Taylor Sheridan's new series “The Madison” just came out, and before the second season has even aired (and it’s unknown when it will exactly), Season 3 has already been confirmed. It’s kind of incredible, but maybe not that surprising given the fact that Sheridan already gave Paramount + a few hits - "Yellowstone" and "Landman." And it doesn’t hurt that the stars of the show are Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.
The series follows Stacy and Preston Clyburn, a wealthy couple whose decades-long marriage remains deeply passionate. Their lives are upended when Preston dies in a tragic plane crash along with his brother. Stacy travels to Montana to identify the body and take stock of the cabins her husband and his brother (Matthew Fox) built in Madison County.
There, amid the rugged beauty of the Madison River, the family must navigate grief, strained relationships and a new way of life far removed from everything they once knew.
Some critics have praised “The Madison” for its emotional core, noting that its portrayal of grief and loss can feel authentic and relatable, particularly for viewers who have experienced similar tragedies. Most, however, were less enthusiastic about it, arguing that, despite its strong cast and striking visuals, the series feels unfocused and overly political.
Reviewers pointed to Sheridan’s tendency to inject culture-war commentary into the story, including jabs at “coastal elites,” exaggerated portrayals of New York, and debates around social issues that feel out of place. While the show begins with an emotional premise—Preston’s sudden death in a plane crash and his family’s move to Montana—critics say these themes are overshadowed by heavy-handed messaging and uneven storytelling. As a result, what could have been a compelling exploration of grief and family instead comes across to some as a visually appealing but ultimately shallow drama.
In an interview with actress Michelle Pfeiffer, she spoke about what drew her to the emotional role and about working with Kurt Russell after 38 years.
This marks a return to TV after a significant time. What was it about this series that made you want to come back to TV?
“I did do First Lady a few years back, but yes, it is the first time in decades, many decades, that I have done episodic television. I just think the quality of the work, the quality of the material that I've been seeing on television, I've been so envious of. For a while now I wanted very much to be a part of it. Taylor Sheridan has an amazing track record and when I met with him, I love the way he spoke about this character and the love story element and the family dynamics. I thought it was just such an interesting concept. Stacy was someone that I could relate to.”
'The Madison' first season trailer
(Video: Courtesy of Paramount+)
How was it reuniting with Kurt Russell for the first time since Tequila Sunrise in 1988?
“He has not changed one bit and I'm so happy. I have such fond memories working with him. He was such an amazing ally of mine and just my big brother by my side. If I was struggling with anything, he was there. He's just always so up and so positive and so supportive. And he was exactly the same here. And he still has those same dimples, that are amazing. I was so happy that we were actually able to finally secure him because of his scheduling issues.”
The series explores grief but also the people who ground us - who would you say are the anchors in your life, the ones who give you balance and meaning?
“My husband, David and my children. I think since I became a mom, I found a balance in my life. And being an actor, when you're forced to be introspective all the time, and sort of study yourself from the outside looking in, it's a relief to finally have something in your life that can take you out of your narcissism. It just gives your life a different level of meaning.”
I wouldn’t have thought of you as a narcissist
“It’s just the nature of the beast. There's an inherent narcissism that one has to have. Also, you're looking at yourself up on the screen all the time and people are saying things about you. And you're trying to connect with your character so that lends itself to you needing to be retrospective more than most people might be. Sometimes it can cross into a place where it just is not healthy.”
Stacy is reprocessing her marriage through what she learns about Preston’s life in Montana—did you see that as regret over what they didn’t share, or as an expansion of their love story?
“I think it's both things at play. We have to remember that we're seeing Stacy through the first six days of this unspeakable, shocking tragedy and there's this discovery of the love of her life, the only man that she's ever loved. There's a whole side to him that she didn't know about that he was begging to share with her and with their children.
I think there is a tremendous amount of regret that is working on her. And then there's this insatiable curiosity to discover this side of him that she never knew. And it's a lot about holding on to him.”
How was it for you to live in such an intense, emotional state throughout the shoot?
“Exhausting. I felt really envious of the rest of the cast because they would have social gatherings on the weekend, or maybe in the evening, and I was never able to participate. I love them so much. They're such great humans that you want to spend time with. We all grew really close, but it forced me to make a conscious decision to let it go at the end of the day and on the weekend. I also had to work for upcoming scenes and prepare for the work ahead. So that's how I spent most of my weekend. I tried to not give myself permission to actually live in it.”
This is truly a love story that we don't see often. Can you please share your feelings when you first read the script?
“Well, when I first read it, and I saw the places I had to go throughout, I thought, "Oh, my. How am I going to do this? How is this sustainable? I'm going to have to really pace myself, but, it's incredibly moving. The love affair between Stacy and Preston is one that we all hope to find. I mean, it's a fairy tale in a way, but some people have those fairy tale relationships. It's the only love that she has ever known.”
What have you learned about grief from doing the show, and what did you bring to your character in terms of your own experiences with grief?
“Well, I think when you get to my age, you've had enough people close to you - friends, family, colleagues - pass away, so you don't have to look too far for inspiration for that, unfortunately. I received incredible feedback from people, old friends and colleagues, people that I know in the industry. They told me how moved they are. Some of my friends have called me telling me how much they like the show, and I'm like, 'Are you crying?' What's really surprising is how much it affects men. And how it resonates with men. Maybe it speaks to grief in a way that they've experienced but haven't really been able to express, maybe it takes them by surprise. There are all different ways and things to grieve about: people have lost their homes in a fire. People have lost jobs that they expected to retire in.
Do you think this series is a lesson in how to navigate grief and resilience?
“I think what we see in the show is that people deal with grief, and grief manifests itself differently with everyone. Some people are very stoic and they're very internal about it. Some people, it's just all out there. And when you combine grief and the shock of an unexpected tragedy, it's a different kind of grieving. And then there's almost a PTSD thing that also comes into play.”
What shows do you like to watch on TV? What’s your guilty pleasure?
“For me, my guilty pleasure these days is the news. I don't watch a lot of TV. Not because there isn't a lot of great stuff on, I just forget. We'll sit down and say, "What should we watch?" And I'll forget the shows where I said, "Ooh, I have to watch that." I'm actually just getting caught up with ‘Severance’ now, which I'm really enjoying. I'm watching ‘The Pitt.’ I’m very excited about ‘Margo's Got Money Troubles’. I love a good documentary and David and I watched 'The Madison.' I'm really proud of it.”