Paramount Network’s Yellowstone has killed off yet another beloved character, the third character death in the show’s last four episodes.
The episode follows the shocking death of Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), who hired the company that killed Montana governor John Dutton (Kevin Costner).
While Sarah’s death was connected to John’s – since she hired the sinister company that made his death look like a suicide – this Sunday’s death was just a tragic accident.
Colby Mayfield (Denim Richards) – who has been on the show since the beginning – was tragically killed after getting kicked in the chest by a massive wild stallion that they had been trying to break for the past few episodes.
Fans took to social media en masse, stunned by the death, some even cursing series creator Taylor Sheridan for killing off a minor but beloved character.
The episode even began in quite the adorable way with Colby talking on the phone with his girlfriend Teeter (Jennifer Landon), who was in Texas at the 6666 Ranch.
They both admitted for the first time that they loved each other in the brief phone conversation before they both got back to work.
Over the past few episodes, there has been a wild stallion that Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) was trying to break, but it was so wild they didn’t know what to do with him.
Later in the episode, Carter (Finn Little) was cleaning out the stalls and noticed this wild horse spilled his water.
When the young Carter went to return his refilled water bucket, the horse knocked him down, when Colby heard his cries for help.
Colby told him to run out of the stall when he ran in, trying to distract the horse, but it ended up kicking Colby in his chest with his hind legs, and then started stomping on him with his front hooves.
Carter quickly ran to fetch a rifle and put down the horse, with the gunshot bringing Rip (Cole Hauser) and Lloyd to the barn, where they found Colby dead.
Fans did not hold back online, cursing at creator Taylor Sheridan for taking yet another beloved character away, right after he told Teeter that he loved her.
@fable88 said, ‘There was absolutely no reason to kill Colby to further the friggin plot. No reason at all. Taylor Sheridan is an a**hole. #YellowstoneTV
@BonnieT702 said, ‘F**! Everyone is being killed off!’ while @Ekitkat added, ‘Didn’t see that coming.
@mymelodymilktea said, ‘NOT COLBY TAKE ME INSTEAD. TAKE ME INSTEAD #Yellowstone. ‘I just wish he would have suffered a little longer so I could say goodbye’ BRO KILL ME NOW,’ quoting what Teeter said after learning about Colby’s death.
@BrAnDnY said, ‘I am devastated right now! What the actually hell Taylor Sheridan! #Yellowstone
@hueynewton00 said, ‘The only brutha & blk character on #YellowstoneTV and he’s dead, hate white television.’
@Fancyreba1 said, ‘Dang is everybody going to go off into the sunset ?? #YellowstoneTV.’
@Mike_in_Buffalo said, ‘What in the absolute f**k #YellowstoneTV?!?!? UNNECESSARY!!!!!! #ColbyAndTeeterForever
@RyClayson said, ‘Colby gave his life to save Carter. f**k spoilers. This sucks. #YellowstoneTV
@undeniable1936 said, ‘Naw… Yellowstone… That is messed up not the only black cowboy on the attire show Colby
@brandidawn38 said, ‘Crying every episode is not fun,’ while @lizzloppp added, ‘definitely didn’t see this one coming.’
@chermi_s said, ‘#YellowstoneTV broke my heart,’ while @shirlpaquette added, ‘i can’t watch it! closing my eyes!!! #YellowstoneTV.’
@StephyPooh82 said, ‘Not Colby,’ while @bohmsturtleneck added, ‘NOT COLBY #YellowstoneTV.’
@jojo_859 said, ‘Teeter gonna be devastated,’ while @DashingNunkA1 said, ‘Nah not Colby bro.’
@Cindy6648390697 said, ‘God Damn it!!!!!!!!!!! I’m pissed!!!,’ while @SainttWolf said, ‘Rest in peace Colby.’
Elsewhere in the episodes, fans finally learned the identity of the man the late Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) met with to have John Dutton (Kevin Costner) killed.
After mining his military contacts, Kayce Dutton found out the man was named Grant Horton (Matt Gerald), and tracked him down, threatening to kill his young daughter after her soccer match.
Kayce made it clear that if anyone in his family was harmed, he would kill Grant’s entire family, as he left the man and his young daughter both terrified, with Grant insisting he won’t come after the Dutton clan.
Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) also acted strangely when being interviewed by police detectives about Sarah’s death, and he’s now being treated as a suspect.
With just two episodes left, it remains to be seen how many in the Dutton clan will be standing when the series comes to a close in just two short weeks.
The penultimate episode of Yellowstone airs Sunday, December 8 with the finale airing Sunday, December 15 on Paramount Network.