CBS Is Fixing Marshals Most Divisive Aspect In Season 2

Published Sep 3, 2026, 8:32 AM EDT

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Set after the Yellowstone finale, Marshals kicked off with Kayce deciding to go down a new path after Monica's death — joining the US Marshals team of Calvin, Belle, Miles, and Andrea. Despite existing in the same reality as the Neo-Western hit, the change in format to become more of a procedural has been divisive, especially for those who aren't used to the way traditional broadcast shows tell its stories. Additionally, it impacted the focus on Kayce, as Marshals started doing weekly cases while developing its other characters.

Marshals Is About Kayce & The Duttons, First & Foremost

As Marshals season 2 nears its release, CBS has released the official trailer for it, offering the public a proper look at what lies ahead for its characters. For context, its original 13-episode run ended with a couple of cliffhangers. Firstly, Tate was taken hostage by Tom Weaver, whose interest in buying East Camp is becoming a bigger problem. Secondly, Calvin and Belle were ambushed by the goons sent by the aforementioned villains, tying up the narratives. Considering its title and format change, there was an assumption that Marshals season 2 will further lean into its procedural format, but that isn't the case.

The Marshals season 2 trailer leads with Kayce's story, with Grimes' narration focusing on him reminiscing about the Dutton legacy. It digs deeper into his internal turmoil involving Tate and how he wants to protect him from conflict that seems to follow him wherever he goes. This means that Marshals season 2 is focusing on delving deeper into the Dutton's lineage, with a focus on how their history can define the future. While the trailer also incorporates the procedural aspect of the series, it's clear that the focal point of the promotional video is Kayce, Tate, and continuing the Duttons story in Montana.

Why Marshals Still Needs To Develop Its Non-Dutton Characters

The decision to make sure that Marshals' focus remains on its ties to Yellowstone makes sense. It is standing on the shoulders of the flagship, and the majority of the people who tuned in from the get-go are those who followed Sheridan's crowning jewel during its time on the air. It also gives Marshals an established lore that would otherwise take it years to build. That being said, it shouldn't fully sideline its procedural aspect, especially its newer characters. Season 1 did a decent job establishing all of them in a way that it's easy to get invested in them, and season 2 has the opportunity to fully flesh them out.

As a show on network TV, Marshals has the opportunity to run longer than any of Sheridan's previous projects. Considering its current popularity, CBS can keep it on the air for more than a decade, as proven by the ongoing run of NCIS, which has been broadcasting since 2003. However, to be able to sustain its success, Marshals needs to diversify its storytelling, so the public has several narrative options to follow. Beyond that, it would also help in terms of the workload for actors, since network TV shows are notorious for having a rigorous production schedule.

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