the clash between big business and grassroots resistance, gave Damnation an edge rarely seen in network Westerns. Unfortunately, after just one season, USA Network canceled it in early 2018, citing low ratings.
Thematic Parallels With Yellowstone: 1923
Both 1923 and Damnation explore themes of power, survival, and the moral cost of progress. But where 1923 (starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren) often felt like an elegant prelude to Yellowstone, Damnation stood firmly on its own, using its 1930s setting to reflect timeless struggles — and offer biting social commentary.
In 1923, Ford’s Jacob Dutton and Mirren’s Cara face the familiar Dutton dilemma: protect their land at all costs. Their story parallels John Dutton’s modern-day battles but adds layers of Prohibition, economic collapse, and lawlessness.
Still, Damnation arguably went deeper. Rather than romanticizing the American frontier, it used its setting to examine the fractures between wealth and poverty, religion and rebellion — themes that resonate even more strongly today.
A Western Ahead of Its Time
While 1923 benefited from Taylor Sheridan’s global fanbase, Damnation never had that kind of backing. Released years before Yellowstone turned Westerns into prestige television, it arrived too early — a visionary drama trapped in the wrong era.
Had Damnation premiered in the post-Yellowstone world, it might have been celebrated for its daring storytelling and moral complexity. Its portrayal of social unrest, propaganda, and the human cost of progress would have felt perfectly at home alongside Sheridan’s universe.
The Legacy That Never Was
Sadly, Damnation was canceled after only 10 episodes, leaving fans with an unfinished revolution. Yet the series remains a fascinating “what if” in modern TV history — a bold, politically charged Western that could have redefined the genre years before Yellowstone did.
In an age when Yellowstone and its spin-offs dominate screens, Damnation stands as a reminder of how timing shapes success. Sometimes, even the best shows just arrive too soon.