“Mike Erhmantraut of the res”: Taylor Sheridan Missed the Chance to Make 1 Yellowstone Character a Rival to Certified Badass Mike from Breaking Bad

Like a silent pillar of ferocity and conviction, Moses Brings Plenty stands as steadfast proof of all that is good and holy with Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone. While the series busies itself with relentless violence and bloodshed, the actor exudes class and honor even while teaming up with the antagonists.

While clear boundaries have not been drawn to signify Yellowstone’s ethically and morally gray areas, it is clear to the audiences that the Sheridan epic rarely abides by the natural order of things. As such, the character of Mo is one of the few rarities that falls in a certifiably good place in the Paramount series.

Yellowstone Builds a Formidable Roster of Characters

Despite the veracity of systemic violence perpetrated on the Yellowstone demography on a daily basis, one aspect of the Western series that will always ring true is the complexity of each of its characters. Taylor Sheridan beautifully crafts the depth and history behind each arc to finally deliver an unforgettable masterpiece.

Taylor Sheridan’s gift with words and dialogue has long been a device that served the plot better than the actors. Even amid high-stakes drama and fiery action, Sheridan’s characters stand as an untold layer of protection between fiction and the suspension of disbelief.

As such, while the central Duttons, starting with Kevin Costner’s John Dutton could serve as a prime masterclass in acting, there is one other character in the Taylor Sheridan drama who far surpasses any other, even while staying strictly on the sidelines.

Yellowstone Elevates the Status of Moses Brings Plenty

While the individual storylines and character dramas may get lost amid the severity of the plot or the seriousness of the drama, the one character who manages to shine through it all is Mo. The character portrays the right-hand man and chauffeur of Gil Brimingham’s Thomas Rainwater, Chief of the Broken Rock Tribal Reservation.

However, there is an element of quiet grace and unwavering dignity in Mo that is not to be found among the other characters. The character, when seen in such a light is often reminiscent of Breaking Bad’s Mike Ehrmantraut played beautifully by Jonathan Banks.

As per Reddit user, Triumph-TBird, Mo comes off as “Mike Ehrmantraut of the Res,” while another fan, ViperRFH claims:

Mo is hands down my favorite character of the show – he exudes class, purity, genuineness and silent wisdom but it actually goes a little beyond an actor playing a character, I get the impression the guy he’s playing is actually him and he doesn’t have to be sleazy or brash to be a good character.

Meanwhile, Reddit fan wootcanal states: “He’s been brilliant, just had a presence on screen that’s instantly calming and makes you “listen in”.”

Mo’s character arc and evolution over the 4-season span of Yellowstone has truly made him a character that could go toe-to-toe with Breaking Bad’s very own Mike. Both these wonderful yet imposing characters, written as rich and individually fulfilling arcs within an overarching series, have always operated within shades of grey but never made the fans want to root more for anybody else in their lives.

Yellowstone is available to stream on Paramount+