The Marshals Season 2 Premiere Might Be The Most Disappointing Episode Yet
by Joe Roberts · /FilmAdd SlashFilm on Google:
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Spoilers ahead for the "Marshals" Season 2 premiere.
"Marshals" is back following a surprisingly contentious debut season that had fans split on whether Luke Grimes' "Yellowstone" spin-off was actually any good. With the Season 2 premiere, the show's writers had a chance to finally convince the naysayers by following through on orchestrating a major crossover. Instead, we got what might be the series' most disappointing episode yet.
Unlike its parent show, "Marshals" is a CBS procedural that tries to merge the prestige, serialized drama of its predecessor with the episodic, case-of-the-week narrative style of other procedurals. It hasn't really worked thus far, though, as "Marshals" has struggled to figure out what it's actually about. As such, fans haven't exactly been wowed by the series, despite the fact that its first season drew significant viewership and earned an early renewal. Now, however, the show's writers seem determined to let those viewers down with a season premiere that feels like a major anti-climax following the cliffhanger at the end of Season 1.
Indeed, the "Marshals" Season 1 finale seemed to be setting up a crossover with fellow "Yellowstone" spin-off "Dutton Ranch." It saw Brecken Merrill's Tate Dutton unwittingly taken captive by shady rancher Tom Weaver (Chris Mulkey) under the guise of a fishing trip to Texas. The location was significant since the Lone Star State is where Kelly Reilly's Beth Dutton and Cole Hauser's Rip Wheeler have just set up their new ranch. It was all pointing to an explosive crossover in the Season 2 premiere, wherein Rip and Beth might just help Kayce Dutton bring hell down on Weaver to retrieve his son. Instead, Season 2 sees Kayce take a trip to the neighboring state of Wyoming without the aid of his fellow "Yellowstone" alums.
Kayce Dutton heads to Wyoming in a disappointing Marshals Season 2 premiere
In its final episode, "Marshals" Season 1 finally started to give Tate Dutton a storyline before having him swept away to Texas by Tom Weaver. In the "Marshals" Season 2 premiere, fittingly titled "All Hat No Cattle," we quickly learn that Weaver actually took Tate to nearby Wyoming, where it transpires he has a large ranch that, up until now, has gone completely unmentioned.
After Weaver sends his lawyer and two goons to try to strong-arm Kayce Dutton into selling his East Camp property, the former Navy SEAL makes quick work of them all, gunning down the trio and holding Weaver's daughter, Dolly Weaver (Ellyn Jameson), at gunpoint. Did she know about her father's plan to blackmail Kayce using Tate? She claims she didn't, but it all seems very dubious at best.
Still, Dolly seems to want to help when she reveals her father has a ranch in Wyoming where he will maintain the upper hand, should Kayce arrive guns-blazing — which is, of course, exactly what he plans to do. This revelation should come as a bit of a surprise to viewers, though. Not only does it seem like something that's been shoehorned in at the last minute, we were all expecting a trip to Texas for Kayce, possibly to link up with Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton for some good old fashioned "Yellowstone"-style range justice. Instead, Weaver is revealed to be holed up in Wyoming, which couldn't be a more boring replacement for what we all expected. Did the show's writers have to make a last-minute change due to some behind-the-scenes difficulties? It's all unclear at this point, but that's what it feels like.
Disappointing season premieres are starting to become a Marshals trend
You might think it unfair to expect a "Marshals" and "Dutton Ranch" crossover without any real promise of such a thing from the shows' producers. At the same time, there's no denying that's exactly what "Marshals" seemed to be setting up with its Season 1 finale. Plus, not only did "Dutton Ranch" give itself the perfect excuse for a "Marshals" crossover, Kelly Reilly even spoke positively about such a thing, telling TVInsider that Beth Dutton not seeing her brother in Season 1 was a "missed opportunity." It was all pointing to something, and while "Marshals" Season 2 could still deliver down the line, it seems a strange thing to underdeliver on right out the gate.
To be fair, the "Marshals" Season 2 premiere does make good on the action, but it's all a bit of a let down considering many will have been hoping to see a Dutton family team-up. It doesn't help that "All Hat No Cattle" further teases fans with the prospect of an eventual crossover. Specifically, after Kayce takes out Tom Weaver's lawyer and goons, he announces his plans to head to Texas, telling Dolly, "I know a guy who can raise an army." Ooh, who could he be talking about? Rip? It doesn't matter, as we never go to Texas.
Instead, we see Kayce handle things solo, rocking up to the Wyoming ranch and taking out Weaver's henchman Jeb (Kevin McNamara) before pursuing the rancher and Tate in a car chase that ends in a fatal crash for Dolly Weaver. No crossover occurs, and no army is raised. Considering "Marshals" Season 1 kicked off in a similarly disappointing fashion by killing off Monica Dutton, this is becoming somewhat of a trend for the show.