Taylor Sheridan’s brainchild, Yellowstone, started galloping across our screens on the Paramount Network back in 2018, and it’s been a rip-roaring success ever since. Now, as we move into its concluding chapters this November, fans are wrangling theories left, right, and center like a bunch of amateur cowboys.
One popular theory rustling through the Reddit fields suggests that the show’s ending was actually foreshadowed in an early flashback. It involves an unbroken promise tied to the ancestor of John Dutton and a hidden burial ground, leading to a potential climax where the Duttons might give the reins back to the Reservations.
Returning the Land: The Ending for the Duttons of Yellowstone?
As the Duttons strut around their ranch like they own the place—oh wait, they do—it’s hard to ignore the ghosts of the past.
Fans have been going back and forth on the idea of the perfect ending to Taylor Sheridan’s magnum opus. One of the most frequented fanfics sees not the continuation of the Dutton legacy, but looking away from it and making amends. American history is drenched in blood, much of which was shed by the natives who were driven away or killed by the settlers from their own land.
That narrative is also a part of Yellowstone, where the Dutton family has been ruling over the ranch for decades, which once belonged to the Indigenous people.
While John Dutton and his family had little to do against the atrocities committed back then during his ancestors’ days, several fans on Reddit have pointed out how, after John’s death, the land being returned to the natives would be poetic justice. An end to generations of trauma and a symbol of injustice.
One fan summed it up nicely, saying the “best” ending involves John kicking the bucket. After he’s gone, Kayce, Beth, and Tate could sell the land back to the reservation and settle down on a much smaller slice of Yellowstone. This would free them from the weight of the land that’s been nothing but trouble, allowing them to ride off into the sunset, unburdened and ready for a fresh start.
The most controversial Yellowstone storyline may have hinted at how Sheridan plans to wrap up the series. Remember Monica’s decision to drive just before giving birth? While this choice may seem reckless, it’s likely a plot device used by Sheridan to ensure that Kayce and Monica don’t expand their family.
By having Monica put herself in such a precarious situation, it sets the stage for a narrative shift. With John Dutton’s death, the storyline hints that the land will pass to Tate, their son, who is half-Native American. This opens the door for Tate and his family to consider returning the land to the reservation.
While this might take away the enduring legacy, the Dutton ranch will actually be back to its rightful owners. And Beth, Kayce, and Tate will be able to move on with their lives, away from the troubles of the land that caused them years of suffering. Now, this may sound like a blow to the Dutton legacy, but honestly, that isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes, you have to cut your losses and let go of the past.
Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Mystery: Is the Cowboy Coming Back?
With more twists than a lasso at a rodeo, Yellowstone has fans scratching their heads and holding onto their hats as Kevin Costner drops hints that leave us all wondering.
Recently, during a chat with ET, he gushed about the show, calling it “a wonderful part of my life.” And while he didn’t promise a triumphant return to the ranch in Season 5B, he did leave us with a tantalizing tidbit:
Who knows, some things have a way of circling back. I haven’t seen that dust trail coming toward me, but I’ve always been open to what I started. Five seasons was a lot for us to do, and I think that story is not finished.
What could this mean for our favorite drama about ranching, family feuds, and questionable life choices? Although Costner is officially out for the next season, he hinted that the tale could ride on through the younger Duttons, suggesting:
Make the story about them.
Let’s not forget, this isn’t the first time Costner has left fans in a tizzy.
In short, while the future of Yellowstone remains unpredictable, Costner certainly knows how to keep us on our toes. Mark your calendars, Season 5’s second part is set to hit our screens on November 10, 2024.