The best theory about how John Dutton II (Kevin Costner) will be written out of Yellowstone also resolves season 5’s biggest storyline. For

the past five years, John has struggled to hold onto both his family and the ranch, both of which are constantly under attack from enemies who

want to disrupt the power he holds in the community. With the series set to end, there are several things that must happen

in Yellowstone season 5 to settle this conflict, especially since John’s days are numbered.

John has survived cancer and attempts on his life, continuing to rise in prominence despite the attacks against him. However, Kevin Costner is leaving Yellowstone after five seasons, leading to a storyline in season 5, part 2 about him disappearing. There has been widespread speculation about what happened to John. One theory makes more sense than the others, especially considering the potential fallout if Yellowstone returns for season 6, which is rumored but not officially confirmed.

Yellowstone’s Best Explanation For Kevin Costner’s Disappearance Is John Dutton III Dying

There Is No Legitimate Reason For Him To Leave His Ranch If He Is Alive

John Dutton would only abandon his ranch and family if he was no longer alive to fight for them. Any other reason for his disappearance would ruin his character and be difficult to believe, as he is not the kind of person who quits and runs away for no reason. Throughout Yellowstone, he has looked down on people he considers cowards, so there would be little reason for him to engage in that type of behavior. He’s always fought to the death for his ranch and for the family members he considers loyal enough to bother with.

Writing a death scene for John Dutton would be a lot easier than trying to explain his absence a different way. He already had a cancer scare at the end of Yellowstone season 1, which ultimately turned out to be a perforated ulcer in season 2. If his cancer did return, however, it wouldn’t be surprising if he left to die alone, on his own terms. An explanation like this would make more sense than the alternative, especially since he wouldn’t want to put his family through additional grief.

Costner’s John Dying Solidifies Beth Winning The Feud Against Jamie In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2

Beth’s Rage Will Be Uncontrollable If She Learns Of John’s Death

It would be an understatement to say that Beth and Jamie have never gotten along. Their feud, which stems from Beth being blamed for her mother’s death when they were children, has sometimes gotten violent. However, John was able to intervene and mitigate the worst of it. He had no great love for Jamie, whom he used for his legal expertise more than he treated him like a son. But he knew that all-out war between the siblings would ruin their ability to hold onto the ranch, so he was willing to step in when things crossed a line.

John’s absence would lead to the very war between siblings that he’d been trying to prevent, with the Duttons taking sides. Beth would likely win that war, and John’s death could make her determination to destroy Jamie even stronger. Beth was close to John and could not bear the thought of him dying in Yellowstone season 1. If this does happen, it’s likely she will act out of pure rage and grief. Without her father there to reign her in, she would likely be so enraged that even Rip wouldn’t be able to get through to her.

How Yellowstone’s Unofficial Future Further Backs Up This Beth Theory

Rip And Beth Would Return If Yellowstone Were To Continue

Yellowstone was originally set to end after season 5, and Costner’s exit from the series seemed to solidify those plans. When the series’ end was announced, there was speculation that Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) would return in a spinoff show. However, more recently, there has been some talk of them coming back for Yellowstone season 6. Reilly even said she would return if Taylor Sheridan was willing to continue writing and producing the series (via Entertainment Weekly).

Beth and Jamie could very well fight to the death, which would set up an intriguing premise for Yellowstone season 6. There could be an all-out war between the siblings over who gets the ranch, and Beth would likely find a way to win it. This development reinforces the theory that she focuses her rage on Jamie after John’s death, suggesting it’s the reason for his disappearance. All the pieces fit together well, so now Yellowstone just needs to confirm whether it’s going in this direction.