The Madison’s Strangest Casting Was Its Secret Weapon All Along

From the get-go, The Madison had an impressive cast, and Taylor Sheridan wasn’t afraid to utilize them in bold, unexpected ways. The characters played by two of The Madison‘s buzziest cast members, Kurt Russell and, in a long-awaited return to television, Matthew Fox, were killed off in the pilot’s opening sequence. This loss drove the story towards The Madison‘s emotional season 1 ending.

In another interesting move, The Madison waited until its fifth episode to introduce Dr. Phil Yorn, Stacy’s therapist, played by none other than Will Arnett. Arnett’s arrival was a pleasant surprise, and his character brought the show back to its core themes. His introduction was well-timed with the flow of the story and proved to be an important presence that will hopefully return in The Madison season 2.

Will Arnett Was A Surprisingly Great Addition To The Madison’s Cast

Will Arnett, mainly known for quirky roles in comedy hits like Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman, was an interesting choice for The Madison​​​​​​’s emotional exploration of grief. Yet his noticeable comedic roots are exactly what made Arnett’s Phil Yorn so effectively down to earth.

As a therapist who poured Stacy drinks, gave much-needed hugs, and held impromptu sessions in her bedroom, Yorn immediately felt unique. In turn, his distinct personality opened the floor for Stacy to reveal her own quirks and individuality. The more Yorn interacted with the Clyburns, the more real they all began to feel, and the more unanswered questions came to light within The Madison‘s story.

While the show always had a handle on its mournful atmosphere and themes of love and loss, Will Arnett’s grounded performance elevated the Clyburns into something more than their status and circumstances. What began as a portrait of grief and a showcase of certain lifestyles became a compelling character study as Arnett’s Yorn stripped away Stacy’s grim poise.

The Madison Needed Will Arnett’s Character For Its Premise To Work

The ending of The Madison season 1 set up season 2 for more time in Montana. However, Stacy’s upcoming journey simply wouldn’t work if she hadn’t first returned to New York to do the difficult, less cinematic work of addressing her grief head-on. As multiple characters pointed out to her, simply immersing herself in Preston’s world without looking back wouldn’t have been a healthy choice.

The Clyburns’ return to New York and, mainly, Stacy’s sessions with Phil, cemented The Madison‘s commitment to showcasing the holistic grieving process of one particular family. Stacy had a somber grace to her as she learned to fish and make coffee over a fire, but it’s a key aspect of her character that this wasn’t who she was before Preston’s death.

In therapy with Phil, we saw a new side of Stacy. Stacy, who recognized the kindness of strangers in her moment of need and who served as something of a mentor in loss to her family, was later revealed to also be someone who enjoyed cursing, pushed away her own feelings, and found catharsis in ruthlessly insulting her own therapist.

This was a sharp departure from the tragic decorum she exhibited in Montana. It also served as a crucial moment of progress in her healing journey, as well as some insight into who Stacy is as a person beyond the tragedy that she’d just experienced.

Going into The Madison season 2, this Stacy, who is in a new place on her grief journey and who has reconnected with other parts of her personality, will be much more compelling to watch upon her return to the Madison River valley.

Will Arnett Helped The Madison Strike A Balance Between Being Beautiful And Raw

The Madison certainly embodied its fair share of majesty, from the stunning Montana scenery to the charmed lives that the Clyburns largely enjoyed. The grandeur of it all contributed to The Madison‘s often slow, sorrowful pace. While still feeling saturated in Stacy’s grief, this beauty also served as a reminder that we are all merely a fleeting piece of something bigger and grander than ourselves.

This was an important and cinematic aspect of the show, but The Madison also took care not to dilute the pain and imperfect healing process that comes with loss. For all its stunning mountain landscapes and glamorous Manhattan apartments, there were also tears, screaming matches, fist fights, and nasty words exchanged.

Through this combination, The Madison embodied the soul of many classic Westerns in its own unique way. Thanks in large part to Arnett’s Phil Yorn, The Madison made it clear that its characters’ lowest, most imperfect moments were, in fact, just as important as the show’s way of honoring nature’s grand design.