The captivating neo-western television series Yellowstone chronicles the tumultuous life of John Dutton, portrayed by Kevin Costner. The series took a turn and matured during its second season. It received praise from critics, more so than its predecessor. However, this was also the season that became an ordeal for the show’s leading man and its creator, Taylor Sheridan.
Rumors swirled through the whispering pines of Hollywood that Costner and Sheridan were in a heated feud. The Hollywood Reporter, in a rather intriguing feature, delved into this alleged discord. It turns out that the winds of contention were not as tempestuous as whispered. Costner, a deeply invested thespian, felt a growing concern regarding the trajectory of his character, John Dutton, in season two.
The character seemed to be steering away from the virtues and commitments that Costner believed were integral to Dutton’s persona – mainly, his unyielding devotion to family and his way of life. Notably, Dutton’s inability to adapt and evolve with the changing times was seen as a critical aspect of his character.
This dissonance led to a candid conversation between Costner and Sheridan. Dismissing the rumors of a feud, Sheridan recounted how he reminded Costner that Yellowstone was akin to The Godfather, but set on the sprawling Montana ranch. Costner’s concerns were taken into account, and season three saw a recalibration of John Dutton’s character arc.
Sheridan shared:
I never had that conversation with Kevin. There was a time in season two when he was very upset and said the character wasn’t going in the direction he wanted. I said, ‘Kevin, you do remember that I told you this is essentially The Godfather on the largest ranch in Montana? Are you that surprised that the Godfather is killing people?’ What he’s clung to is [Dutton’s] commitments to his family and way of life. Dutton’s big failing is not evolving with the times — not finding different revenue streams [for the ranch]. Kevin felt season two was deviating from that, and I don’t know that he was wrong. In season three, we steered back into it. And I recall him winning a Golden Globe last year for his performance, so I think it’s working.
The Stunning Resurgence of Yellowstone Season 3
As the sun set on season two, the dawn of season three brought forth a renaissance for Yellowstone. The season was critically acclaimed, even receiving a 100% approval rating in Rotten Tomatoes. The season finale left viewers gasping for breath as John Dutton was shot and left for dead.
The potent mix of a cliffhanger and well reception from critics drew the audience back into the fourth season of the series. It brought back an unprecedented number of viewers. The fourth season’s premiere gathered 12.7 million viewers, almost doubling the viewership of the third season. The season continued the momentum of the first episode up to its last. It became the highest-rated cable TV episode in five years. It even surpassed the mighty The Walking Dead.
As Yellowstone ambles into its fifth season, Kevin Costner takes a bow and makes his exit. Though season 5 was not able to match its predecessor in numbers, it remained a darling among the critics and fans.
New rumors are already swirling on the fifth season having a grand finale. With the plan of closing the book on the Dutton family and paving the way for the upcoming spinoff starring Matthew McConaughey.