However you slice it, the Duttons are screwed.
Yellowstone has been a roaring success since season one. The new-age western revived the genre by introducing audiences to the Duttons, a tough and determined bunch that has since refused to submit possession of their land.
Of course, this persistence has contributed to a wide range of conflicts. Accordingly, it has forecasted much doubt and skepticism regarding the future of the Duttons. The creator of Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan, has never been afraid to take the TV show through unexpected twists and turns.
For this reason, most fans anticipated that season five, part 2 of Yellowstone will be a wild ride. The final episodes in the original Yellowstone series begin this November, leading many to predict how Yellowstone will finish. Here are some of the most interesting theories:
1. John Dutton meets his demise
Look, Kevin Costner hasn’t exactly helped his case with his ongoing conflicts with Sheridan. It has caused part 2 of season five to get stalled by months and, now, Costner is reportedly demanding that he have creative control over how Dutton is removed from the show.
Costner may get his wish, but that doesn’t mean that John will leave Yellowstone with his head held high. The Academy Award-winning actor may be attempting to rescue the character from getting brutally killed off his own show, but that doesn’t change the fact that his destiny has been pre-written.
For years (and many seasons) Yellowstone fans have theorized that John Dutton will die before the end of Yellowstone. And, that only seems more plausible given the recent beef between Sheridan and Costner. After all, Sheridan controls the pen (and the eventual direction of the TV show).
2. John Dutton rots in prison
The other likely outcome for John Dutton is that justice is served and he finally does time for the multiple crimes he’s committed over the seasons of Yellowstone. John has orchestrated murders and had his henchman, Rip Wheeler, commit whatever other crimes were necessary to preserve the land.
Now, he may finally pay for those misdeeds. If Sheridan decides not to kill John off the show (or Costner has control over that destiny), it makes sense that Dutton endures some other sad demise for his transgressions. Currently, Jamie is pursuing legal action to remove John from public office.
3. Kayce Dutton suffers an unspeakable tragedy
Kayce and his family have endured quite a bit of pain and suffering. Kayce has not only been pushed aside because of his commitment to his wife, Monica but has also suffered the loss of his second child. Sadly, this misery seems to cling to Kayce, who foresaw as much in a vision depicted in season four of Yellowstone.
During the episode, Kayce takes peyote as part of a ritual with takes him through a mind-altering experience. The message is loosely interpreted, however, once Kayce snaps out of the vision he’s asked by his wife what he witnessed. “The end of us,” is what he replies, foreshadowing more misery for Kayce and Monica in the future.
4. Tate Dutton may inherit the land if all else fails
It’s probably not the sexiest outcome yet there have been hints over the years that the Yellowstone Ranch will end up in the possession of young Tate Dutton. The only son (and only biological grandchild of John Dutton) has a valid claim to the property based on his rank within the family.
Thus, despite the sad trajectory for Kayce and/or Monica, Tate may actually benefit from the demise of other characters in the family. For example, Beth and Jamie being at each other’s throats is not necessarily a bad thing for Tate. If Sheridan was to go with a happier ending, this is it.
5. The future is bright (or dire) for Jamie Dutton, depending on the situation
Depending on personal opinion, the future is either highly optimistic or extremely bleak for Jamie Dutton. The mid-season finale left off with Jamie conniving to end John and Beth, but also with Beth threatening to finish Jamie. Consequently, the outcome of Jamie could be very good, or very bad, depending on the situation.
For now, the future looks bright for Jamie since he currently has the upper hand on his adopted father, and is the most deserving of all the children to inherit the land. However, Rip Wheeler may have something to say about that.