The Dutton family is relentless in their quest to avenge the murder of their patriarch, John Dutton.
In the gripping December 1 episode of Yellowstone, Kayce, portrayed by Luke Grimes, takes drastic measures to uncover the truth behind his father’s brutal killing.
Previously, viewers discovered that John’s death was not a suicide. Instead, John (Kevin Costner) was murdered in his home by masked men who dragged him from his bed to the bathroom, injecting him with a drug that left him unconscious before staging the scene to look like a suicide.
Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) was revealed as the mastermind behind the hitmen hired to kill John. After a confrontation with Jamie (Wes Bentley), Sarah attempts to flee but is shot in the head.
In episode 12, Kayce and his sister Beth (Kelly Reilly) learn that their adopted brother Jamie is under investigation following Sarah’s death. Detectives arrive at Jamie’s house, probing into the circumstances surrounding her demise.
As Kayce and Beth strategize to prevent Jamie from talking to the authorities and exposing their family’s secrets, tragedy strikes the ranch. Just hours after confessing his love to Teeter, ranch hand Colby (Denim Richards) meets a tragic end. Colby rushes to save Carter, a teen taken in by the Dutton family, who is trapped by a distressed horse. While helping Carter escape, the horse kicks Colby in the chest, fatally injuring him. Carter, in a desperate bid, shoots the horse, but it’s too late to save Colby.
Colby, who has been a part of the show since seasons 1 and 2, became a regular character in season 3.
The episode closes with Kayce setting off to do “what’s best for the ranch,” determined to seek justice for his father’s murder. He tracks down the man responsible, who is linked to a shadowy organization, at a soccer game. Kayce confronts the murderer, holding his daughter at gunpoint and issuing a chilling threat before letting them go.
With only two episodes left in the series, which is concluding after five seasons, fans are on the edge of their seats. Kevin Costner’s departure was a significant development, with Luke Grimes telling PEOPLE that the show was always headed towards exploring how the Dutton family would cope without their rock.
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, including scheduling conflicts that led to Costner’s exit, Grimes reflects on the inevitable direction of the story.
New episodes of Yellowstone air Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount Network.
