CBS will pay off a vital part ofYellowstoneseason 5’s ending, setting up a spinoff for Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), John Dutton III’s (Kevin Costner) prodigal son. WhileKevin Costner’sYellowstoneexit as John Duttonriddled the series’ final chapter with disputes, there were stillthings thatYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 got right. One of the season’s best parts was the way that John Dutton’s children, Kayce and Beth (Kelly Reilly), stepped up to protect and maintain his way of life after the governor of Montana was assassinated in his home.
WhileYellowstoneseason 5 ended with Kayce selling theYellowstone Dutton Ranchto Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and the Broken Rock Tribe, his story wasn’t over, so I’m relieved to see it continue. Amid the events of season 5, a casting deal broke the news that Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser would repriseBeth and Rip in aYellowstonespinoff, confirming the story would move forward for at least one of John’s kids. However,Kayce Dutton will also have aYellowstonespinoff on CBS, which takes full advantage of his story potential and fulfills something I predicted in season 5.
Yellowstone’s Ending Set Up A Kayce Spinoff & I’m Relieved It’s Actually Happening
Kayce Dutton Will Have A Broadcast TV Spinoff
Amid the events ofYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, I firmly believedYellowstonescreenwriterTaylor Sheridan set up two independentYellowstonecontinuations: one for Beth and one for Kayce. This clicked for me while watchingYellowstoneseason 5, episode 10, “The Apocalypse of Change.” The chapter was muddled with flashbacks to before John’s death. While the divisive flashbacks turned many fans off, I actually liked seeing Kayce and Beth settle into their individual lives a bit, and I distinctly remember thinking that John’s children would both star in their own shows.
I saw the divisive flashbacks as a lens forward into Yellowstone’s future rather than a confusing reference to its past.
“The Apocalypse of Change,” flashbacks show Kayce, Tate (Brecken Merrill), and Monica (Kelsey Asbille) checking out East Camp. While it could have just been setting up his epilogue,I could see Sheridan spinning the wheels of Kayce’s continuationin the development.Yellowstoneseason 5, part 2got a lot of flak, and its confusing flashbacks were a significant part of that. While I understood the frustration, I saw the divisive flashbacks as a lens forward intoYellowstone’s future rather than a confusing reference to its past. I’m relieved it’s happening, because Kayce will be great in his show.
Kayce Being In Beth & Rip’s Spinoff (Or Another Yellowstone Show) Wouldn’t Have Worked
Beth, Rip, And Kayce Deserve Their Spotlight
It would have been simple enough to include Kayce in Beth and Rip’sYellowstonespinoff, but it wouldn’t have worked. Beth and Rip’s continuation is an exciting prospect, with a rich tapestry of backstory and material to draw from. Including Grimes’ Kayce in the mix could have distracted from the story, not allowing it to lean into theYellowstonepower coupleas its main characters.Kayce was John’s youngest son and a far cry from a supporting characterinYellowstone’s ensemble cast. It would have been unthinkable to delegate Kayce to the background as Beth and Rip took the spotlight.
Forget Kevin Costner’s Replacement, Beth & Rip’s Yellowstone Spinoff Already Has John Dutton’s Best Successor
John Dutton III’s best successor exists in Yellowstone, and he’s arguably better than a replacement since it’s impossible to replace Kevin Costner.
Especially after the events ofYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, Kayce deserves to be a main character. John’s son rose to the challenge of protecting his legacy, despite selling the family’s heirloom ranch. InYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11, “Three Fifty-Three,” Kayce uses his background as a Navy SEAL to prove John Dutton could have been assassinated, successfully getting his death investigation reopened as a homicide. Since Kayce’sYellowstonespinoff will be formatted as a procedural for CBS, the show might lean into Kayce’s background in the teams, leaning into his military experience, asYellowstoneseason 5 did.
Yellowstone
Yellowstoneis a neo-Western drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, centered on the Dutton family and their fight to protect the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch from various adversaries, including land developers and nearby reservations. Premiering in 2018 on Paramount Network, the show has been praised for its depiction of power struggles, family loyalty, and rural conflicts. It has expanded into a franchise with spin-offs such as1883and1923, and an upcoming sequel series is in development.
