EXCLUSIVE | 'Yellowstone': Ian Bohen says Season 3 strong female leads 'will bring change to Western genre'
We don't try to conceal our admiration for Paramount Network's hit 'Yellowstone'. The Dutton ranch finds itself under threat by land developers, government and the Indian Reservation, but the patriarch of the family John Dutton (Kevin Costner) expertly (with more zest and gore) maneuvers these dangers. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the show is a fast-paced Western drama which is also a slow burn in its own way. And while the show continues to remain a top favorite of audiences amassing millions of viewers each episode, Season 3 is taking it up a notch.
The latest season introduces two strong characters alongside the already present harbinger of female strength on the show Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly). The Western genre is not on the top of the list for female representation often only depicting them as victims. But 'Yellowstone' Season 3 is bringing new characters who are made stronger from the past. We have met Angela Blue Thunder (Q'orianka Kilcher) as a powerful force who is set to unite with Beth. Angela, an influential lead, is touted to be "a woman with pain in her past and unadulterated fury in her present".
The two are coming together to take down the newest threat to the ranch - Willa Hays, a strong antagonist played by Karen Pittman. For the first time on 'Yellowstone, will a woman be taking the reigns against the Dutton family.
Powerful and resilient, these characters are promising an explosive build-up to this installment.
In an exclusive interview with MEAWW (MEA WorldWide), Ian Bohen, who plays the role of Ryan, tells us how refreshing and "satisfying" it has been to have this feminine energy - not only on the sets but in the fictional world of the Western genre.
"It's very satisfying having feminine energy and strong characters drive stories forward. [Western] is traditionally a masculine genre," he says. And although the show is offering something new to the Western drama audience, the actor believes they're portraying reality. "If you look at those families, historically, the women really were the engines that kept everything together, kept everything going and where the powerhouse is," he adds. "On the surface, it seems like the strength was in the men - a convention that we buy into," Bohen says. "But now we're seeing the real motivating energy that pushes things forward and makes changes."
Bohen adds that even when it comes to the show this season, it might seem like the men are making these life-altering decisions, but it is really the women behind them. "If you go back and look, most of the stuff that happens is motivated from a different point of view. So watching that feminine aspect be powerful, is awesome." Going forward into Season 3, Bohen promises that these leads will bring a change to the genre. "It's gonna do wonders for the success of the show because people can relate to it because it's real."
'Yellowstone' airs on Sundays at 9 pm ET/ PT on Paramount Network.
