The Best Order To Watch Yellowstone & Its Many Spinoffs

With so many shows in Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western universe, it can be confusing to figure out where to start and to know in what order to watch Yellowstone. Taylor Sheridan’s Western drama has become one of the best TV Westerns of all time, quickly branching into a multi-series universe that follows the Dutton family tree at various points in history.

Each series in the Yellowstone universe follows the legacy of the Dutton family after they settled on their land in Montana (the origins of which are covered in the miniseries 1883). With the first two Yellowstone spinoff shows, 1883 and 1923, being prequels, the chronological viewing order is relatively straightforward. However, with more Yellowstone spinoffs on the way, this won’t be the case for long.

How To Watch Yellowstone In Chronological Order

1883, 1923, Yellowstone

For those who want to discover (or rewatch) the entire Yellowstone story, the chronological order offers an interesting and epic look at the legacy of the Duttons. Seeing what the family went through to settle on their land, the enemies they had to fight against, and the people they lost along the way, makes John Dutton’s modern struggles a single chapter in a multigenerational saga.

Watching Yellowstone in chronological order is the simplest way to enjoy the show. Whereas viewing in release order means navigating overlapping release dates, Yellowstone and its spinoffs have a straightforward timeline. 1883 and 1923 are prequels to Yellowstone, each set during their titular year, with Yellowstone itself being set in the present day.

However, simplicity isn’t the only reason watching the Yellowstone franchise in chronological order has its perks. There are also aspects of seeing the story play out this way that are perhaps more impactful than seeing them in release order. This includes the flashbacks in season 4 of Yellowstone, showing James Dutton and his family.

This was a nice surprise and tease for 1883 when it happened in Yellowstone season 4. However, when viewing the franchise in chronological order, with the audience having already seen James’ journey and learning that he is dead, it makes for an emotional return for the character. Yellowstone is peppered with moments like this – moments that lose impact if viewing in release date order.

How To Watch Yellowstone In Release Date Order

Yellowstone, 1883, Yellowstone, 1923, Then Back To Yellowstone & 1923 One More Time

Watching Yellowstone and its spinoffs in release date order is a little more complex than the chronological order, and there’s a key reason why. Unlike many shows whose spinoffs arrive after the main story is concluded, Taylor Sheridan released both Yellowstone spinoffs before the main show had concluded its run.

1883 and 1923 came out in the midst of Yellowstone‘s run on the air. This means that, in order to stay true to the release dates, watching Yellowstone in release order means dipping out of the main show to view 1883 and 1923 in between Yellowstone seasons.

What’s more, there are even areas of overlap where a season of Yellowstone was on the air at the same time as a spinoff, meaning there’s room for debate over which to view first in release date order. The technical release date viewing order is Yellowstone seasons 1-4, 1883, Yellowstone season 5, pt 1, 1923 season 1, Yellowstone season 5, pt 2, and finally 1923 season 2.

While this can be confusing, some fans recommend an alternative approach to the release dates of the Yellowstone franchise. The soft release-date viewing order would be to watch the shows in the order they arrived, rather than dipping between seasons of each. This means watching all of Yellowstone first, followed by the entirety of 1883, and then 1923.

Do You Need To Watch All The Yellowstone Series?

Loose Connections Build The Yellowstone Universe, But The Shows Stand On Their Own

All the series in the Yellowstone franchise are loosely connected, but none are required viewing to enjoy the narratives of the others. 1883, 1923, and Yellowstone can all be viewed independently without confusion. However, it’s when watching all three shows that the true genius of Taylor Sheridan’s extended universe can be appreciated.

Each Yellowstone show contributes to the viewing experience of the others, providing nuance and background information that can increase the viewing experience. However, since each chapter in the wider Yellowstone story focuses on a different segment of the Dutton family tree, it’s possible to enjoy each separately.

The Best Order To Watch The Yellowstone Shows In

There Is More Than One Option For Watching The Yellowstone Saga

Credit: Paramount via MovieStillsDB

There’s no real best way to watch Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, as it depends on viewer preference. For those who genuinely wish to experience the Yellowstone timeline in chronological order, the viewing order would start with 1883, move to 1923, and then round off with all five seasons of Yellowstone.

The chronological viewing order of Yellowstone creates a multigenerational tapestry that chronicles the rise of the powerful Dutton family. It’s a different experience than the release order, which introduces audiences to the modern Duttons, then uses 1883 and 1923 to add impact to their struggles in the present day.

However, to catch the nuances of the prequels and understand what is being built up to, it would be best to start with Yellowstone before moving on to the prequel spinoffs. With this in mind, the soft release-date order is perhaps the closest to Taylor Sheridan’s intentions with the wider Yellowstone story. Watching all of Yellowstone sets the stage for 1923 and 1883.

On the other hand though, watching the prequels first means that when John Dutton waxes lyrical about the importance of the Dutton legacy, viewers know the struggles of characters like Elsa Dutton from 1883 and 1923‘s Jacob Dutton. John’s words and why he cares take on new weight if watching Yellowstone after 1883 and 1923.

He doesn’t want the Dutton name to continue simply because he wants to live up to some financial legacy – he holds on to power because he (and the audience) know that his ancestors died brutal deaths to obtain it. This impact doesn’t come across when watching Yellowstone and the spin-offs in release date order.

When Future Yellowstone Spinoffs Are Set (And How It Changes The Watch Order)

Taylor Sheridan’s Universe Will Continue To Grow

More Yellowstone spinoffs are in development. There are five upcoming Yellowstone spinoff shows – The Madison, Y: Marshals, 1944, Dutton Ranch, and 6666. When they arrive, they’ll change the chronological viewing order significantly, as they are a mix of prequels, sequels, and shows that run concurrently to Yellowstone and one another.

The next Yellowstone spinoff is focused on Kayce Dutton, and is titled Y: Marshals. At time of writing, it’s expected to have a 2026 release date and will see the likes of Luke Grimes and Gil Birmingham returning from the Yellowstone cast. It’s a particularly intriguing spinoff as it will step away from the world of ranching. Instead, the story will explore Kayce’s life after joining a group of Marshals assigned to protecting Montana.

The next expected Yellowstone spinoff after Y: Marshals is The Madison. The story will follow the McCintosh family, who move from New York to Montana. Exactly how this will connect to Yellowstone beyond the Montana setting is unknown, but the fact that the cast includes the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick J. Adams, Matthew Fox, and Kurt Russell is itself enough to generate intrigue. Whether it’s a sequel or prequel to Yellowstone has yet to be revealed.

The second spin-off that’s confirmed to take place after Yellowstone is 6666. 6666 is the name of a ranch in Yellowstone, and it’ll be the basis for a series that’s set immediately after Yellowstone season 5. It is set to star Jefferson White as Jimmy, the character from Yellowstone who went to work at 6666 in season 4.

There are also reports of another spinoff in the works titled 1944. Little is known about 1944, though the title suggests that it will be another prequel. This would change the chronological watch order significantly, as there will be another show to watch in-between 1923 and Yellowstone. Then there is, of course, The Dutton Ranch.

The Dutton Ranch has been highly publicized, though little is known of the plot beyond that it will focus on Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler (and that Ed Harris is joining the cast). However, it will definitely be a sequel, and could release as early as late 2025. With 5 new shows in development, the Yellowstone viewing order is about to become much more complex when viewing both chronologically and in order of release date.

Created by

Taylor Sheridan

First Episode Air Date

June 20, 2018

Cast

Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Gil Birmingham, Brecken Merrill, Jefferson White, Danny Huston