Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, “Life Is A Promise”
TheYellowstonefranchise couldn’t continue with a proper season 6 after Kevin Costner’s exit, but between Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip’s (Cole Hauser)Yellowstonespinoff and Kayce Dutton’s (Luke Grimes) newly announced CBS series, the story will continue. Costner was the soul of the landmark show as John Dutton III, the owner of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.Kevin Costner didn’t return to the series forYellowstoneseason 5, part 2after he and its creators failed to reach an agreement, and the closing chapter was riddled with controversy surrounding the decision.
Still, there were somethings thatYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 got right. John’s children both had full-circle endings, with Kayce selling the ranch to the Broken Rock Tribe and moving back to East Camp with Tate (Brecken Merrill) and Monica (Kelsey Asbille). Beth and Rip also had a noteworthy conclusion, moving onto a ranch west of Dillon, Montana. While Kayce and Beth’s closing scenes inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 14, would have been great epilogues, it’s actually the start of something new. Still, the spinoffs will just look likeYellowstoneseason 6 collectively.
Put Beth & Rip’s Show With Kayce’s Show On CBS & You Basically Have Yellowstone Season 6
Yellowstone Season 6 Would Have Been Beth And Kayce’s Stories After John Dutton’s Death
Yellowstoneseason 6 could not have achievedKevin Costner’s seven-seasonYellowstoneplanwithout him, meaningseason 6 would have likely been about Kayce and Beth’s separate lives. Now, their independent shows can replace that. Ahead of theYellowstoneseason 5 finale, a casting deal broke the news that Reilly and Hauser would reprise Beth and Rip in aYellowstoneoffshoot, presumably in place of season 6. Season 5 gave us a great idea of what it would be about, with Beth beginning to spin the wheels of her finance degree to figure out how to make ranching profitable.
Forget Kevin Costner’s Replacement, Beth & Rip’s Yellowstone Spinoff Already Has John Dutton’s Best Successor
John Dutton III’s best successor exists in Yellowstone, and he’s arguably better than a replacement since it’s impossible to replace Kevin Costner.
Beth can apply what she’s learned to her husband’s operation, but a spinoff for the couple would not have replacedYellowstoneseason 6 by itself. However, the news aboutKayce’sYellowstonespinoff on CBSconfirms screenwriterTaylor Sheridan will cover the complete spectrum of what comes nextfor John’s kids. That would have been the basis forYellowstoneseason 6, so if viewers tune into Beth and Kayce’s shows, respectively, then they will get the complete picture of life in Montana after John Dutton III’s death and the selling of the ranch to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham).
Splitting Kayce From Beth & Rip Will Allow All 3 Characters More Spotlight
Beth, Rip, And Kayce All Warrant Their Own Stories
After Costner’s exit, theYellowstonestory would not have been able to continue with Beth and Kayce holding it down on theYellowstone Dutton Ranch, unable to pay the massive inheritance tax that caused them to sell it. Therefore, their stories would have been inherently separate inYellowstoneseason 6. Granted,Kayce Dutton could have joined Beth and Rip’s offshoot. However, I believed Kayce was gearing up for something more significant than that inYellowstoneseason 5, and something even bigger than running the ranch to pass down to Tate.
The CBS show will give Kayce his spotlight, and it will allow Beth and Rip to occupy ample space in their story.
Especially after the way he stepped up in the final chapter,a Kayce-centric continuation is warranted. Kayce was outstanding inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11, “Three Fifty-Three,” using his position as Livestock Commissioner to command the medical examiner’s office and get the investigation into his father’s death reopened as a homicide. The CBS show will give Kayce his spotlight, and it will allow Beth and Rip to occupy ample space in their story, rather than trying to keep up with Beth’s brother. Still, the siblings are close enough that they could cross over from time to time.
Why Different Yellowstone Spinoffs Make More Sense Than Doing Season 6 Without Kevin Costner
John Dutton Was Yellowstone’s Heartbeat
Especially after the divisive reception toYellowstoneseason 5, part 2,it was time to close out the originalYellowstoneseriesand maintain its best remaining pieces in offshoots. WhileCostner couldn’t return toYellowstoneas John Dutton, Reilly, Grimes, and Hauser were all ready and willing to keep theirYellowstonecharacters alive. Rather than attempt to build the show back up without its soul, John Dutton, it makes sense to pick up the pieces and start anew. Although it was enthralling to see all their stories play out simultaneously, the characters are robust enough to hold their own shows.
Netflix’s Version Of Yellowstone Is Just Weeks Away & Looks Perfect If You’re Missing Taylor Sheridan’s Franchise
Netflix cooks up the perfect Western show to answer to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone drama, based on a New York Times best-selling author’s story.
I’m interested to see what the reception is toKayce Dutton’s CBSYellowstoneshow, especially since it will be the firstYellowstonespinoff developed for broadcast TV. I’ve noticed thatYellowstonefans can be divided on which of John’s kids they root for, and I wonder if that will translate to who tunes into which spinoff. Those who watch both Beth and Rip’sYellowstonespinoff and Kayce’s offshoot will get a complete sense of how John Dutton’s children are coping with his death and their evolving stories, painting the full picture of the presupposedYellowstoneseason 6.
