Taylor Sheridan appears to have the golden touch when it comes to television, whether it’s Yellowstone or Landman, fans go ga-ga over anything the writer creates. While the best of the best depends on who you ask, the critics’ consensus at Rotten Tomatoes is that 1923 is Sheridan’s best show.
The Yellowstone prequel, which premiered in 2022, currently holds a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it Sheridan’s highest-rated television series overall. While audience scores have been more divided — the series currently sits at 55% with viewers — the critical acclaim has remained remarkably strong across its two-season run.
Led by Hollywood legends Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, 1923 explores an earlier generation of the Dutton family as they navigate drought, economic hardship, Prohibition, wolves, frostbite (if you know, you know) and shifting power across the American West. The sweeping drama quickly established itself as one of the most ambitious entries in Sheridan’s ever-expanding television universe.
Critics Fell in Love With ‘1923’
While the original Yellowstone became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its massive audience, 1923 earned something even rarer for a Sheridan production: overwhelming praise from critics.
The series’ 94% Tomatometer reflects strong reviews praising its cinematic scope, powerhouse performances from Ford and Mirren, and its emotionally layered storytelling. Rotten Tomatoes describes the series as following the Dutton family through some of the most turbulent years in American history, blending personal drama with sweeping Western adventure.
The audience response has been noticeably more mixed, but critics have continued to champion the series, with season 2 earning a perfect 100% critics score after its release earlier this year.
Critical acclaim wasn’t the only thing 1923 had working in its favor.
When the series debuted in December 2022, the premiere attracted 7.4 million viewers across Paramount+ and linear television, making it the streaming service’s biggest premiere ever in the United States at the time. The debut surpassed the platform’s previous record by nearly 80% and became the biggest new cable series premiere of 2022.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jul 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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