The Madison: Season One review by Bobby Blakey
Tyler Sheridan has had an insanely impressive career with writing films like Sicario and Hell or High Water along with creating the hit series Yellowstone and its spin-off 1883 and 1923 as well as co-creating Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown, Lioness and co-created Landman. His latest series The Madison brings yet another big cast together including Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams, Beau Garrett, Amiah Miller and Will Arnett. Could this be yet another powerful series in Sheridan’s filmography or will it get sent down the river?
The Madison follows a New York family's life that unravels after a tragedy; they process their grief while vacationing in rural Montana, where they explore human connection amid their profound sorrow.
I am not the biggest Pfeiffer fan but was still interested to see her and Russell in this series. With Sheridan’s previous series you know you are going to get plenty of twists and turns, action, violence and some romance of some sort. This is a completely different animal in a refreshing way. This is a full-on family drama with plenty of family issues but based around a loving set of parents and good life. There is no one here that would fall into the bad guy character even though there are some looking to find their way in life and through this struggle.
I was expecting this to be a dual lead series between Russell and Pfeiffer, but this is her show all the way. He is there in and out throughout every episode and a major part of this story, but Pfeiffer is front and center and carries it all on her shoulders. She gives an outstanding performance that is full of emotion and pain while trying to find the joys of her circumstance, family and future she must build.
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The rest of the cast are good as well with the usual family dysfunction and love, but it’s all held together by Pfeiffer and her powerful performance. Russell is great as well with some of the best scenes of the series being that of he and Matthew Fox and their relationship. There is something relaxing and peaceful just watching these brothers fishing with pure joy in their hearts and faces. It speaks to the direction the series takes as well to show how impactful these simple life experiences can affect lives around them as much as themselves.
If you are looking for a tone like his previous series, this isn’t it. Instead, it’s a well written, brilliantly acted family drama that works. With just six episodes to kick things off it gives you just enough to get them in a different place in their lives and make it be something you want to see where it’s going next. Like Yellowstone the backdrop of this series is breathtaking and becomes a character all its own. Every frame of this series is filled with beautiful landscapes and rivers that remind you of the beauty of the world and parallel the dangers and beauty of life that the story is focused on.
This collection includes all six episodes of the series for fans to dive right into anytime they want. Decide for yourself and check out The Madison: Season One when it hits DVD on October 6th from Paramount Home Entertainment.