THE MADISON
Review Scores (how we rate) Watch trailer →
The Madison follows a grief-stricken family after the death of their husband/father. The family goes to rural Montana to deal with their grief and try to understand his connection to the land, learning something about themselves along the way.
He Said / She Said
“This one definitely grew on me. The first episode felt sad, slow, and a little emotionally pushy, like it was asking me to cry before I even knew the characters enough to care. But once Stacy starts digging into Preston’s connection to the land, things get a lot more interesting. Michelle Pfeiffer gives it real weight, and by episode three I was surprisingly invested.
It’s still a slow watch, and it could use more levity because the subject matter can feel pretty heavy to binge, like eating a full three-course meal of feelings with no dessert in sight. But the performances are strong and the emotional undercurrent lands. If you like family dramas with big feelings and beautiful scenery, there’s something here.”
“It looks gorgeous and it absolutely knows how to romanticize Montana, cowboy culture, and that whole slower, simpler way of life. I found the first episode very slow, almost to the point of turning me off completely, but the story settled in more during the next two episodes and started giving the characters room to breathe.
This is not the kind of Taylor Sheridan show people may be expecting. It’s much softer, sadder, and more interested in family tension than momentum. At times it feels a bit preachy, but it does succeed at making you feel something, and that counts for a lot.”
Critical reception (so far)
- Beautifully shot and rich in Montana atmosphere
- Michelle Pfeiffer gives the series its strongest emotional anchor
- Very slow pacing that may divide viewers early
What it’s about
After Preston and his brother Paul die in a plane crash near Paul’s remote Montana cabin, Preston’s wife Stacy and the rest of the family head west to identify the bodies and confront the life Preston kept returning to year after year, hoping to understand why he loved it there and maybe feel a last connection to Preston.
Overall vibe
Slow, sad, and atmospheric, with lots of golden-hour scenery, emotional conversations, and that familiar Taylor Sheridan sense of land-as-identity. The show leans much more into grief, family conflict, and the contrast between city life and country life than action or plot urgency.
It’s less of a page-turner and more of a moody character piece. If you click with the rhythm, it can feel quietly absorbing. If you don’t, the pacing may test you before it wins you over.
Episode-by-episode (1–3)
Tragedy befalls Preston and his brother Paul while celebrating at Paul’s remote Montana cabin, sending Preston’s wife Stacy and their family west to face the loss and the life Preston kept returning to.
Stacy shocks the family by deciding to bury Preston and Paul on the ranch and stay in Montana, while Preston’s journals and a supportive local cowboy named Cade help her cope with her grief.
Tensions between Abby and Paige boil over and Stacy starts laying down firmer boundaries for her daughters.
Content warnings
- Violence
- Emotional distress
- Family conflict
- Death and grief
Who will love it / who should skip it
Will love it if:
- You like family dramas with a strong emotional streak
- You’re into ranch, cowboy, or Montana-set storytelling
- You enjoy slow-burn character work more than fast plot movement
- You’re here for Michelle Pfeiffer doing heavy lifting
- You tend to like Taylor Sheridan’s moodier, more reflective side
Should probably skip it:
- You want action, momentum, or a sharper hook right away
- You get impatient with slow pacing and long scenic pauses
- You were hoping for a more traditional Taylor Sheridan thriller or western
- You don’t have much patience for entitled family-drama energy
- You need lighter moments to balance heavy subject matter