The Madison - Season 1: Episode 1 - Pilot - Recap & Review (Not the Yellowstone Story I Expected)
- Jimmy Palmquist
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
⚠️ Spoiler Alert: This recap discusses major plot points from the pilot episode. ⚠️
When a new series comes from Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Sicario: Day of the Soldado), audiences tend to walk in with certain expectations. His track record with shows like Yellowstone, Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown has built a reputation for intense drama, moral gray areas, and powerful characters battling brutal circumstances. But the pilot episode of The Madison, written by Sheridan and directed by Christina Alexandra Voros (Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Yellowstone), quickly proves that this series may not follow the path many of us expected.
And that becomes clear in the most shocking way possible.
The premiere wastes absolutely no time establishing the tone of the show. What initially feels like the setup for a familiar Sheridan-style frontier drama quickly pivots into something far heavier and far more tragic. In a move that will likely leave audiences stunned, both Kurt Russell (Tombstone, The Thing) and Matthew Fox (Lost, Bone Tomahawk) are killed off in the very first episode.
Yes, thee Kurt Russell.
It’s a bold creative decision, but if we’re being honest, it’s also very on-brand for Sheridan. Anyone who has watched Mayor of Kingstown knows he’s not afraid to remove major characters early if it serves the story. Do you remember Kyle Chandler was in the pilot for that show? He was... barely. Still, it’s hard not to feel a bit blindsided when an actor of Russell’s stature disappears so quickly.
Thankfully, Russell isn’t completely gone. A quick look at the episode credits reveals he remains part of the series moving forward, suggesting we’ll continue to see him through flashbacks. While that softens the blow slightly, it’s still a tough pill to swallow knowing the present-day story won’t feature him.
Unfortunately for Matthew Fox fans, his fate appears far more permanent. Fox delivers a strong performance in his limited time on screen, reminding viewers how compelling he can be. Hopefully Sheridan finds a new show to feature his talents as he's known for using the same actors across his universe of stories. He definitely deserves more of the spotlight.
The emotional heart of the episode belongs to Stacy Clayburn, played by Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns, What Lies Beneath), who delivers a powerful performance as a woman suddenly forced to confront life as a widow. Pfeiffer convincingly captures the devastation of losing not only her husband, but her partner, best friend, and the father of their children.
Her character openly describes herself as a “city mouse,” which makes the transition to a rural life all the more jarring. The show leans heavily into the “escape the dangerous city and head to the wild” concept, and while the messaging is admittedly a bit heavy-handed at times, it’s also surprisingly relatable, especially for anyone living in a bustling city like Las Vegas (as I do).
The pilot also introduces us to the family dynamic that will likely drive much of the show moving forward.
Elle Chapman (Shark Girl, A Man Called Otto) plays the youngest daughter, Paige McIntosh, whose spoiled and privileged demeanor becomes immediately apparent as she begins married life with her husband, Russell McIntosh, played by Patrick J. Adams (Suits, The Right Stuff). Their storyline hints at the growing pains that come with transitioning from comfort to uncertainty, as well as her domineering presence to his do anything to make her happy attitude. Not sure how long they will be in the wild with the rest of the family, but being a spoiled princess in the wilderness does not work well.
Meanwhile, the eldest daughter, Abigail Reese, portrayed by Beau Garrett (Tron: Legacy, Firefly Lane), brings a much more grounded presence to the family. As a divorced mother raising two children, she already understands hardship in ways her younger sister doesn’t. Her character feels like the stabilizing force in a family that is suddenly reeling. She also provides a nice foil to her mom as she both tries to soothe her pain while also not understanding a lot of her actions and motivations.
Heading into the pilot, I’ll admit I was expecting something closer to Yellowstone, a sprawling modern western drama, perhaps with Kurt Russell filling a role similar to Kevin Costner’s iconic patriarch.
That’s not what The Madison is.
It starts with the idea that life in the city is too much and the peace and calm of the wild is the only answer. But instead of that simple storyline, the show quickly turns to grief, trauma, and a family struggling to rebuild after unimaginable loss. It’s quieter, sadder, and more emotionally raw than I anticipated. And while that tonal shift caught me off guard, it doesn’t necessarily make the show bad, just very different.
In fact, the pilot succeeds because of its willingness to lean into that emotional weight. Sheridan clearly isn’t interested in delivering comfort television here.
Despite the unexpected tragedy and emotional heaviness, the pilot of The Madison is undeniably compelling. Strong performances, especially from Michelle Pfeiffer, combined with Sheridan’s trademark storytelling make it a promising start.
It may not be the Yellowstone with Kurt Russell story many of us imagined, but that unpredictability might ultimately be the show’s greatest strength.
For now, the biggest question moving forward is simple: Will the series continue to embrace this deeply emotional direction, or will it evolve into something closer to the rugged Sheridan storytelling fans are used to?
Either way, the pilot proves one thing very clearly:
In a Taylor Sheridan series, no one is safe.
Check out the trailer for the show below:
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