Best Way to End Yellowstone: Taylor Sheridan Doesn’t Need Kevin Costner to Execute His Endgame

Kevin Costner’s exit won’t derail Yellowstone; it’s full steam ahead. Taylor Sheridan’s plan is locked in, and it’s still a wild ride to the finish line!

Sometimes, it’s not the journey that matters most—it’s how the story ends. And in the case of Yellowstone, that couldn’t ring truer.

From the rugged vistas to the tangled web of characters, the show has kept viewers on their toes for years.

But as the series approaches its conclusion, one question is on everyone’s lips:

Does the show still need Kevin Costner to tie it all together?

Kevin Costner in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount

Needless to say, Costner’s portrayal of John Dutton has been the heartbeat of Yellowstone.

But here’s the thing: Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the series, always had a grand plan.

And that plan doesn’t hang on the shoulders of any one actor.

Taylor Sheridan Always Knew Yellowstone’s End: One Vision, Five Seasons

From the very first episode of Yellowstone, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a simple family drama.

The Duttons, with their unyielding loyalty to each other and the land they hold dear, were always on a collision course with their own destinies.

As Kelly Reilly, who plays the fierce Beth Dutton, recalled (via Entertainment Weekly), Taylor Sheridan didn’t keep his cards close to his chest.

He told me the ending of the show when we were filming season 1.

It wasn’t just the cast who knew where the series was heading.

According to executive producer David Glasser,

Day one, episode one, Taylor said, ‘I know exactly how this ends.’

The Duttons’ fight for their land, their survival, and their place in the world was always meant to have a definitive conclusion.

And the departure of one actor won’t change that.

Kevin Costner and Kelly Reilly in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount Network

From the start, John Dutton’s fate was part of a larger narrative.

Early hints, like John’s cancer diagnosis in season 1, foreshadowed the eventual departure of the character.

So, when Costner made his exit in season 5B, it didn’t throw Sheridan off course.

In fact, it might have just sped up the timeline for what was always meant to happen.

And that’s exactly what Sheridan envisioned from the start.

As Reilly put it:

It was always going to be five seasons in [Sheridan’s] head, but because the show became so successful, the network and everyone wanted more.

Ergo, with the final episodes approaching, fans can be assured that his vision remains intact.

“We ended this part of Yellowstone in a way that he always envisioned it to end,” Reilly added.

How Will the Dutton Family’s Story End? Questions Surround Yellowstone’s Finale

Rip and Beth in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount

But as Yellowstone heads towards its much-anticipated conclusion, one question stands tall: What will the end look like? The biggest mystery left is John Dutton’s (played by Kevin Costner) fate, with his disappearance keeping fans on tenterhooks.

And it’s time for the show to bring closure to this key storyline.

Meanwhile, in the first half of Season 5, viewers saw Rip Wheeler, played by Cole Hauser, head to Texas, leaving his wife, Beth Dutton, behind in Montana.

Predictably, Beth isn’t thrilled about the separation.

Kelly Reilly shared with EW that her character is “miserable without him”.

While Rip is off to handle business in Texas, Beth isn’t exactly twiddling her thumbs.

Back in Montana, she’s locked in a bitter battle with her brother, Jamie.

Reilly’s portrayal of Beth’s relentless devotion to her family’s legacy is unflinching, even if it means fighting the person she grew up with.

After all, as John Dutton told her in Season 1, she needs to fight “everyone”.

And now, that fight is on.

Reilly noted:

She’s his most loyal soldier.

Meanwhile, talking about the tension between Beth and Jamie, the conflict is reaching a boiling point.

As Wes Bentley, who plays Jamie, revealed:

Jamie’s the most raw he’s ever been and the most vulnerable.

As for the ending? Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton, couldn’t have been happier with how it all wraps up:

I think it’s a perfect ending for the show for every character.

It’s just a testament to what a good writer Taylor is, and it’s a very, very profound, beautiful ending.

With all the loose ends, the Yellowstone finale has a lot of ground to cover.

Fans are eager for answers about the Duttons—especially John’s kids—and the lasting impact of the family’s decades-long struggle to preserve their land.

Will Beth and Rip find happiness amidst the chaos? Will Jamie face the consequences of his actions? And will Kayce and Monica find peace? In the end, it will be a conclusion worth the wait!

Yellowstone is available on Paramount+.