Disclaimer: This story contains mentions of murder and suicide. Reader discretion is advised.
Ever since it was announced that Kevin Costner would be leaving Yellowstone after season 5A, fans had been worried about the future of John Dutton. The actor said goodbye to the neo-Western drama ahead of season 5B, leaving the Dutton patriarch’s fate in the balance.
As Yellowstone season 5 returned with new episodes on November 10, 2024, the creators addressed Costner's exit with the news of the Governor of Montana having committed suicide.
John’s children rush to his residence, shocked by the news, and see their father’s body in a pool of blood, with a gun by his side. However, it is later revealed that the ranch owner’s death was not suicide, but a murder.
John Dutton dies in Yellowstone season 5 episode 9
As Kevin Costner left the show before the shoot of Yellowstone season 5B, the makers decided to kill off his character. Episode 9 shows Beth receiving the news of her father’s death and arriving at his residence along with Kayce.
The initial reports tell them the patriarch committed suicide early in the morning, on the day of his impeachment trial. The Dutton siblings see their father’s body, played by Costner’s body double, lying on the floor.
They refuse to believe John could commit suicide and think it's a murder by Jamie. The truth about the death is soon revealed to the audience, as Jamie’s girlfriend Sarah Atwood celebrates her victory, telling Jamie he got what he wanted. Jamie, on the other hand, seems to be unaware of her plan.
In the first part of season 5, Sarah convinces Jamie to start an impeachment against John. Jamie talks about hiring someone to take his father out of the office, but Sarah takes matters into her own hands, believing John has to die for Jamie to rise to power.
In a flashback sequence, Sarah meets with a mysterious hitman to discuss ways to kill John. They decide that faking a suicide with a gunshot would be the easiest way to pull off the plan without any evidence.
Once they execute the plan, Jamie is heartbroken to realize that his father is gone. But Sarah welcomes him with a celebration at home, calling him the ‘younger lion’ who is ready to take over.
John Dutton has gone for good as Kevin Costner is not returning to the show after a lengthy contract battle with series creator Taylor Sheridan. Christina Alexandra Voros, who directed Yellowstone season 5 episode 9, said she was shocked herself upon reading the script about John's death.
She said in an interview with USA Today:
“When I read the first episode, I was shocked. Like many fans, I was like, 'So we're doing this now!' I'm paraphrasing here, but (Sheridan) was more interested in the season's story being about those who remain − rather than overly complicating, sentimentalizing or preparing for the inevitable.”
How does John’s death set up the final episodes of Yellowstone season 5?
With John’s demise, the focus shifts to the succession war between Beth and Jamie. Beth suspects that Jamie is responsible for John’s murder. On the other hand, Kayce, John’s only biological son left, is stuck between wanting to protect his family and finding the truth about his father’s death.
He uses his government connections to look for clues, like the power outage and the unusual amount of blood at the crime scene. Meanwhile, Beth and Rip start gathering allies, including those from the 6666 Ranch, to help them regroup.
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Beth is ready for a showdown and urging Kayce to decide if he is willing to face Jamie. She even begs Rip to return from Texas to help defend the family. John’s murder seems to push the family closer to a full-on battle.
Yellowstone season 5 airs new episodes on Paramount Network on Sundays at 8 PM ET/PT.
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