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My yearning for the continuation of Yellowstone led me to The Madison after I saw one of its fancy posters featuring Stacy, whose image looked like Ellyn Jameson (Dolly Weaver in Marshals). For a second, I thought it was a spin-off of Yellowstone, but it turned out to be a standalone series that shares the same universe as Yellowstone.
Let’s talk about the contrast between locations as featured in the series, shall we?
The Madison successfully compares city life from the perspective of New Yorkers with the country lifestyle of Madison County, Idaho, USA. If Madison is as beautiful as what I saw in The Madison, then I would say that life as a rancher there would not be a bad idea.
Back to the series, it vividly narrates how life can be beautiful both in the city and in the countryside. We see this through the luxurious lifestyle of the Cryburn family in New York: their penthouses, designer clothes and shoes, luxury SUVs and fancy jobs. Meanwhile, life in the county appears simple but extremely promising of a great and fulfilling life, provided you cherish nature more than the material comforts of the modern world.
The county boasts safety, a serene environment, fresh food, friendly locals and rules created to provide safety and guidance for a better life. The city, on the other hand, is painted as a place plagued by insecurity.
I was amazed that Paige Macintosh, played by Elle Chapman, was attacked by a man on Fifth Avenue, with a multitude of people walking by, yet nobody attempted to help. There was not even a shout or scream for help from anyone. The only person who seemed to care was more interested in capturing the moment with his phone, displaying a typical social media syndrome that the world has recently become accustomed to.
One would think such a thing could never happen in such a crowded environment. As Paige said, if you cannot walk on Fifth Avenue, then where can you walk?
Aside from portraying Madison as a place where both wildlife and humans can thrive, the series also raises the question of whether life in the countryside is truly better than life in the city. Some would argue that country life is far better, while others would disagree. What do you think?
The Madison also touches on love and marriage. The series makes you wonder whether, if your marriage does not last for 30 years, you have somehow wasted your time and life—or perhaps you should never have made it that far in the first place.
Stacy Cryburn (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Preston Cryburn (Kurt Russell) had apparently been together for 30 years and, according to Stacy, had never fought. She said this while mourning her late husband and speaking to her daughter, Abigail, who was dealing with her own relationship dilemma.
Abigail Reese (Beau Garrett), a divorcee of Dallas Reese and the daughter of Preston and Stacy Cryburn, is at the centre of the story.
They say the way your children turn out can be a reflection of how you raised them. Preston and Stacy met when they had nothing to their names. Over time, they worked hard, became wealthy and chose to make life comfortable for their children.
As portrayed in many modern families, Stacy is not exactly everybody’s favourite, while Preston is the hero of the house—the one everyone wants to impress because he is always there to pick them up with love and money.
However, the scene in which Abigail and Paige lash out, with Abigail telling Paige that Preston has been nothing but an ATM and a chauffeur to her because she has always been an attention-seeking and spoiled brat, was painful to watch.
That is a deeply painful way to describe a man who would do anything to make his children comfortable, often at the expense of his own happiness. That scene nearly made me rethink becoming a father because it was genuinely deep.
But I loved how Stacy reprimanded them and spoke to them about morals. She pointed out that she must have done a poor job raising them if she had failed to show them that life is not always a bed of roses.
Stacy and Preston also show us that lasting love is possible. If we allow love to grow and nurture it, it can blossom into something enviable and worthy of emulation. This is beautifully captured when Russell McIntosh (Patrick J. Adams) tells Stacy in the bar that his dream is to have what she and Preston had—a lasting love, a beautiful life and a beautiful home—before the sudden hand of death caught up with Preston.
Now, let’s talk about warnings.
There are some accidents that are avoidable, but we sometimes bring them upon ourselves by ignoring the warning signs.
During the birthday surprise and fishing scene, Preston warned Paul Cryburn (Matthew Fox), saying, “The storm is gathering up there.” Paul’s response was, “The storm don’t bother me.”
Later, Paul called the tower for advice on what altitude to fly at, only to eventually crash into a mountain. That was frustrating to watch. They could have left immediately when Preston called his attention to the approaching storm, or they could have waited for it to pass.
But no. In his stubbornness, and after bragging about his flying prowess, Paul put their lives in danger by flying blind. I also think asking the tower what altitude to fly at was the wrong solution to the problem. The better decision would have been not to fly at all in such dangerous weather conditions.
The tower advised him to maintain 11,000 feet, and Paul said he was comfortable flying at that altitude. Apparently, however, he was not high enough to clear the mountain.
Again, the accident could have been avoided.
Everything that follows is a reality we all have to face at some point in our lives: losing someone we love and cherish.
Written by Taylor Sheridan, The Madison is produced by Sheridan and John Linson, who also serve as executive producers alongside a large production team that includes stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.
The Madison is an amazing watch. It is a series that explores family, love, marriage, wealth, loss, the contrast between city and country life, and the consequences of ignoring the warnings life gives us.
For me, it is more than just a story about the Cryburn family. It is a reflection on the choices we make, the lives we build and the people we sometimes take for granted until it is too late.
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