It’s time to get those final yee’s on those haws because the beloved western drama series Yellowstone is coming to an end. But what makes the show’s final episodes even more devastating is that John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner) won’t be moseying around. Here’s what happened to John Dutton in Yellowstone.
Woah! Hold ya horses. This article contains spoilers for Yellowstone. You’ve been warned.
ICYMI, after almost two years, Yellowstone‘s final season, Season Five, Part Two, has finally rolled around. I remember when the show first dropped, everyone was fanging for a cowboy boyfriend… and lowkey, they (and I mean we) still are.
However, one of the big things on fans’ minds was how Costner’s character — John Dutton — would be portrayed throughout the show’s final episodes if the actor wasn’t around for the job.
For folks who are not in the know when it comes to the big world of Yellowstone, John Dutton is the patriarch of the Dutton family.
Season Five, Part One kicked off with John becoming Montana’s governor. Although you’d think his brand-spanking new role would make him super busy, the head honcho also kept tabs on the good ol’ family ranch.
What happens to John Dutton in Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2?
Well, unfortunately for John Dutton sympathists, the family patriarch was shot dead by assassins in the Governor’s mansion.
John was found by Beth (played by Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes). Although the assassins staged John’s death to make it look like a suicide, Beth is the only one who believes her daddy had been offed by someone else.
It is then revealed that the hit men were hired by his son Jamie (played by Wes Bentley) and his girlfriend Sarah (Dawn Olivieri).
One thing that’s also worth mentioning is that you don’t see Costner’s face, but you do see the dead body of John.
Fans react to John Dutton’s fate
Although the series kicked off with a huge bang, some fans aren’t too pleased with how the showrunners handled Costner’s departure.
If THAT’S how they decide to end a great character like John Dutton…
THAT’S BULLSHIT. #YellowstoneTV #Yellowstone
— Nine (@ninewontmiss) November 11, 2024
STOP IT. We are 7 mins in and they killed John Dutton?! I DID NOT WAIT THIS LONG FOR THE FIRST EPISODE TO START THIS WAY. #YellowstoneTV pic.twitter.com/vW1fwx4fyw
— вrєє ? (@breezi426) November 11, 2024
After 4 seasons of this show we’re expected to believe that John Dutton went out like that..No ?
#YellowstoneTV pic.twitter.com/ykcvhvwkev— Renéè Scott (@Justasec021) November 11, 2024
I waited a year and they kill off John Dutton?! #YellowstoneTV pic.twitter.com/GogjqmpdPv
— Keeley Karr (@Keeley_Dene) November 11, 2024
John Dutton took the Yellowstone series to the train station with him?#Yellowstone #YellowstoneTV pic.twitter.com/KRXps4Nqzl
— Buck Fiden (@thebiggobbler2) November 11, 2024
Me seeing John Dutton get killed 7 minutes in
#YellowstoneTV pic.twitter.com/ratDJdLqfw— Conald Peterson (@WhyGarth) November 11, 2024
John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Completely undoes the series. I’m not a fan at all how #Yellowstone handled Costner’s departure. pic.twitter.com/mECsM6gluf
— @Matthew Betley (@MatthewBetley) November 11, 2024
Me pretending I just didn’t just see them kill off John Dutton like that #YellowstoneTV pic.twitter.com/0E2dinqTYO
— Cloud9ineDreams? (@Cloud9ineDreams) November 11, 2024
Why did Kevin Costner leave Yellowstone?
There are a bunch of rumours surrounding Costner’s departure from the beloved show. However, one of the major ones was that the cowboy-playing actor was butting heads with Yellowstone showrunner Taylor Sheridan over his passion project Horizon.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan claimed that Costner wanted to prioritise Horizon over the the series.
“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct. He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with Yellowstone,” he said.
However, in response, Costner told Deadline that the claims are a “bullshit story” and insisted that the beloved series had “first position” in his priorities. The actor also claimed there were “no scripts” for Yellowstone‘s final episodes.
In June, Costner officially announced to fans that he was leaving Yellowstone via an Instagram video.
“I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that are required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future,” he shared.
At the time of writing, Yellowstone has only dropped one episode from its final run.
Although it kicked off with a huge character getting the chop, I believe (and manifest) that this isn’t the last time we’ll see Costner. If you look back at the teaser trailer for Season Five, Part Two, John Dutton returns briefly through flashbacks.
Fingers crossed, there’s a little bit of Johnny Boi left for Yellowstone‘s final run. It’s what he deserves.
