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The long-anticipated revelation of John Dutton’s fate in “Yellowstone” has finally arrived, leaving viewers shocked and disappointed with the handling of Kevin Costner’s departure from the hit series.
The season premiere unveiled the tragic end of Costner’s character through a scene where Beth Dutton discovers her father’s residence transformed into a “crime scene,” learning of his demise. Alongside her brother Kayce, Beth enters their father’s home to find him deceased from gunfire.
Yellowstone's John Dutton is killed off in Season 5
'I'm not in this season… I didn’t see it…I heard it’s a suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush to go see it" Kevin Costner said. pic.twitter.com/Cfz5uloL6x— Anne Tootill (@toot5000) November 11, 2024
The production cleverly concealed Costner’s absence by using a body double in the death scene, ensuring his face remained hidden from view. While initially presented as self-inflicted, the episode reveals through a six-week flashback that John’s death was actually an orchestrated hit, commissioned by his own son Jamie Dutton.
Executive producer Christina Voros shared with the Hollywood Reporter the elaborate measures taken to maintain secrecy around the plot twist. “We didn’t talk about it as a death. Any time there is a death or some sort of event, we called it an ‘arrival,'” Voros revealed. “And we gave John’s character a pseudonym. We called him ‘Crosby.’ We were calling the opening scene, ‘Beth discovers that Crosby has arrived.'”
Voros praised writer Taylor Sheridan’s creative decision, stating, “I think it is testament to his faith in the characters and the actors who embody them to go, ‘Let’s not make this about the incident. Let’s make this about how these human beings exist in the aftermath.'”
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!
— Nine (@ninewontmiss) November 11, 2024
Despite the production team’s efforts, viewers expressed their disappointment with John’s exit, describing it as “so lame” even though many anticipated this outcome. Sheridan addressed the situation, explaining that confirming the character’s fate to fans in June felt necessary to eliminate speculation.
The drama continues to unfold weekly on Paramount Network, airing Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. ET.
