Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone may be one fan-favorite show but it is not devoid of spoilers. Fans have often pointed out a few spoilers in the series but the Western show almost manages to make viewers forget about them. One of the major plotholes that fans have discussed over and over again was related to Wes Bentley’s character Jamie Dutton.
As Yellowstone fans know, Jamie Dutton is the adopted lawyer son of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. Fans have always wondered why Jamie hasn’t received the Yellowstone brand in the series until now. Kayce Dutton was forced to wear the brand as a punishment for defying his father, but fans point out that Jamie too has disobeyed the Dutton patriarch numerous times.
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Needs To Explain Why Jamie Dutton Has No Brand On Him
Yellowstone brand is bore in secret by ranch hands (with mostly criminal backgrounds) to prove their loyalty to the Dutton Ranch. While the origin of the ritual of branding is not shown in the series, fans know for a fact that characters like Cole Hauser‘s Rip Wheeler, Jefferson White’s Jimmy Hurdstrom, and Luke Grimes’ Kayce Dutton have the mark burned into their chest.
However, fans wonder why one Yellowstone character was never branded with the hooked Y on his chest. Reddit user, u/Dannyjr30, posed the question in the subreddit, r/YellowstonePN, asking why Jamie Dutton was never branded in the series. The fan explained that Kayce Dutton was branded because he disobeyed John but Wes Bentley‘s character did the same multiple times.
As for the criminal background, both Kayce and Jamie have been involved in shady businesses, with both committing brutal murders. However, Jamie’s lack of the brand insignia almost becomes a big pothole in Taylor Sheridan‘s story. One user, u/bryanwreed89, shared, “It’s just a failure of plot”. However, other Yellowstone fans disagree.
One fan, u/Electrical-Bird3059, shared that even though Jamie’s character has killed in the show, “John never intended that life for him”. Another fan, u/IHaveALittleNeck, doubted whether “John has ever thought of Jamie as truly inner circle”. They speculated that John wanted to have the option to evict him at some point.
The branding gives John absolute control over his ranch worker, who forms a militaristic loyalty towards their boss. Kevin Costner‘s character practically owns their life and the ranch does whatever it takes to protect their own. While it is not explicitly shown in the series, it is largely believed that John Dutton also bore the Y symbol on his chest.
Who Has The Yellowstone Branding In Taylor Sheridan’s Series?
Luke Grimes‘ character was branded in the series because John wanted to send his son a message. When he and Monica became pregnant with Tate, John wanted his son to talk to Monica and abort their child. Kayce refused to do so, thus indulging in an act of disobedience. Cole Houser’s Rip was branded when he was a teenager as shown in the latest season of Yellowstone.
Rip was responsible for the death of another ranch hand who spoke ill of Beth Dutton. The Yellowstone brand gave him protection and he has since been a loyal employee to the Dutton family. Jimmy Hurdstrom, Lloyd Pierce, and Walker were other characters who were branded throughout the series. After the finale of Yellowstone Season 3, five ranch hands—Ryan, Colby, Ethan, Jake, and Teeter—earn their brands.
There was also an instance where the brand was removed from a character. Wade Morrow was a former ranch hand who betrayed the Duttons and started working for the antagonist Roarke Morris. When Rip kills him, he instructs Walker to cut the symbol off his chest.