‘The Madison’ TV Review: Michelle Pfeiffer, Tragedy & Vast Landscapes Fill Taylor Sheridan’s Requiem
More than any other Taylor Sheridan offering so far, The Madison is full of stunning landscapes, geographically and emotionally.
In The Madisonlike all the shows in the Taylorverse, the men will be men (or what they think men should be), and the women will be smarter. In fact, doubly so when your lead is Michelle Pfeiffer and her grown daughters are so resolutely portrayed by the not-to-be-trifled with Beau Garrett and Elle Chapman. However, unlike most series from the prolific lord of Landman, this time the mirror Sheridan is holding up to America is much more concave.
Due to the stringent spoiler restrictions Paramount+ has insisted on for reviews of The Madison, there is actually very little more about the March 14-debuting six-episode first season that I can discuss.
Then again, to paraphrase architect Mies van der Rohe, sometimes less really is more.
So, let me get straight to it boppers: The Madison is good. Hard on the heart, but good.
In what may be one of Sheridan’s last hurrahs at the David Ellison-owned streamer before he decamps to NBCUniversal in 2029, Pfeiffer is great here in The Madison. As a wealthy matriarch and self-described Big Apple “city mouse,” she is thrown into the wild, literately and figuratively. “Mine is not a family designed to withstand tragedy,” the Dangerous Liaisons actress’ Stacey Clyburn tells her NYC therapist after tragedy truly strikes. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
There is a wail that Pfeiffer lets out at one point that will break glass and your heart.
To that, this latest from the Yellowstone wrangler is both harrowing and replenishing in its scope and subtext. “There is no order, no rules,” another grieving character declares at one point looking deep inside, and up at the stars above Montana. As both soap and saga (a damn fine blend in my view), The Madison toggles and tracks without missing a beat between polar emotions in what is ultimately a love story of discovery.
To take the mountain high perspective, if you are one of the millions and millions of Blue State and Red State fans of Sheridan’s work, worry not: The Madison will take you to some of your respective comfort zones.
With loss as a constant in what it is to be human in all parts of America and everywhere else, the beautifully Christina Alexandra Voros-directed series might open up a few new and unexpected vistas as well, and more than a few cathartic tears.
(L-R) Patrick J. Adams as Russell McIntosh, Elle Chapman as Paige McIntosh, Beau Garrett as Abigail Reese, Alaina Pollack as Macy Reese, and Amiah Miller as Brigitte Reese in ‘The Madison’
Emerson Miller/Paramount+
Amidst the strong Garrett and Chapman, this antidote to Succession also has a more than solid bench of Suits alum Patrick J. Adams, Kevin Zegers, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova, and a kinda way outta left field Will Arnett. Plus, you get some Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox (nice to see you again stranger) fishing on the river – and I’d watch that any day just for the sheer joy the duo radiates.
(L-R) Kurt Russell as Preston Clyburn and Matthew Fox as Paul Clyburn in ‘The Madison’
Emerson Miller/Paramount+
Still, there is a push and pull at play in the already renewed The Madisonwhich sees its first three episodes drop on Saturday and the remaining trio air on the streamer on March 21.
But, again, I’m limited in what I can tell you without the Paramount mountain coming crashing down on me. So, working within those perimeters, listen up and read between the lines.
Lore tells us that the devastating Sonny Liston used to have a guy whose only job was to put the needle on the 45 of James Brown’s 1962 version of “Night Train” over and over while the then heavyweight champion boxer was sparring and training.
Now, I have no idea if Taylor Sheridan has an inspiration tune or tunes that he tees up to find his groove when working on any of his multitude of shows and movies. But I’m pretty sure if he did or does, certainly “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” by the late great Waylon Jennings would make the cut when it comes to The Madison.
Watch The Madison, then you’ll get it.
That’s the only spoiler you get from me.
Title: The Madison
Distributor: Paramount+
Release date: March 14, Eps 1-3; March 21, Eps 4-6
Writer/Creator: Taylor Sheridan
Director: Christina Alexandra Voros
Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Matthew Fox, Will Arnett, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Beau Garrett, Rebecca Spence, Alaina Pollack, & Amiah Miller
Running time: Episodes vary from 45 – 68 minutes in length
