How Ride Tries To Be What Yellowstone Once Was
It would be a smart move to steal the audience's attention now, in a time of uncertainty.
You may have heard a lot of controversy surrounding Yellowstone in recent months, but that's not how the show has always been perceived.
At its peak, the show about a family that owns and protects Montana's largest ranch brought together millions of Americans who felt nostalgic for the spirit of the West.
Now that Yellowstone's fate is unclear, producers should worry about the Western TV boom that could follow in their footsteps.
One show that could compete is Ride, which just premiered on the Hallmark Channel. Even the premise of the show is very similar: Ride follows the lives of the McMurrays as they struggle to keep their beloved ranch afloat.
Could this really be the show to steal viewers from Paramount's mainstay?
While Ride can't boast any big names in the cast, it has real potential, especially if the lessons of Yellowstone are learned.
According to TVLine's premiere recap polls, the majority of viewers enjoyed the first episode, with A (for excellent) leading with 46% of the vote.
More than 90% of viewers said they would return for Episode 2, which shows just how ready the audience is to get involved in the McMurray family's story.
There doesn't seem to be too much hype about the show on social media, but if the writers keep up with the pilot, the fanbase would probably gather within the next few weeks.
With the number of likable characters, there should be no problem for viewers to relate to someone enough.
The producers of Yellowstone may want to work out any scheduling issues with Kevin Costner before that happens, just to secure their position and ratings.
Whether Ride will take off and become as successful as Yellowstone or lose its appeal as more episodes come out, we will see. You can watch the premiere and stream new episodes at Philo and FuboTV.