Taylor Sheridan, creator of Yellowstone and other Paramount Plus series, has lashed out at critics who claim he cannot write convincing female characters. In a rare interview on The Bill Simmons podcast, Sheridan dismissed the criticism as 'nonsense' and said he deliberately provokes critics.
Sheridan's response to criticism
'The critics are going to come after me. I'm underutilising [Moore], can't write for women, all this nonsense,' Sheridan said. 'The critics and me – I don't care what they think, and it annoys the sh** out of them that I don't care. I'll be the first to tell you that there are things that I do that ragebait them a bit. F*** 'em, honestly.'
Sheridan specifically addressed the limited role of Demi Moore in the first season of Landman, where she played the wife of Jon Hamm's oil billionaire. He said he warned Moore before casting that she would be 'an extra in this show for seven episodes' and that critics would attack him for it. Her role was expanded in the second season.
Criticism of female characters in Sheridan's shows
While characters like Beth Dutton in Yellowstone have been praised, other female roles have drawn scorn. On Landman, fans on Reddit have a thread titled 'I'm convinced Taylor Sheridan doesn't like women,' citing cliché-laden characters. Michelle Randolph's character Ainsley is described as a 'perverse male fantasy' with barely-dressed scenes. Even Beth Dutton, according to critics, devolved into a 'shrieking harpy' over time, and Ali Larter's Angela in Landman is seen as an oversexed stereotype.
Sheridan's earlier film work, such as Sicario and Wind River, featured strong female leads, though they often endured extreme violence. In recent TV projects, he has cast acclaimed actors like Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, and Zoe Saldaña to elevate material that might otherwise be trite.
Sheridan's creative philosophy
Sheridan said he does not make shows for Emmy nominations and told Paramount upfront that he refuses to develop projects 'as a democracy' or 'by committee.' He recounted telling executives: 'You're going to pay me and you're going to give me a bunch of money and I'm going to deliver you these shows. I'm pretty common and I'm going to tell stories that common people are going to understand. That's most of America. You're not going to win no Emmys with me, but I'm not trying to win Emmys. My goal is to sit somebody on their couch and move them, make them think, make them laugh, scare the s*** out of them, excite them.'
The popularity of Sheridan's shows, despite critical reservations, suggests audiences largely agree with his approach.
