Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Season 5 Exit Isn’t That Bad Thanks To One Harsh Reality About John Dutton.

John Dutton (Kevin Costner) will soon be leaving Yellowstone, but this isn’t entirely bad news, considering one harsh reality about his role in the modern Western. Yellowstone tells the epic story of John’s fight to preserve the family ranch and his willingness to sacrifice anyone and everything to get what he wants, while simultaneously facing his own mortality after his colon cancer appeared to have returned in season 2 and his enemies turned violent in season 3. It also includes several other ongoing stories that Yellowstone needs to wrap up before season 5 ends.

Kevin Costner decided to leave Yellowstone ahead of the second half of season 5, which means that John will soon have to be written out. Season 5 is thus expected to be the end of Yellowstone, as the neo-Western has revolved around John’s choices since it began. However, John is merely the head of the Dutton family, which will survive long after John is no longer around to dictate the way it handles conflicts. This fact may be why Paramount is reportedly considering a season 6 despite Costner’s decision to leave.