“Man’s goal in society is to be remembered; in nature, it is to be forgotten. Leave as little proof as I possibly can, that will be my gift to this place.” —Preston Clyburn (Kurt Russell) in The Madison
Creator-screenwriter Taylor Sheridan wows us again with another original series, The Madison, named for Montana’s lush Madison River Valley, where much of this emotional saga is filmed. It stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy and Kurt Russell as her husband Preston, a loving and wealthy couple with two daughters, Page (Elle Chapman) and Abigail (Beau Garrett), and grandchildren, all living in New York City. While Stacy prefers her active city life, Preston loves visiting his brother Paul (Matthew Fox) in Madison, Montana, in their side-by-side rustic cabins in a sparsely inhabited stretch of beautiful country.
Streaming on Paramount+ and directed by Christina Alexandra Voros (Emmy-nominated for Yellowstone and 1883), The Madison is the brainchild of the unstoppable Taylor Sheridan, creator of movies like Hell or High Water and series like Landman, Yellowstone, and more. What sets The Madison apart from what we typically consider entertainment is that it’s a deeply personal tale about Stacy and her family confronting loss and learning how to live with it. We can’t help but wonder how Sheridan conceived of this highly sensitive story as though it were happening to him. The conversations throughout the series, especially about tender topics, are insightful exchanges that often convey wisdom. No matter how much or little we can relate to the circumstances, the conversations and events strike us like a bullseye to the heart. Bring tissues.
Michelle Pfeiffer steps right into her character of Stacy and hits it out of the park. A seasoned woman with strong opinions about everything, Stacy finds the right words to express her every thought, which can be educational, entertaining, or unfiltered, and sometimes all of the above. When there’s a difference of opinion, she has a knack for explaining things, especially to her grandchildren, who are growing up in a woke culture that has its own set of unbendable rules.
The story also highlights the distance between cultures within our vast country. In contrast to New Yorkers and their big-city lifestyle of museums, yoga classes, restaurants, and theater, Montana dwellers find pleasure and pastimes in their natural environment, which was the main draw for Preston’s brother.
Will Arnett plays the wise New York therapist, and after passing the Stacy test, which is like a human grenade explosion, he gains her trust. Arnett doesn’t appear until late in the series, but he is well worth the wait. He dresses like a loser in frumpy, recycled sweaters (to save the environment, he explains). But once he gets talking, sweater or not, you’ll want his phone number.
And now (the hard part): my recommendation. This superb six-part series (which might continue) is not for everyone. There, you’re off the hook. And truth be told, there are a couple of screen moments I sure would have tweaked, including a tiny fix at the end, but that still doesn’t shake my vote. These six episodes are well written and performed, so convincing, and perfectly paced. Still, you’re wondering why you should subject yourself to such an emotional tale. Sadness and loss are part of being human, so pain be damned, we feel connected. And when the delivery is so powerful, there is always something to be learned.