Taylor Sheridan is doing something with The Madison that none of his other premieres have dared: it kills its biggest star before you’ve finished your popcorn and it’s a moment that’s both tragic and eerily sets up the show for fans.
Kurt Russell walks into the series as Preston Clyburn, a man enjoying a fishing trip with his brother Paul, played by Matthew Fox. Just then a storm rolls in, a plane goes down, and both brothers are gone.
Michelle Pfeiffer’s Stacy Clyburn inherits the screen then and that’s what makes this premiere revolutionary for Sheridan. He’s finally centering a woman’s interior world, not as a subplot, but as the entire architecture of the show, and that’s exactly how The Madison differs from other shows created by the showrunner.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Russell spoke about his time on screen and praised Michelle Pfeiffer as he stated,
“I was very happy about that, because I really like what ‘The Madison’ is. It’s a smart show. He’s a really good writer — Taylor’s excellent, and Michelle’s great, and she’s really great in this show. Talking about awards — I think they’re going to be looking Michelle’s way.”
For all we know, Pffeifer will be a wonderful lead, and it will certainly be interesting to see where she leads the show in further episodes.
More details about The Madison
The Madison starts with the Clyburn family leaving New York City behind and moving to Montana’s Madison River valley. It’s not a fresh start by choice, as a terrible tragedy has broken the family apart, and they’re hoping the quiet mountains can help them heal.
Michelle Pfeiffer plays Stacy, the family matriarch, and Kurt Russell plays her husband Preston. The cast also includes Patrick J. Adams, Matthew Fox, Beau Garrett, and several other strong performers who round the ensemble.
This show was originally planned as a Yellowstone spinoff, but Paramount+ later confirmed it’s a completely standalone series. Filming took place across Montana while Dallas and Fort Worth stood in for New York City. The show’s official logline,
“Sheridan’s most intimate work to date, unfolding across two distinct worlds — the beautiful landscape of Montana and the vibrant energy of Manhattan — as it examines the ties that bind families together,”
The show debuted on Paramount Plus with six episodes this March and a second season is already on it’s way.
The Madison is available to stream on Paramount+.
Edited by Nibir Konwar