“Yellowstone” followers are outraged over how the present dealt with Kevin Costner’s exit within the Season 5 Half 2 premiere.
Minutes into the episode, Costner’s John Dutton is discovered lifeless by a gunshot wound. It’s initially believed that he dedicated suicide.
Nevertheless, it’s later revealed that John was truly murdered in a plot orchestrated by lawyer Sarah Atwood (Daybreak Olivieri), who’s sleeping with Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley).
Whereas Costner confirmed his exit from the present earlier than the second half of Season 5, followers have been nonetheless shocked at how his beloved character went out.
Viewers slammed the Paramount Community cowboy sequence and creator Taylor Sheridan on social media for the stunning resolution.
“John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Completely undoes the series. I’m not a fan at all how #Yellowstone handled Costner’s departure,” one fan wrote on X (previously Twitter).
“If THAT’S how they decide to end a great character like John Dutton… THAT’S BULLS–T,” one other individual stated.
“Truly sad that John Dutton would be killed off of #YellowstoneTV by suicide. Kevin Costner IS #Yellowstone . Shame on you Taylor Sheridan. Boooooooo!!! He deserved better. And he should’ve been on this season. America can vote you out too!” another person wrote, earlier than the episode revealed how John Dutton truly died.
A distinct viewer stated, “Even thought we know KEVIN COSTNER wasn’t supposed to come back for the rest of #Yellowstone. The way to end his character was just dumbfounded and lazy. Could’ve been a better way or he just could’ve rode off into the sunset.”
“The fans of this show & Kevin Costner (John Dutton) deserved way better! Taylor Sheridan I don’t know if I’ll support another of your shows!!! #Yellowstone and ratings will suffer! The laziest writing,” one other fan complained.
Different viewers pointed blame at Costner, 69, for strolling away from the present in the midst of its remaining season.
“Kevin Costner ruined what should’ve been a perfect ending to this show and all for a failed 3 part sh-t movie,” somebody wrote, referring to Costner’s “Horizon” movie sequence that he’s now targeted on.
“Anybody who is surprised that John Dutton was killed off in the first episode of this final season of @Yellowstone hasn’t been paying attention,” one other fan wrote, including, “Kevin Costner was too into his other project to finish the Dutton story so Taylor Sheridan did what he had to. On to the next.”
Information broke in Might 2023 that Costner wouldn’t return to “Yellowstone” after Season 5 Half 1.
That very same month, it was introduced that the present would finish with Season 5, resulting in hypothesis that the present was ending partly as a result of Costner was leaving.
Sheridan, 54, indicated that Costner was selecting “Horizon” over “Yellowstone” — however Costner had a special story.
In Might 2024, the Oscar winner informed Deadline that “Yellowstone” had “first position” in his record of priorities. “I didn’t do ‘Horizon’ because I was tired of doing ‘Yellowstone.’ That’s a bulls – – t story. I didn’t do ‘Horizon’ to compete with ‘Yellowstone.’ This [project] is something I’ve had a long time,” he stated.
“I was straight up with [Taylor Sheridan], and he said what we would do, and I believed him,” stated Costner. “And we didn’t get there.”
Costner formally confirmed his exit from the present in June 2024.
“Thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, season five or into the future,” the “Hidden Figures” star stated in an Instagram video.
“I loved it and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning,” he shared.
A number of the forged reacted to Costner’s exit forward of the Season 5 Half 2 premiere.
“He’s such a big part of this show. I feel so lucky to have been able to work with him,” Bentley, 46, informed The Publish.
Luke Grimes, who performs Kayce Dutton, informed The Publish, “When you lose a presence that big…it carries that weight in the story, too. You know, he’s John Dutton. He’s the patriarch. He’s the movie star on our set… So, of course, when he goes away, that changes things.”
“But art imitates life and it’s going to feel that way in the story, too,” added Grimes, 40. “I think in return, you use that weight and make it something very compelling for the story.”
“Yellowstone” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on the Paramount Community.
