The Cast of 'Yellowstone' Discuss the Destructive Duttons and What Could Come in Season 4
After a literally explosive Season 3 finale, the COVID hiatus did not slow the wildly popular Paramount+ show at all, as the highly anticipated premiere promises to be just as combustable.
While millions of people were in lock-down, content streaming became one of the largest sources of entertainment during those long days. Streaming services like Paramount+ grew immensely, and shows such as their Neo-Western ‘Yellowstone’ grew in popularity as well. But of course, while the collective tragedies of the Dutton clan, led by perennial patriarch Kevin Costner (as John Dutton) were unveiling on screen, there were real-life tragedies happening in the world. That meant that certain things had to take priority, and many television and film shoots were delayed, or cancelled.
It’s been 15 months since the last new episode of Yellowstone aired, leaving fans with one of the most compelling cliffhangers in recent memory, and while the outside world has recently had a little ray of hope, fans of the show can finally get a few answers in the Season 4 premiere tonight.
When we left the Duttons, most of the family was under attack. John (Costner) was bleeding out on the side of the road. Beth (Kelly Rielly) was caught in an explosion, and Kayce (Luke Grimes) was in a life or death shoot out. While it seemed to be a continuation of the escalating bureaucratic war between the Duttons and those who would look to seize their land, it left some fans hypothesizing that there could be someone very specific and very familiar behind the hit. Jamie (Wes Bentley) had once again separated his ties with the family, and attempted a power-play to do things his way, to prove himself to his adopted father and family, and not only serve the Dutton’s best interest, but his own. The introduction of his birth father (Will Patton) caused enough of a spark, but was it one to set off this season-ending powder-keg?
“A surprising amount of people come up (to me) and say they feel for Jamie [but] …ya, I’m the villain.”
Jamie (Bentley) scheming, as always.
FilmSpeak’s Managing Editor, and Yellowstone super-fan Michael Winn Johnson recently sat down with Wes Bentley (who plays the Dutton’s black-sheep of a son, Jamie) and Kesley Asbille (Monica) to talk about what the future holds for the Duttons and Season 4 of the mega-hit. Bentley discussed the love-him, hate-him relationship audiences have with Jamie, and like so many other characters on the show, it’s very easy to see them as protagonist and antagonist.
“A surprising amount of people come up (to me) and say they feel for Jamie [but] …ya, I’m the villain”. This quote may seem like an admission of the characters guilt, but ultimately Bentley is merely reflecting on how to distance himself from the character and the actions that Jamie has taken in the first three seasons. “I think they love him as a villain because they might feel for him a little. [But] one of the rules I learned as an actor, and I stick to it wholeheartedly is I try not to judge my characters”. This moral incongruity has made the show’s characters what they are, and made the show as popular as it is predominately because of audiences wanting to see the sinners pay for their transgressions. Whether this means Jamie has built up enough karma over the years for being abused that he deserves a little hope, or deserves to be taken down because of his crimes, is up to the audience.
Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Monica (Asbille)
Asbille worries about the possibly future for the peaceful side of the family; Monica, Tate and Kayce. The two parents of this small sub-section of the Duttons seemingly make good choices, and arguably have the best moral code of anyone on the Yellowstone ranch. Early in season 4, there will be a familiar thread of tension between Monica and Kayce, as Monica seemingly can never truly be a part of the violent world of the Duttons.
"She’s always kind of an outsider in their world. [But] I hope so. I think the Dutton’s and Monica are fighting for the same thing, which is their family”. It would not be shocking for this show to once again deal a major blow to the audience and deal out a little more sadness. Assuming Kayce survives this latest attack unscathed, Asbille contemplates whether Monica and Kayce can ever truly be happy, or whether their story inevitably will end up in tragedy. “They’ve been through so much, but I’ve said this before, Taylor [showrunner Taylor Sheridan] is a romantic when it comes to Kayce and Monica. He does root for them, [and] really believes in their love and that they’re meant to be together”.
Until the dust clears, and audiences discover what the outcome of the massive Season 3 cliffhanger will be, it’s certainly too early to predict who will be happy, and who will get their much deserved comeuppance. But considering the strong thread of karma within the show, you know someone has to pay for the actions against the Duttons.
Yellowstone, Season 4 premieres tonight on Paramount and Paramount+
Click below for the full interviews with Kelsey Asbille and Wes Bentley:
