Spoiler Alert for Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, “Life Is A Promise.”If Taylor Sheridan undid the youngest sixth-generation Dutton’s Yellowstone ending, it wouldn’t serve Kayce’s story or the epic saga. In the Yellowstone season 5 finale, Kayce enacted his plan to sell the Dutton family’s land to the Broken Rock Tribe. As Kayce finalized the land deal with Thomas Rainwater and Mo Brings Plenty, Kayce proclaimed he was free. Kayce’s freedom in Yellowstone was an exoneration for the character, who finally escaped the dangerous legacy the Dutton family had died protecting. While the Yellowstone screenwriter could undo Kayce’s ending to continue Yellowstone, I sincerely hope he doesn’t.

During the outing, the Yellowstone season 5 finale had a great ending for many characters, including Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, who moved onto a ranch in Dillon, Montana. The couple’s story will continue in Beth and Rip’s Yellowstone spinoff, but this sequel may complicate Kayce’s happy ending. If Kayce’s story continues, whether in Yellowstone season 6 or another offshoot of the flagship series, it could be tempting to muddle Kayce’s freedom, roping him back into the drama of his family’s land and the fight that comes with maintaining it.

Yellowstone Season 5 Wasn’t Perfect, But I Thought Kayce’s Ending Was Great
Kayce Dutton Earned His Freedom
Kayce cries in a close up in the Yellowstone season finale
While many found fault with the conclusion of Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, Kayce’s ending was a great story that tied Sheridan’s Yellowstone series to its prequels. A long list of deaths amassed protecting the Dutton Ranch marks the family tree with tragedy, but Kayce broke the curse by selling the land to Thomas Rainwater and the Broken Rock Tribe. The decision freed Kayce from defending his family’s legacy and followed through with his ancestor James Dutton’s promise that the Dutton family would return the land to Montana’s Indigenous people in seven generations.

Sheridan prophesied Yellowstone’s ending in 1883.

It looked like Yellowstone foreshadowed Kayce’s death as he talked to Tate in the family graveyard. However, Kayce’s stepping away from the ranch freed him from the cycle of death that plagued the Dutton family. Kayce’s family had perished guarding their land for generations, including Lee Dutton’s death in the Yellowstone premiere. With a background of studying American Indian representations in the media, I found Kayce’s decision to restore the land to its Indigenous stewards refreshing because it’s an ending that Hollywood rarely gives us. While yes, we saw it coming, that was the point. Sheridan prophesied Yellowstone’s ending in 1883.

Why I Have Slight Concerns Yellowstone Could Undo Kayce’s Ending
Yellowstone Stories Need Conflict
Mo Brings Plenty as Mo on horseback in Yellowstone season 5 episode 14
However, there are a few ways Kayce’s story could continue after Yellowstone season 5’s ending, at least within the current landscape. If Beth and Rip’s spinoff is forced to become Yellowstone season 6 because of potential legal battles, then Kayce could rejoin his sister in continuing the flagship story. Alternatively, Kayce’s story could continue alongside Thomas Rainwater and Mo Brings Plenty, either in a Yellowstone season 6 that doesn’t involve Beth and Rip or in an offshoot of Yellowstone focused on the Broken Rock Tribe. Regardless of how his story continues, Kayce’s reemerging in Yellowstone could limit his newfound freedom.

Yellowstone could undo Kayce’s ending by having someone disrupt Kayce and the Broken Rock Tribe’s land deal, roping Kayce and Beth back into their family’s fight for the ranch.

One way to continue Kayce’s story alongside Beth and Rip requires the siblings to get thrust back into the Dutton family conflict. Likewise, if his story continues alongside the Broken Rock Tribe, Kayce could be put back in the line of fire over the land. Regardless, Kayce’s continuing story means he will likely be entangled in danger again, and I’m concerned that would undo his ending. At least if Kayce puts himself in danger for the sake of the people who now own the land, he will be fighting for something he fully believes in.

Beth & Rip’s Spinoff Could Include Kayce Without Hurting His Ending
Kayce Could Have A Minor Role In The Yellowstone Spinoff
Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone, looking into each others’ eyes.
One way to preserve Kayce’s ending is to feature him in Beth and Rip’s Yellowstone spinoff, with the characters focused on motivations outside their family’s old battles. This setup would enable Kayce to be featured in Beth and Rip’s story and even embroiled in a new conflict without relinquishing his freedom. Kayce’s freedom doesn’t mean that he’s free from harm. It means he’s free from risking his life for his family’s land. For Kayce’s story to continue satisfyingly, any fight he engages in must speak to his newfound sense of peace and steer clear of rehashing fleshed-out range wars.

Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton standing on the porch in Yellowstone season 5 episode 14
Related

Beth & Rip’s Spinoff Needs To Avoid Being Yellowstone Season 6, And Just Not Because Of Potential Legal Problems
Yellowstone’s latest spinoff with Beth and Rip must avoid being season 6 of Taylor Sheridan’s flagship, not because of the anticipated legal battle.

The best-case scenario could be for Kayce to feature in Beth and Rip’s spinoff rather than any other continuation since a limited role would allow Kayce Dutton’s story to continue without changing his status quo. Therefore, one possible storyline is that Kayce isn’t a frequent player in Beth and Rip’s story since Dillon, Montana, where Beth and Rip bought their ranch, is far from East Camp. Kayce’s season 5 ending was a cathartic closing for many fans, so Taylor Sheridan, please don’t undo the Yellowstone finale. The worst-case scenario would be Kayce finding himself entangled in his family’s played-out drama.

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Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner and centers on his character John Dutton. Dutton and his family live on a cattle ranch just a few hours away from Yellowstone National Park. The series chronicles the family’s struggle to defend their home from an Indian reservation and land developers. As if their life wasn’t complicated enough, the Duttons also have medical issues, political aspirations, and family secrets stacked against them.

Cast
Kevin Costner , Finn Little , Brecken Merrill , Gil Birmingham , Denim Richards , Ian Bohen , Danny Huston , Kelly Reilly , Forrie J. Smith , Cole Hauser , Kelsey Asbille , Wes Bentley , Jefferson White , Luke Grimes , Ryan Bingham

Release Date
June 20, 2018

Franchise(s)
Yellowstone

Network
Paramount

Creator(s)
Taylor Sheridan , John Linson

Seasons
5

Showrunner
Taylor Sheridan
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