I hate many things about Yellowstone, but Taylor Sheridan’s raw, real portrayal of Montana’s fentanyl crisis deserves serious applause.

Yellowstone isn’t perfect. I’ve got a long list of gripes. Be it those dragging subplots or characters who flip-flop more than a politician in an election year, the show can be a mess. But when it came to shedding light on Montana’s drug crisis, Taylor Sheridan actually got it right.

Through subtle scenes and not-so-subtle plotlines, he managed to spotlight a very real issue affecting rural America, without turning it into a PSA. It’s rare to see a mainstream show pull that off. So yeah, I may roll my eyes at plenty, but this part was a total win.

Why I’m kind of done with Yellowstone, but respect Taylor Sheridan’s take on Montana’s drug crisis

Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount Network

Like I said, I don’t adore many things about Yellowstone: the drama, the endless brooding stares, the convoluted family feuds. But what Taylor Sheridan did with Jimmy’s storyline deserves applause. He shone a brutal spotlight on Montana’s fentanyl crisis, and that was commendable.

Jimmy was a walking, talking symbol of a real, devastating problem. Montana and the entire Mountain West is drowning in drugs. Fentanyl flooding in, meth still a menace. Sheridan didn’t sugarcoat it. He showed how beautiful life can be when you’re not trapped in addiction. Jimmy’s arc – from a spoiled, lost kid blind to the gifts of Montana’s big skies and massive trout, to a guy who finally catches a glimpse of hope.

That scene where Jimmy stopped to admire the size of a trout while Rip yelled at him to snap out of it was everything. Jimmy grew up in Montana, surrounded by stunning nature, yet he missed it all. His parents were absent, raised by grandparents who spoiled him instead of steering him right, and he fell into the same trap many kids do: boredom, bad crowds, and drugs. Montana’s youth often feel stuck, with nothing to do, so they escape into addiction.

Jimmy’s journey scoring girlfriends, winning rodeos, even chasing a real cowboy life in Texas, is a mirror held up to a broken system, and not just character drama. Sheridan’s Yellowstone calls out a crisis we can’t ignore. And for that, I have to give credit where it’s due.

Why fans think Jimmy has the best character arc in Yellowstone

Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstram in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount Network

Yellowstone fans aren’t holding back when it comes to defending Jimmy. From a two-time felon and meth cook to a rodeo cowboy, his journey was inspiring. While TS’ comment calling him a “gimp” raised some eyebrows, fans argue that cowboy culture’s all about tough love and smack talk.

Jimmy’s rise from clueless rookie to buckle-winning rider embodied the show’s core: preserving the ranch life through struggle and grit. He’s one of the few with actual character development. Some called his later screen time “filler,” but others believed they say Yellowstone and its spinoffs are the finest kind of filler, time well spent.

Love him or not, Jimmy’s story gave Yellowstone a heart, a journey, and a damn good reminder that redemption rides hardest in cowboy boots.

Watch Yellowstone now on Peacock & Apple TV (USA).