Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western series Yellowstone is a streaming hit, known for its gripping narrative and life-or-death stakes, and there has been no character that has danced with death as many times as Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille). Introduced in the very first episode, Monica Dutton is a Native American teacher-turned-professor married to Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), the son of series protagonist and ranch owner John Dutton (Kevin Costner). Yellowstone centers around the titular Dutton family ranch and all its conflicts, whether from the inside, the bordering Broken Rock Indian Reservation, or opportunistic developers.
Yellowstone is not afraid to kill off major characters, as the pilot saw the death of Lee (Dave Annable), the eldest of John Dutton’s children. And with Costner leaving the show in season 5, it’s heavily speculated that John Dutton will die before the end of Yellowstone. While all characters have experienced loss, death has surrounded Monica in particular, as her brother Robert (Jeremiah Bitsui) and her sister-in-law Samantha (MorningStar Angeline) both passed in the first few episodes. Monica herself has had several near-death experiences, but she’s survived Yellowstone thus far.
Monica Suffers A Brain Injury In Season 1
In Yellowstone season 1, Monica is inflicted with a serious head injury after attempting to break up a fight between two boys at the school where she teaches. While recovering at home, she suddenly passes out and is rushed to the hospital, where she discovers that she has suffered an epidural hematoma. Monica undergoes surgery and attends physical therapy to start the healing process. But during that process, Monica and Kayce’s marriage worsened as she views the Dutton family’s way of life as dangerous and a huge threat to herself and their son, Tate (Brecken Merrill). The strong Yellowstone couple gets past these issues, but like Monica’s healing, it’s a process.
Monica Is Attacked In A Home Invasion In Season 4
Monica’s life is once again on the line in Yellowstone season 4, in which she and Tate are attacked by a masked home invader, who injures Monica. Right before the masked intruder is about to kill her, Tate quickly pulls out a rifle and kills the attacker, saving his mother’s life. Monica and Tate then quickly hide in the family bunkhouse where they remain until Kayce rushes back to make sure that they’re safe, ensuring them that everything will be alright. However, Tate is understandably left traumatized.
Monica Is In A Car Accident In Season 5
In Yellowstone season 5, Monica is pregnant with her and Kayce’s second child, and when she experiences severe cramps while Kayce is away, she starts driving herself and Tate to the hospital. However, because Monica is going so fast on a dark country road, she veers into the lane of an oncoming truck, swerving to avoid him and crashing into a buffalo who’s in the middle of the road. While Monica ends up surviving the car crash, her unborn son does not, and she and her family are devastated.
These near-death encounters have showcased Monica’s strength, as she’s a survivor in every sense of the word. At the same time though, one thing particularly frustrating about Monica’s character arc is that a lot of her stories simply involve her suffering, and it would be a welcome change if Sheridan gave her more to do aside from simply being a victim of death and violence. Hopefully, this change will come to fruition in the upcoming Yellowstone season 5 part 2.