Kevin Costner’s John Dutton leaning forward in Yellowstone season 1
In a recent video for Vanity Fair, professional Texas rancher Tucker Brown points out that Yellowstone’s calf delivery scene features a mix of accurate and inaccurate elements. Though the scene correctly portrays the urgency that comes with a calf in breech, Brown takes issue with the calf promptly getting to its feet and running away after being born, which he says would never happen. The real-life cowboy also takes the time to praise Yellowstone as a whole for making more people interested in the ranch way of life. Check out Brown’s analysis below:
A breech birth is when the calf is positioned to come out hind legs first instead of front legs first, and it can be fatal for the female cow and her calf.
What This Means For Yellowstone
The Inaccuracies Didn’t Hurt The Show
John Dutton watching the sunrise in Yellowstone
Yellowstone has been generally well-received throughout its run, despite some of the behind-the-scenes issues involving Costner. Season 1 got off to a somewhat rocky start on Rotten Tomatoes with only a 58% critics’ score, but later seasons righted the ship, with scores being far more positive. It was also a major viewership hit for Paramount, which then led to spinoffs like 1883 and 1923, the latter of which is now nearing its season 2 finale. There are also upcoming spinoffs like The Madison, and reported others focused on Rip (Cole Hauser), Beth (Kelly Reilly), and Kayce (Luke Grimes).
The fact that Yellowstone takes some artistic liberties with aspects of ranch life doesn’t seem to have hurt the series with audiences, and it’s unlikely to tarnish the show’s reputation. For one, more casual viewers probably wouldn’t know any better, and plus the series also leaned into certain soap opera elements, mining exaggerated situations for drama. Though there are realistic elements included in Yellowstone, as revealed by the analysis above, it’s also a TV show designed to entertain audiences.
Our Take On Yellowstone’s Calf Birth Scene
Why It’s An Important Moment In The Opening Episode
Kevin Costner’s John Dutton puts his hand on another cowboy’s shoulder in Yellowstone season 1
Collage of Beth, John, and Rip in Yellowstone
Related
15 Best Yellowstone Episodes, Ranked
Yellowstone is one of the most popular shows, with certain episodes standing out and showcasing the best of Taylor Sheridan’s Western franchise.
Though the scene could still have accomplished this by more realistically showing the calf lying on the ground, it’s obviously a far more emotionally satisfying end to the scene to see the calf galloping away in the Montana sun, its life saved. This scene represents the dichotomy of ranch life that is presented in Yellowstone, with moments of stress and danger contrasted against the beauty of the landscape and a romanticized notion of cowboy life.
