15 million people watched Episode 1 of Season 4 of Paramount's smash-hit cable series, Yellowstone.

This is populism television—a tidal wave out of nowhere.

There are several factors involved. The main one is:

A family is determined to keep its land—the biggest ranch in Montana—against all odds. Against all attempts to take the land by: the state government, a gigantic corporate land developer, an Indian tribe, a psychopathic killer and his hired guns.

The ranching Dutton family will go to any lengths to keep the land.

This suddenly resonates with millions of viewers.

No other television series in history, based on the premise of holding on to private property, has provoked such passion.

What's going on?