The Unlearned Lesson: How Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Twilight’ Mistake Ruined a Yellowstone Character

Yellowstone once stood as the undisputed titan of television, captivating millions with its gritty Western drama and complex family sagas. But now, the mighty show is facing an unprecedented backlash, with fans launching a full-scale assault on its very foundations: the writing itself. The architect of this empire, Taylor Sheridan, is under intense scrutiny as viewers point out not just terrible dialogues but a stunning lack of character depth, revealing a fatal flaw that many are comparing to the infamous pitfalls of the Twilight franchise. This isn’t mere fan disappointment; it’s a scathing indictment on how a creative genius might have fumbled the ball, sacrificing substance for… what, exactly?

The Cringe-Worthy Confrontation: Monica Dutton’s Unforgivable Misstep

The evidence of this alleged downfall is, according to furious fans, glaringly obvious. Season 3, Episode 1 of Yellowstone introduced a moment that has since become a symbol of the show’s slipping grasp on quality: Monica Dutton’s ill-fated attempt to “educate” a group of students glued to their phones, ranting about global conspiracies and the rich controlling everything.

This scene, intended perhaps as social commentary, landed with the force of a lead balloon. Fans unanimously slammed it as “absolutely forced” and utterly irrelevant. It wasn’t just the dialogues, which many found to be flat and uninspired; it was the entire execution that felt ripped from a “cringeworthy movie” cliché. Imagine heroes destroying a city, then proudly surveying the devastation. That’s the level of disconnect viewers felt. The most damning detail? Monica Dutton herself was reportedly late to the class she then had the audacity to call a “waste of my f*cking time” – despite the students having paid to be there. This jarring inconsistency infuriated fans, who felt the character of Monica was fundamentally mishandled, undermining her credibility and pushing viewers away.

The ‘Twilight’ Redemption: How Yellowstone’s Flaws Elevated Kristen Stewart

The backlash against this particular Yellowstone scene wasn’t just confined to casual complaints; it erupted onto Reddit, igniting a fiery debate that brought an unexpected name into the crosshairs: Kristen Stewart’s performance as Bella Swan in Twilight. Fans, dissecting Monica Dutton’s awkward delivery and flat lines, found themselves drawing startling parallels.

However, the comparison took a truly shocking turn. Instead of damning Stewart further, fans swiftly pivoted to defend her. They vehemently argued that Kristen Stewart’s acting was, in fact, “fabulous” in Twilight; it was merely the subpar dialogue and screenplay that rendered Bella Swan’s character wooden. And therein lies the devastating parallel: the exact same issue, they claimed, plagued Kelsey Asbille’s portrayal of Monica Dutton in Yellowstone. This unexpected revelation became a source of twisted “redemption” for Kristen Stewart, whose “terrible performance” as Bella Swan, after all these years, found a bizarre form of vindication. All thanks to the newfound “cringiness” of a character in Taylor Sheridan’s once-unassailable Western epic.

The Fall from Grace: Why Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Lost Its Crown

Yellowstone began its reign as an average cowboy flick, quickly escalating into a sprawling drama driven by land encroachment and government interference. Taylor Sheridan, lauded for his distinct voice, seemingly paved the way for multiple, compelling plotlines and side-stories. Yet, as the seasons progressed, a pattern emerged that drew intense criticism: Sheridan would introduce fascinating problems, compelling villains, or intricate storylines, only to inexplicably abandon them halfway through, leaving narrative threads dangling and frustrating dedicated viewers.

Critics have frequently noted that Sheridan’s stories often felt twisted and meandering, lacking a clear, cohesive plot point in focus. The infamous “plot armor” – where heroes miraculously recovered from major wounds in record time, while anyone opposing the Dutton family met their demise in a blink – was harshly scrutinized, chipping away at the show’s credibility. Despite being once hailed as one of the best TV shows out there, it seems Taylor Sheridan ultimately “couldn’t keep up to the mark.” The show, in its shocking decline, has inadvertently taught the industry a crucial lesson: how not to end a series. And while the world certainly felt the sting of Yellowstone’s downfall, as the saying goes, you can’t please everyone, right?

What do you think was the biggest writing flaw that led to Yellowstone‘s critical shift? Did Monica Dutton’s scenes truly expose a deeper problem in Taylor Sheridan’s writing? Share your most scorching opinions below!