Thoughts on Marshals

Hi COMICS2MOVIES Community,

Now, before we get stuck into todays substack, I want to provide a warning that this contains some spoilers to the new series, Mashals. So if you haven’t seen it and don’t want it spoiled, skip down to the second image.

I’ve been diving into the new series Marshals this week, and I wanted to share a few thoughts, because like many of you, I’m a big fan of Taylor Sheridan’s work. From Tulsa King to Lioness, Yellowstone, and Landman, he has a proven track record of creating grounded, character-driven stories with real emotional weight.

For those who haven’t seen it yet, Marshals follows Casey Dutton as he steps into a federal law enforcement role, navigating dangerous cases while trying to rebuild his life after personal loss. On the surface, it has all the ingredients of a strong Sheridan series: tension, action, and morally complex situations.

But for me, something feels… missing.

Casey Dutton was one of the most compelling characters in Yellowstone because of the duality he lived with, torn between his Native American family and his white American heritage. That tension created layered storytelling and made every decision feel personal and meaningful. His relationships, particularly with his wife and son, were central to that emotional core.

In Marshals, however, they’ve made the decision to kill off his wife off-screen, which removes a huge emotional anchor without giving the audience time to process it. That trauma, something that could have driven the character in powerful ways, is largely skipped over. On top of that, his son takes a backseat, shifting the show toward a more procedural format rather than the deeply personal storytelling we’ve come to expect.

For me, that shift moves away from what makes Sheridan’s work truly great, character-first storytelling with emotional stakes. I’m still early in the series and hopeful it finds its footing, but it’s an interesting example of how small creative decisions can significantly impact the depth of a story.

Speaking of storytelling with stakes…

We’re currently just $91 away from hitting our $10,000 goal for Ned Kelly: Werewolf Hunter on Kickstarter. Reaching that milestone unlocks the matched funding from Creative Australia, effectively doubling the impact of every pledge and helping us take this project to the next level.

This is more than just another comic; it’s a bold reimagining of an Australian legend, designed with a clear pathway to film. If you’ve been following along but haven’t backed yet, now is the moment your support can truly make a difference.

👉 Help us push over the line and be part of bringing this story to life.

And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Marshalls, on storytelling, or on what you want to see more of from COMICS2MOVIES. Drop a comment, message, or reply—I read every one.

Thanks again for being part of this journey.

Warm regards,
Shaun Keenan
Director & Publisher
COMICS2MOVIES