Warning, spoilers: the last episode of Yellowstone finally reveals what has happened to John Dutton since the departure of his interpreter Kevin Costner.
Since the launch of Yellowstone in 2018 by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, Kevin Costner established himself as the face of the series. Passionate about westerns, Costner devoted much of his career to exploring the American West, whether as a director, with works like Dances with Wolves et Open Rangeor as an actor in Wyatt Earp. His participation in Yellowstone seemed obvious, as the character of John Dutton and the context of the series resonated with his favorite themes. But in 2023, rumors of tensions between Costner and the show's creators, as well as scheduling conflicts, led the actor to announce that he would not return for a possible season 6.
The move left fans uncertain about John Dutton's fate. However, the series continued, and episode 9 of the fifth season finally answers this burning question. In this second part of the season, Yellowstone hits hard from the start. We find the Dutton ranch surrounded by the police, and Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes) discover with horror the lifeless body of their father, bathing in a pool of blood. The first clues from the scene suggest a suicide. However, this conclusion does not convince everyone, especially Kayce, who immediately accuses her adopted brother Jamie (Wes Bentley) of being responsible. Jamie, in deep conflict with his father, had recently initiated impeachment proceedings against John, then governor of the state.
Yellowstone says goodbye to one of its iconic characters
Later, the episode reveals the extent of the plot against John Dutton. Sara Atwood, a strategic ally of Market Equities and Jamie's lover, orchestrated a plan to permanently neutralize John. This Machiavellian plan, providing for the assassination of Dutton disguised as suicide, was perfectly known to Sara. This turnaround marks a dramatic turn of events in the world of Yellowstone. By eliminating the patriarch, the series jeopardizes the already fragile unity of the Dutton family and leaves their land at the mercy of Market Equities' ambitions. The absence of John Dutton/Kevin Costner risks shattering everything the latter has tried to protect over the seasons.
Despite this disappearance which upsets the universe of YellowstoneParamount and the creators have confirmed that a sixth season is in the works. The final episodes of season 5, broadcast weekly since November 11, 2024 on Paramount+, will continue to explore the consequences of this drama within the Dutton family and their empire. The departure of Kevin Costner, who embodied the soul of Yellowstonemarks the end of an era for the series. The challenge ahead will be to see how the story can reinvent itself and continue without the influence of John Dutton.
