WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 9!
Despite Yellowstone’s status as a powerhouse franchise, with the main series at its core, the show is sadly set to conclude with its fifth season. Though there are rumors Paramount might continue it in some way, the series is ending on a less-than-glorious note, as its central character, Kevin Costner's John Dutton, will not appear in the final episodes. This situation arose for multiple reasons, including creative disagreements and scheduling conflicts, making it necessary to leave out Costner’s version of John Dutton (flashbacks have consistently featured another actor as the “Godfather of the Wild West”). So, how did the latest episode handle his absence? Rather unimaginatively—though with enough drama and heartache to underscore it.
Even though we warned readers at the start, here’s another reminder: spoilers lie ahead! Episode 9 of Yellowstone’s fifth season has already aired in the U.S. (TV, Paramount+), so we know what happened. The episode opens with the worst-case scenario that Jamie and Sarah had discussed: removing John from office as governor. Someone has killed Costner’s antihero character, brutally smashing in his head.
Naturally, the scene is filmed in a way that reveals only parts of the body, with the series dropping hints about what happened. Viewers join Beth and Kayce in piecing together clues that Montana’s governor and the Dutton family patriarch is no longer alive. Suspicion starts to arise, from both family members and the media, as John fails to appear at the opening session of his impeachment trial. When Beth and Kayce try to reach him, they’re stopped by officers at what has clearly become a crime scene. From the police presence, crime scene tape, forensic teams, and so on, they quickly deduce that their father has died.
Meanwhile, Jamie waits tensely in his office, evidently anticipating an update—which he receives, though cryptically, in a mysterious phone call. Afterward, he plays the part of the grieving son and politician, going so far as to hold a press conference where he announces that Montana’s governor is dead, implying that it was likely suicide. This enrages Beth, who becomes distraught upon hearing Jamie’s statement on the radio. In her view, Jamie didn’t just have John Dutton killed; by framing it as a suicide, he has destroyed everything their father stood for.
