Fans of the Western drama Yellowstone were left stunned as the second part of season five opened with the shocking death of John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner. The character, who had been a central figure in the series, was found dead on the bathroom floor in the episode titled 'Desire Is All You Need', having suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Costner's face was not shown, with a stand-in used for the scene.
The death was discovered by John's son Jamie, portrayed by Wes Bentley, who subsequently called a press conference to announce that the Duttons' patriarch had died by suicide. This twist came despite series director Christina Voros hinting that Costner would play an 'integral' role in the show's epilogue.
Viewers took to social media to express their disappointment, with one writing: 'Can I sue the producers of Yellowstone for permanent emotional damage 30 seconds into this episode?' Another fan commented: 'John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Completely undoes the series.'
However, some viewers praised the performances of the remaining cast, particularly Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton. One fan noted: 'Plenty of folks are saying they won't watch Yellowstone anymore... But Kelly Reilly's performance deserves fans seeing the season through.'
Yellowstone is nearing its end, though reports suggest a sixth season may be in development. A spin-off, The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, is scheduled to premiere next year. Season five part two aired on 10 November in the US and 11 November in the UK, streaming on Paramount+.
