SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers for “Yellowstone” Season 5 Episode 9, “Desire is All You Need.”

Thank you for your service, John Dutton.

In the first episode of the second half of season 5, it was revealed that the patriarch of the Dutton family, played by Kevin Costner, was killed after a fatal gunshot wound in the bathroom of the Montana governor’s mansion. Although you see the bloodied body of an older man at the crime scene, Costner’s face is not seen.

Dutton’s children Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes) have rushed to his side when John is late for the first day of his impeachment tribunal, which was set up by his opportunistic son Jamie (Wes Bentley). Beth immediately blames Jamie for their father’s death, but Kayce can’t believe he had anything to do with it.

Meanwhile, Jamie, who had previously discussed Beth being killed by a hit man with his lover and fixer Sarah (Dawn Olivieri) in the most recent episode of ‘Yellowstone’, receives a mysterious call from someone who sounds like they are confirming a successful hit. about John using coded language. Jamie then calls a tearful press conference where, in his position as Attorney General of Montana, he announces that John has been found dead by suicide.

This revelation stuns Beth and Kayce, who drive back to the Yellowstone ranch to regroup when they hear the announcement, and they don’t believe their father would ever commit suicide. It’s clear that this mystery will be the focus of the second half of season 5.

Costner was on ‘Yellowstone’ from the beginning of the series, but was rumored to be leaving the show after the first half of season 5 began in February 2023 due to Costner’s concerns that the show’s shooting schedule conflicted the recordings of his series. film series ‘Horizon’. In June 2024, Costner ruled out a return to the show.

Meanwhile, the first film in the ‘Horizon’ saga debuted in theaters in June 2024 and was a box office bomb, and the second chapter was moved from its original theatrical release date.

Despite not being in the show, Costner is still the first cast member mentioned in the credits, and appears in the credits in his capacity as executive producer.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.