‘Marshals’ Boss & Luke Grimes Explain the Reason Behind Monica’s Fate
Spoiler Alert
Heading into the Marshals series premiere, fans were eagerly awaiting an update on the fate of Kayce Dutton’s (Luke Grimes) wife and Tate’s (Brecken Merrill) mother, Broken Rock Tribe member Monica (Kelsey Asbille). She’s been very notably missing from any pre-premiere previews, and Asbille wasn’t part of the cast list.
The series didn’t make fans wait long during the March 1 premiere of the latest Yellowstone spinoff, as it, while introducing the new chapter of Kayce’s life, revealed just why that is. Warning: Spoilers for the Marshals premiere ahead!
The first episode of the new series revealed the shocking and tragic news that Monica Dutton had died of cancer. Fans had suspected the worst when Asbille’s character didn’t appear in the preview trailer but held out hope.
Grimes told TV Insider that when he first heard of the plans to write out Monica, “I was heartbroken for myself and for [Kelsey]. It felt like, ‘I don’t even know what that would look like doing it without her, what that would feel like.’ Kelsey’s become one of my best friends. She’s the coolest actor I’ve ever worked with. She’s down to earth, sweet, and kind to every other actor and the crew.”
The actor reached out to his co-star, who’d shared so much with him since Yellowstone premiered in 2017, to talk about the devastating news. Grimes says, “I worked up the courage to call. I didn’t know how she was going to feel about it. I had to see how she was doing. We had a great conversation. In true Kelsey fashion, she handled it like a pro and totally understood. She’s going to do just fine. She is so talented, gorgeous, and awesome. She’s going to work. That’s not an issue.”
Series creator Spencer Hudnut (SEAL Team) explains the decision to say goodbye to Monica: “Kayce and Monica had such a beautiful ending [in] Yellowstone so when I first met with Luke, he was like, ‘Kayce’s really happy. Are we going to make a show about a guy who’s really happy?’ We had to shake up his life, to get him off the ranch and into a new position.”
The manner of Monica’s death is emblematic of how Hudnut aims to ground the story in the real world. “We’re shining a light on an issue. She passes because of cancer. Reservations have a high rate of cancer because of all the toxins that have been dumped on them. We wanted to make her death about a bigger issue. We wanted to be very respectful of that character.”
Although Monica may not be present physically, she still guides her family. “Her spirit is with Kayce throughout the show,” Hudnut says. He shares that Kayce will continue to return to Monica’s resting place to connect with her, explaining, “It’s a sacred spot.”
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Kayce will also grow even closer to his blood brother, Broken Rock chairman Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), who was critically injured in this episode, and his advisor Mo (Mo Brings Plenty). “Spiritually they were Monica’s family, so they’re family. He’s married into this tribe and this family. They’re one of the only ways he can hold onto and honor her memory. He knows she would want him to stay close to the things that matter to [Rainwater and Mo] because it mattered to her and her people,” Grimes says.
Monica’s absence will change Kayce’s relationship with Tate. “Kayce saw himself as the protector and provider and Monica as the real parent. Because of his background, he doesn’t trust himself as a parent to some degree. He’s forced to embrace life as a single parent; there’s a scene early in Episode 2 where that dynamic really hits.” Hudnut says. “The first half of the season, Tate is having to drag his father into the reality that Monica is gone. There is this interesting dynamic where the son is really teaching the father. Kayce is still grappling and refusing to embrace this grief. That journey is a big part of his season.”
As for Kayce potentially finding a new love, Grimes says, “I don’t think it’s outside of the realm of possibility, but not for a while. The audience, Kayce, and me, Luke, the actor, would feel like we were cheating if it happened anytime soon. It would feel very weird to me personally, not even as the character. It’s going to be a long time before that would feel OK.”
How do you feel about Monica being killed off on Marshals? Let us know in the comments section below.
Marshals, Sundays, 8/7c, CBS
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Conversation41 Comments
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J
Big mistake: I no longer intend to watch. Monica was essential to Kayce's character. Luke may as well be a completely different character unrelated to Yellowstone.
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D
and yet here you are....we'll miss you. not.
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M
You killed off the main reason to watch. The relationship between Monica and Kaycee was the heart of the show. Monica’s portrayal of the Native American culture and spirit brought great depth. Now this is just another cop show that I am not interested in viewing
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V
I totally agree 👍
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S
It would be nice if Monica appeared to both Kayce and Tate occasionally (even in spirit) to lend guidance to them in certain situations.
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V
I'm not happy with it! Seems wrong without her, think they made a mistake killing her off, one of the things that made the original show good was their marriage and relationship, it would have helped make for something solid and relatable, but writers think they know better than the fans that support these shows. Would not be a show without loyal viewers, DUH!! I'm angry about it but will still watch the show and hopefully ratings will carry it cause CBS doesn't mess around when it comes time to cancel shows! They go strictly by the numbers and sometimes that doesn't matter either. Obviously they ignore what fans want, proof in last cancelation season, and I'm still upset about NCIS new Orleans!!
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D
I don’t like it! She is a very good actress and really did a wonderful job dealing with all of the Dutton issues and yet she stood her ground and Kayce accepted that and she taught him that he can do anything without having to have John’s approval. She taught him what a true family is suppose to be like. I feel that Monica needs to be some how brought back.
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V
I totally agree
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R
this isn't The walking Dead
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N
I watched the show last night and it just didn't hit like a Taylor Sheridan series. It was slow and drug out. Pretty bad compared to all his other creations. Maybe I expected too much because it is a spinoff from Yellowstone but I will not be a fan of it.
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L
Don't like it. Looked forward to seeing her on the ranch.She will be missed.
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B
I think it’s sad. I think they cld have had her alive and maybe fighting the disease, but still being there as the foundation for Kayce. I’ll still watch, but I think they should have left her alive.
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M
Very sad that they wrote off Monica as dying from cancer but they needed to show reasons for Kayce joining as a Marshall so for the show I understand it and hope she finds another series to join as she played a great character on Yellowstone as a mother and caring woman helping others.
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R
It sucks!!! Monica was an important character!!
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C
I understand the message. However, her presence will be missed. Visits from Beth and Rip would help. Kevin Costner is truly missed but you killed him off...
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T
It was like watching "CSI: Yellowstone". The heart and soul are gone, its just any other cop show now, albeit with buffalo and Indians for color.
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M
I agree 100%. It was a big disappointment to watch.
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B
I HATE IT. CASEY AND MONICA WERE GOOD TOGETHER. IT WAS A VERY GOOD STORYLINE. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE FIRST EPISODE
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C
I don't like it. I feel she is essential to the family.
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B
Haven't watched it yet but I hate it, killing Monica is just stupid and a poorly thought out trope that has been done dozens of times.
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C
I think it is a mistake. I think Monica and Kayce are dynamic and now it is just another show about a widower and his son. We have seen this so many times. You didn't have to make them happily ever after but you could have given them some amount of time to be free of the Yellowstone and the pressure that had faced them for their whole marriage. Does it always have to be so dramatic and desperate to make life suck?
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M
I didn't like that Monica has died. She was the only part of Yellowstone that contributed to a different perspective of life. She could have remained in order to support Tate & Kayce's transitions, which there would have been plenty with just losing their father/grandfather, the ranch, etc.
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M
sorry to see her gone ...😠 big mistake...
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T
I think it sucks, but then Taylor Sheridan has a way of having horrible endings. Have even considered not watching Marshals due to the fact that the shows he is involved with are always heart breaking with no reason for ending them the way he does!!!!!!!!!! 🙄
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S
Bad decision. She supported him, taught the boy well and brought good sense and beauty to Kasey’s life. The only peaceful part of the Duttons.
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L
Personally I think it was a huge mistake you could have did something else to drag him off the ranch to make more drama, but killing Monica offers a big mistake their chemistry was like no chemistry I've ever seen personally besides Kevin Costner kayce and Monica really made Yellowstone stand out with their love story
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C
Big mistake! Huge! Monica was a significant character! They did her dirty
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T
It's obvious Taylor Sheridan isn't doing the writing. This is a horrible, NCIS Montana spinoff. Can't hold a candle to other Sheridan series. What a waste.
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N
It sucks! What they all said! Wasn’t nice!! You are missed
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A
Sheradon doing what he does. Can't help but wreck a good thing.
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A
It sucks! They could have done this down the road... no interest in watching the show now..
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B
Two big complaints: First, I couldn't understand most of the dialogue without turning captions on. Aren't actors taught to enunciate anymore?
Second: Lazy writing. 'We need to get ahead of him.' And they turn their horses downhill. How exactly did they get ahead of him? Are their horses faster than the bad guy's horse? Are they better at riding down a steeper hill? Do they know a shortcut the bad guy doesn't know? But suddenly, not only are they ahead of him but they've had time to rig a rope between two trees that he doesn't see and rides right into. Not only doesn't see the rope, but does see our heroes or their horses hiding behind a couple skinny trees. Stupid bad guy! Or maybe blind; but if that's the case shouldn't the disabled community be up in arms about his treatment?
There's no way Yellowstone got to be such a big hit with storytelling like that.
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C
Big big big mistake. She held the show together. Very talented actor and no drama queen.
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W
Not watching it now. I'm sick of good characters being killed off (and a couple that's been destroyed) just so the main character can be sad and brooding. They think it makes more stories, but all i think about is what or who is missing.
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V
It was okay. Luke carries the show but the 2 women characters are not anything like I imagined. Cocky lines are easy to rehearse. I want to see more from them acting wise to make me want to watch.
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M
Adios
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Y
Death was common and tragic, this is sad but grounds the story in reality.
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T
Doesn't bother me, we all lose loved one's. This isn't a show about "them" it's a show about "him"...I think it will be fine
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C
I think the direction to kill of Monica was a predictable one. Something about her character never really fit. It started off good and tanked really fast. I do hope to see another love story for Kacy.
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G
I was relieved that Monica was not included in the "Marshals" spinoff. Her character was always so whiny and "woe is me" in "Yellowstone". Her storylines were always so needy, too needy for my taste
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D
yeah a real bummer. a character that had 40 seconds of air time every fifth episode will be so greatly missed, get real.
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