*Warning - This article contains spoilers for season 5b of Yellowstone.* Yellowstone viewers have shared their thoughts on John Dutton ’s behaviour this season. It comes after the character’s exit from the show was finally revealed in the first episode of episode 5b, following Kevin Costner ’s departure from the Paramount Network show earlier this year.
The Dutton family patriarch was killed off in the returning season of Taylor Sheridan’s neo-western drama, with his death being staged to look like a suicide. In fact, it seems he was actually killed by a hitman hired by Jamie’s (Wes Bentley) girlfriend Sarah (Dawn Olivieri). While this new plot development divided viewers, some fans were also distracted by another storyline involving activist group leader Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo).
The character was noticeably absent during the Season 5, Part 2 premiere following her arrest at a protest in part 1. When John was elected governor of Montana, he unexpectedly granted her clemency in a shocking turn of events. But she wasn’t totally let off the hook, as she was put on house arrest at the Dutton Ranch instead of going to jail.
This move allowed John and Summer to continue their controversial romance, with Summer taking a position as John's official environmental advisor while he was governor. In the finale of Season 5, Part 1, Summer revealed to John’s daughter Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) that her brother Jamie was going through with impeaching John as governor. In.