The best theory about how John Dutton II (Kevin Costner) will be written out of things that must happen in Yellowstone season 5 to settle this conflict, especially since John's days are numbered.

John has survived cancer and attempts on his life, continuing to rise in prominence despite the attacks against him. However, Yellowstone returns for season 6, which is rumored but not officially confirmed.

Yellowstone's Best Explanation For Kevin Costner's Disappearance Is John Dutton III Dying

There Is No Legitimate Reason For Him To Leave His Ranch If He Is Alive

John Dutton would only abandon his ranch and family if he was no longer alive to fight for them. Any other reason for his disappearance would ruin his character and be difficult to believe, as he is not the kind of person who quits and runs away for no reason. Throughout Yellowstone, he has looked down on people he considers cowards, so there would be little reason for him to engage in that type of behavior. He's always fought to the death for his ranch and for the family he considers loyal enough to bother with.

Related
Kevin Costner's Yellowstone Season 5 Exit Isn't That Bad Thanks To One Harsh Reality About John Dutton

Kevin Costner has been the star of Yellowstone for five years, but the modern Western could easily continue even after he is written out.

8

Writing a death scene for John Dutton would be a lot easier than trying to explain his absence a different way. He already had a cancer scare at the end of Yellowstone season 1, which ultimately turned out to be a perforated ulcer in season 2. If his cancer did return, however, it wouldn't be surprising if he left to die alone, on his own . An explanation like this would make more sense than the alternative, especially since he wouldn't want to put his family through additional grief.

Costner's John Dying Solidifies Beth Winning The Feud Against Jamie In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2

Beth's Rage Will Be Uncontrollable If She Learns Of John's Death

Beth and Jamie arguing in Yellowstone

It would be an understatement to say that Beth and Jamie have never gotten along. Their feud, which stems from Beth being blamed for her mother's death when they were children, has sometimes gotten violent. However, John was able to intervene and mitigate the worst of it. He had no great love for Jamie, whom he used for his legal expertise more than he treated him like a son. But he knew that all-out war between the siblings would ruin their ability to hold onto the ranch, so he was willing to step in when things crossed a line.

The reveal that Jamie was adopted explained John's disinterest in him.

John's absence would lead to the very war between siblings that he'd been trying to prevent, with the Duttons taking sides. Beth would likely win that war, and John's death could make her determination to destroy Jamie even stronger. Beth was close to John and could not bear the thought of him dying in Yellowstone season 1. If this does happen, it's likely she will act out of pure rage and grief. Without her father there to reign her in, she would likely be so enraged that even Rip wouldn't be able to get through to her.

How Yellowstone's Unofficial Future Further Backs Up This Beth Theory

Rip And Beth Would Return If Yellowstone Were To Continue

Rip Wheeler holding Beth Dutton in the Yellowstone season 5 trailer

Yellowstone was originally set to end after season 5, and Costner's exit from the series seemed to solidify those plans. When the series' end was announced, there was speculation that Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Ha) would return in a spinoff show. However, more recently, there has been some talk of them coming back for Yellowstone season 6. Reilly even said she would return if Taylor Sheridan was willing to continue writing and producing the series (via Entertainment Weekly).

Beth and Jamie could very well fight to the death, which would set up an intriguing premise for Yellowstone season 6. There could be an all-out war between the siblings over who gets the ranch, and Beth would likely find a way to win it. This development reinforces the theory that she focuses her rage on Jamie after John's death, suggesting it's the reason for his disappearance. All the pieces fit together well, so now Yellowstone just needs to confirm whether it's going in this direction.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Yellowstone Poster

Your Rating

Yellowstone
Release Date
2018 - 2024-00-00
Network
Paramount
Showrunner
Taylor Sheridan

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

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.

Franchise(s)
Yellowstone
Seasons
5
Streaming Service(s)
Peacock