This submit incorporates spoilers for the primary three episodes of “The Madison.”
Episode 2 of “The Madison” introduces a sort cowboy by the identify of Cade Harris. This useful stranger is performed by Kevin Zegers, who’s best-known for starring within the first 4 “Air Bud” films within the Nineteen Nineties. Whereas beloved household sports activities comedies may appear unrelated to Taylor Sheridan’s protracted exploration of grief, the unique “Air Bud” truly shared quite a bit in widespread with “The Madison.”
“Yellowstone” may need been full of untamed moments, however creator Taylor Sheridan has dialed down the outlandishness for his newest collection. “The Madison” sees the rich Clyburn household relocate to the Madison River valley in Montana following the dying of Kurt Russell’s Preston Clyburn. Along with his widow Stacy Clyburn (Michelle Pfeiffer) main the cost, Preston’s daughters, two nieces, son-in-law, and Stacy herself determine to embrace the bucolic allure of rural Montana in an try and really feel nearer to their dearly departed and rediscover themselves. It actually makes for some drama, however the entire thing is way more grounded and naturalistic than most Taylor Sheridan TV exhibits.
“The Madison” additionally has extra coronary heart than your typical Sheridan providing. It seems the individuals of Montana are literally fairly delicate, caring, and hospitable. And to this point, no character has embodied the heat of native Montanans greater than Cade, who arrives on the Clyburns’ rustic retreat in episode 2 bearing presents and a typically affable vitality that Stacy virtually instantly embraces. Many viewers had been seemingly equally taken in by Cade’s allure solely to overlook the truth that he’s, certainly, the identical actor who portrayed Josh Framm within the “Air Bud” movie collection.
Earlier than he was a cowboy, Kevin Zegers was taking part in hoops with a golden retreiver
“The Madison” is not linked to “Yellowstone,” however that is nonetheless cowboy nation. Episode 2 sees Cade Harris arrive at Paul Clyburn’s (Matthew Fox) cabin compound the place Stacy and the Clyburn household are staying following the dying of each Paul and Preston Clyburn. He is initially handled with suspicion however quickly explains that he works for the neighboring ranch and is merely welcoming the household with home made meals from the local people. As episode 2 and the next chapter play out, we come to see how Cade is a dwelling embodiment of Montana’s calm and therapeutic vitality. Not solely does he take the Clyburns’ bickering in stride, he additionally helps Stacy retrieve her husband’s truck and even turns into a quiet hero when he talks down the newly-bereaved widow from a state of affairs that might have made issues much more tragic.
All through all of it, Canadian actor Kevin Zegers does a exceptional job of portraying a convincing cowboy. His calm and simple method emanates from a person who’s effortlessly comfortable on the huge plains of Montana, to the extent that some viewers certainly did not even acknowledge Cade as the identical child who performed basketball with a canine.
Sure, again in 1997, Zegers starred in “Air Bud.” The movie was directed by Charles Martin Smith, who had beforehand labored as an actor, most famously portraying Terry “The Toad” Fields in “American Graffiti” and its sequel. “Air Bud” was his fourth directorial effort and starred Zegers as Josh Framm, a younger boy who strikes to a brand new city following the dying of his father. Does not sound all that dissimilar to “The Madison,” does it? What Taylor Sheridan’s mournful collection actually would not have, nevertheless, is a golden retriever who’s additionally a basketball phenom.
There’s a bit Air Bud in The Madison
In “Air Bud,” Kevin Zegers’ Josh Framm befriends a Golden Retriever named Buddy, who’s surprisingly good at basketball. After Josh earns a spot on his college’s basketball workforce, Buddy turns into the workforce mascot and even leads them to victory within the championship recreation. “Air Bud” grossed $23.1 million in theaters on a $3 million finances. A number of sequels adopted and Zegers appeared within the subsequent three: “Air Bud: Golden Receiver,” “Air Bud: World Pup,” and “Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch.” He departed the franchise earlier than 2003’s “Air Bud: Spikes Again.”
Since then, Disney has produced a number of “Air Buddies” spin-off films based mostly on the unique 5 movies. Zegers wasn’t concerned in any of them, however he did star in an identical household comedy providing with “MVP: Most Invaluable Primate,” showing reverse a hockey-playing chimp. Then, in 2005, he switched issues up when he co-starred within the Oscar-nominated unbiased movie “Transamerica,” profitable reward for his portrayal of the bisexual son of a trans girl.
A 12 months later, Zegers performed a supervillain in the critically derided Courteney Cox and Tim Allen-led “Zoom.” That was only a blip, happily, as Zegers went on to seem in 2013’s “The Mortal Devices: Metropolis of Bones” earlier than touchdown a recurring position on “Worry the Strolling Useless” season 4. Ultimately, in 2025, he secured one other recurring position on ABC’s “The Rookie,” and now he is working alongside Michelle Pfeiffer in “The Madison.” Certainly, virtually 30 years after he proved a preternaturally-gifted canine may assist ease the ache of grief, Zegers is now telling an identical story. This time, nevertheless, it is a way more severe and touching model, with Zegers embodying the type of compassionate spirit that Stacy Clyburn and her household want greater than ever.
“The Madison” is streaming on Paramount+.
