Kayce Dutton is one of the most morally conflicting characters in the hit neo-Western series Yellowstone, but now he has finally been given a purpose. As one of the children of the late John Dutton, Kayce is an ex-Navy SEAL turned livestock agent and eventual commissioner of the Yellowstone ranch who has numerous responsibilities when it comes to caring for his family and their property. Kayce’s strained relationship with his dad has always lingered around him due to John’s disapproval of Kayce’s marriage to Monica and conceiving a child with her.
Despite being one of the primary characters in the show, Kayce has been overshadowed by the Dutton family war, and to some degree by of the large shadow cast by his father, the emotional core of his sister Beth and her relationship with ranch foreman Rip Wheeler, and the political rise of Montana’s attorney general Jamie Dutton. However, Yellowstone season 5, episode 10, “The Apocalypse of Change,” gives Kayce an opportunity to fulfill his purpose by seeking justice for his family and encountering his father’s killer.
John’s Death Effectively Strengthens Kayce’s Dutton Lineage
Kayce Is Now Fully Integrated Into The Ranch And The Dutton Family War
John has been front and center throughout the series, calling the shots in Yellowstone and leading his family through difficult times and various enemies. However, now that the patriarch is out of the picture, Kayce has crucial decisions to make regarding his future, including whether he can continue to control the Dutton ranch while caring for Monica and their son Tate at the same time. Kayce also has to worry about the growing conflict between his siblings Beth and Jamie.
Kayce has also been slightly off of the radar because his personal story was separate from the battles going on in the ranch. Now that Kayce’s fully involved in Team Beth versus Team Jamie in Yellowstone season 5, Kayce is forced to make a decision about which side he’s on and how he will go about resolving this conflict. Given that Beth has shared her concerns with Kayce by phone regarding Jamie and his girlfriend Sarah in episode 10, Beth and Kayce’s relationship finally grows closer as they are determined to figure out how Jamie and Sarah came up with the plan to kill John.
Despite John and Kayce’s disagreements over the years in terms of Kayce’s marriage to Monica, and John wanting Kayce to tackle more of a leadership role at the Yellowstone ranch, they still had love and respect for each other due to their joy in ranching and regretted their disputes. John’s death leaves Kayce in an emotionally challenging position because their ability to reconnect together more is lost. However, Kayce has an opportunity to defend his father’s legacy and the Dutton family tree and name in Yellowstone by protecting the ranch and defending it against enemies like Jamie and Sarah.
How Kayce Becomes More Dangerous Than Beth In Yellowstone
Kayce’s Military Background Makes Him A Formidable Opponent
Aside from John, Beth has been one of the most impactful characters in the series when it comes to expressing her emotions, her love for her father and Rip, and confronting her family’s enemies to defend the ranch. As Beth continues to seek vengeance for John’s death, Kayce will also place his skin in the game and help his sister confront Jamie.
What makes Kayce particularly dangerous in Yellowstone is that their enemies won’t see him coming due to the fact that he has been out of the loop for years regarding his father’s business within the ranch and Jamie and Sarah’s own Yellowstone plans for dismantling it. Kayce will also be more dangerous than Beth because he is an experienced ex-Navy SEAL (which has been briefly referenced in the past), meaning that he has the skill set and resources to fight and take down Jamie, Sarah, and any henchmen involved with John’s death.