Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in “Yellowstone” | Source: YouTube.com/yellowstone
A seemingly unimportant character and a protagonist’s unclear fate—these moments captured the attention of social media users in the latest season of “Yellowstone.”
The tenth episode of “Yellowstone” Season 5 ignited intense emotions among fans, who clashed over character developments—particularly the fate of John Dutton III, played by Kevin Costner—and the show’s evolving narrative.
A netizen’s comment on “Yellowstone” season 5, episode 10, posted on November 17, 2024 | Source: Facebook.com/yellowstoneparamount
Speculation about John’s potential demise left many viewers shocked and heartbroken. On Instagram, one fan
expressed
,
“I’m sorry but killing off kevin Costner sucked [sic]!”
Another
echoed
the sentiment,
“I agree. I cried. Not the way I wanted him to go.”
However, confusion over
John’s status lingered
, as some fans debated whether he had truly been killed off.
A netizen’s reaction to “Yellowstone” season 5, episode 10, posted on November 17, 2024 | Source: Facebook.com/yellowstoneparamount
While Costner’s fate dominated the conversation, criticism also focused on Piper Perabo’s portrayal of
Summer Higgins
in the
drama series
.
“I was hoping Summer would fade away. Her character annoys the heck outta me [sic],” a
user
commented
.
Another
questioned
,
“Why is summer [sic] still here? Can’t stand her. Don’t trust her either, she’s worming her way in for something.” Others
speculated
about Summer’s future in the plot, “Watch Summer be pregnant.”
Summer Higgins appears on Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, posted on November 16, 2024 | Source: Instagram.com/yellowstone
Someone else
remarked
,
“Ugh…Summer most useless character…like the actress but character should have been written off. Maybe if she’s pregnant with John’s baby and Beth can raise it. 🤷🏻♀️Hopefully it’s a good episode and not just fluff. #revengeoftheduttons [sic].”
More viewers also expressed frustration with the show’s narrative structure. On Facebook, a user
pointed out
that the new season is
“awful,”
while another
criticized
the heavy reliance on flashbacks and time jumps, which some felt disrupted the flow of the story and detracted from the overall narrative coherence.
A netizen’s remark on “Yellowstone” season 5, episode 10, posted on November 17, 2024 | Source: Facebook.com/yellowstoneparamount
On Reddit, users criticized the pacing and cohesion of the episode. Some
suggested
it would have been better as a three-hour movie to wrap up the story, noting that the time shifts were disorienting but describing the rattlesnake infestation scene as “hilarious.”
Another
described
the episode as
“a disjointed mess,”
saying it felt more like a promotional piece than a coherent storyline. They also questioned why no plans were being made for the governor’s funeral.
While fans remain divided over Summer’s role in the drama, the actress shared her thoughts on the character’s development and her experience on the show.
In a January 2023 interview with Variety, Perabo shared her confidence in show creator Taylor Sheridan’s ability to craft complex and layered characters. “I know Taylor loves a fighter, a complicated fighter. That’s what he writes about over and over and over again. she
said
.
Taylor Sheridan attends the “Yellowstone” panel at the TCA Winter Press Tour in Los Angeles on January 15, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
She added that developing a supporting role like Summer’s requires patience and trust. “I think if I hadn’t known Taylor Sheridan, it would have been a different story, but I know him pretty well, so I can walk into moving traffic for him,” she
added
.
Piper Perabo attends the “Yellowstone” SAG Panel at the Paley Center in New York City on January 4, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
The TV star also discussed a scene in which Summer shares a lighthearted moment with John at a fair. For John, who is constantly burdened with saving his family, ranch, and Montana, such moments of peace are rare. “This guy is constantly on the offense, he’s got enemies coming in from all sides,” Perabo
observed
.
Perabo
described
the scene as “nostalgic” and dreamlike, a rare moment of calm in the show’s intense world. For the actress, it was a meaningful departure from the usual tension.
“Mostly what I was thinking about was like making sure of holding the tone of ‘Yellowstone,’ but also holding this special moment because you know the other shoe’s going to drop in one second,” she
explained
.
Piper Perabo speaks at the “Yellowstone” panel during the Deadline Contenders event in Los Angeles on April 16, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Before the eleventh episode sparked mixed reactions among viewers, some had already decided to
skip the show’s new season
.
On June 20, the show’s official Instagram account posted a
video teasing the arrival
of the second half of the show’s fifth season. While their post had all the perfect elements for building up anticipation among viewers, with its ominous voice-over and striking visuals, netizens didn’t agree with a certain change that affected the cast.
User comment about the new season of “Yellowstone,” posted on June 20, 2024 | Source: Instagram/yellowstone
Using the show’s signature “Y” emblem that was enveloped by bright orange flames, the Instagram video
alerted
fans that “the epic return of Yellowstone” would air on Paramount Network this month.
“Save the date: November 10. #YellowstoneTV,”
captioned
the account. In contrast to the teaser’s excited vibe and tone, online viewers came forward to express their grievances with the show’s return.
Many fans have expressed disappointment over Costner’s absence from the series. Some viewers widely
expressed
that the show won’t be the same, with some sharing their sadness over his departure.
Another
questioned
the value of continuing the series without Costner, while another
criticized
the show’s creator, stating that the series lacks purpose without the actor’s presence.
Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner at the premiere of “Yellowstone” in Hollywood, California on June 11, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Many viewers believe that Costner’s absence has significantly impacted the show’s appeal. One fan
declared
they would no longer watch the series without him, while another
shared
that the show feels incomplete without Costner.
“Dead to me. No Kevin = not watching. So what if he has a passion for doing another show? A starring actor can make that balance. But greed is king for Sheridan,”
opined
another user who was up in arms over the situation.
Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan at the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, California on January 15, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
On the other hand, some people were elated to hear of the show’s return, with or without Costner’s presence. They
expressed excitement
for the continuation of the storyline, particularly highlighting characters like Beth and Rip as capable of keeping the drama engaging.
Others
shared
their anticipation enthusiastically, eager to see what the new season would bring.
A day after the new season teaser came out, Costner took to Instagram to confirm that he would not be making a return to
the series
.
Costner
began
, “Hi, everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on ‘Horizon’ and doing all the things that’s required, and 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 b or into the future.”
He highlighted how much “Yellowstone” had changed him as a person and reiterated his deep adoration for the series. “I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies,”
concluded
the star.
Shortly after sharing his post, Costner sat down for an interview with USA Today, where he
contextualized his video
. At the time, the Hollywood talent was on an extended media tour promoting his then-new Western film series “Horizon.”
“Simply with all the questions that were being asked (about ‘Yellowstone’), the longer I thought about that … I just wanted to say that this is a stepping-off point,”
explained
Costner.
He then
added
, “Whatever I’d hoped for maybe was not in the cards. I don’t want to keep saying, ‘Yeah, I hope I can do it.’ That’s drifted to a place that I don’t think is realistic anymore.”
In the same interview, Costner also clarified that there was nothing specific that had been done by Sheridan or Paramount Studios that led to him making the video. Instead, his post was meant to signify that he was done holding out optimism for his return that wasn’t there.
Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner. | Source: Getty Images
“I just wanted to get that done. I’m not a machine trying to figure this out. But I’m not a person that leaves people high and dry,”
disclosed
Costner.
Since 2018, Costner has been a staple on
the show
that follows the lives of a ranching family in Montana, who have frequent face-offs with people encroaching on their land.
His beloved portrayal
as the owner of one of the biggest cattle ranches in the U.S. and the patriarch of the Dutton family has been revered by many. Costner’s role has also been spoken about by his fellow cast mates, one of whom addressed
the actor’s exit
from the show.
Famous actor
Luke Grimes
, who plays Costner’s on-screen son, Kayce Dutton, previously opened up to People magazine about the ordeal.
Speaking about what it was like to not have Costner back on set, Grimes
divulged
, “Him not coming back felt like, ‘Okay, we’re going to have to land this plane now for real’ […] It definitely felt different.”
Kevin Costner and Luke Grimes at a Deadline event in Los Angeles, California on April 7, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
While Grimes acknowledged the difference that came with Costner’s departure, he
said
, “I think the patriarch leaving was always going to be part of the story. That’s always where it was headed is like, ‘What do these kids do? What does this family do when their rock is gone?'”
Amid
Kevin Costner
‘s exit and mixed reactions from viewers, “Yellowstone” shows no signs of fading, keeping audiences hooked and fueling debates about its characters and twists online.