Warning! Spoilers for the Yellowstone finale
Yellowstone director and executive producer Christina Voros addresses how Kevin Costner’s exit impacted the show’s ending. After an extended hiatus, Taylor Sheridan’s flagship Neo-Western hit returned for itsfinal episodes without its main lead — John Dutton III. Due to several reasons,Kevin Costner leftYellowstonebefore its wrap-up, forcing the show to craft an ending that didn’t feature its primary character. While it definitely posed some challenges, Sheridan’s long-term plan for the show helped him end his project the best he could, considering the circumstances. Instead, its focus shifted toward his kids, Beth, Kayce, and even Jamie.
In an interview withTV Insider, Voros reveals thatYellowstone’s ending was decided for a while— long before Costner’s exit. That said, some specifics of how the finale was understandably changed after they lost John Dutton III. She also urges fans to go back and revisit not just the flagship series, but also its prequels for clues on the land’s fate. Read her full quote below:
The “what” of the end of the season was always planned. The “how” may have needed to be adjusted. Taylor has always known what the ending of this legacy was. I don’t know how Kevin’s departure shifted or truncated that, you would have to talk to Taylor about the specifics there. But I know that Taylor always saw where this was going. It’s clear from the way that — if you really study 1883 and 1923 — there are clues about the generational legacy and the destiny of the land. If you really want to get in there with your magnifying glass, you could find clear proof that this is not a casual conclusion. This is something that was always part of a bigger arc of telling the story of the legacy of the Dutton family.
Why Yellowstone’s Finale Is The Only Ending Possible After John’s Death
John’s Death Left His Kids With No Choice
For context,YellowstoneendedwithKayce practically giving away the Dutton ranch back to the Broken Rock Reservation. It was a manifestation of the prophecy from1883, which claimed that the property would revert to its original owners after seven generations. Before that, Beth had been racking her brains on how to save the ranch as best as she could, considering that they couldn’t possibly pay for the inheritance tax. The problem originated from her father’s death, who was also the Governor of Montana at that point, meaning he had the power and reach to keep his family’s land intact.
Jamie’s Yellowstone Final Fate Is So Bad, It’s Insulting To Wes Bentley
Yellowstone ends with a definitive send-off to Jamie Dutton, but after five seasons, it’s a less than satisfying way as a swan song for the character.
ThroughoutYellowstone, John was presented with various issues that would have changed the ownership of the property. However, even when Beth explained to him that making some compromises would be the best way to secure its legacy, theDutton familypatriarch would vehemently turn down the idea. With him gone, not only did he leave his kids without any choice but to make the difficult decision, it also freed them up from the burden of continuously fighting for the land. At the very least,being with the Reservation would keep it in its current state, which was John’s dream.
Our Take On How Yellowstone Ended
The Fate Of The Ranch Made Sense
Yellowstone’s ending is a great way to reinforce the importance of the franchise’s prequels. Seeing the Reservation get the land back was emotional for several reasons, especially when it essentially guaranteed that the property would never be touched by corporate greed. That being said,other aspects ofYellowstone’s ending could use some more work, especially with regard to how Jamie’s arc was wrapped up. Overall, it was underwhelming, considering that he only appeared in a handful of scenes. Even his final showdown with Beth felt rushed and anti-climactic, given how long Sheridan had been teasing them face to face.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on July 07, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
