‘Yellowstone’ Finale Shocker: Who Dies & Who Will Survive Into Season 4?
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Season 3 finale of Yellowstone, “The World Is Purple.”]
Yellowstone leaves us wondering if pretty much the entire Dutton family has been wiped out at the end of its Season 3 finale.
The future of the Duttons’ ranch remains uncertain, though all parties involved—those wanting to preserve it (like Kevin Costner’s John and Gil Birmingham’s Thomas Rainwater, on the Duttons’ side to an extent), those wanting to sell it (Wes Bentley’s Jamie, grappling with the revelation John adopted him), and those wanting to buy it to turn it into a lucrative airport (Karen Pittman’s Market Equities CEO Willa Hayes and Josh Holloway’s hedge fund manager Roarke Morris —came together in a meeting that saw Jamie approve the sale of a section of the land.
Then, as Willa, accused of harassment by a “Jane Doe” (nicely done, Beth), talks to Roarke about playing dirty and Jamie informs ranch foreman (and Beth’s fiancé) Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), who can’t reach anyone, not to call him anymore, the lives of six characters—including three Duttons and one ranch hand—are left hanging in the balance.
As Beth (Kelly Reilly) was packing up her office (after Willa fired her), her assistant brought in a box that had been delivered … which then exploded. Meanwhile, Kayce (Luke Grimes), sharing the news that people want him to run for governor with his wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille), was shocked when gunmen burst into his office. And John, helping a woman change a flat tire on the side of the road, was gunned down—as was the innocent bystander. (Her son, fortunately, was looking for car parts he left in the field.) Who exactly was responsible is still a mystery, though obviously it’s connected to the sale of the land. (Was Jamie involved?!)
Plus, Jimmy (Jefferson White), trying to see if he could get back on a horse after his rodeo injury, was bucked right off and left unconscious.
Scroll down to see who we think survived that potential bloodbath (ranked from least to most likely) as we wait for Season 4. (And might the number of deaths match the number of graves John had the bikers dig up—three—in Episode 4?)
Yellowstone, Season 4, TBA, Paramount Network
Beth's assistant
Considering she was the one to open the box and right in front of it when it exploded, she’s all but confirmed dead.
The woman John helped
Sadly, she’s likely to be collateral damage in the mess the Duttons are mixed up in. She took several bullets and was not moving when the last scene of the finale showed John still alive.
Jimmy (Jefferson White)
After an accident during a competition earlier in the season, Jimmy was lucky enough to be able to walk away. But chances are that won’t be the case this time. Killing him off this way—what seems like a minor accident compared to the attacks on the Duttons—could be done for shock value. And if he does survive this latest hit, we suspect his life will be changed forever (and not just because his girlfriend, the barrel racer Mia played by Eden Brolin, seems like she’ll walk away if he stops competing).
Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes)
Life seems to be going well for Kayce right now. His marriage with Monica is back on track. Their son, Tate (Brecken Merrill), is doing well after his kidnapping at the end of Season 2. He likes being Livestock Commissioner and is looking to his future by considering it might include being governor. And therefore, that could all come to an abrupt end—especially since that desk he ducked behind isn’t the best defense against bullets.
Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly)
It’s hard to imagine Yellowstone without Beth. After all, she and Rip are finally happy and planning their wedding—he had his mother’s coffin dug up so he could get her ring off her finger—and the conflict between her and Willa (and her and Roarke) is just too juicy to not have it continue into Season 4. It would be shocking if she’s killed off, even though the explosion originated from her office.
John Dutton (Kevin Costner)
John was still alive when we last saw him at the end of the finale, even after taking a couple bullets and unable to call for help since his phone was damaged. And let’s be realistic: there is no Yellowstone without Kevin Costner and his John Dutton. We expect John to be injured, but not down for the count, and out for revenge when Season 4 begins.
The Dish on the Duttons
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P
Love this show "Yellowstone"...GREAT CAST, Great Writers, multiple story lines with a lot of Old West Justice and Beautiful Scenery...Mixed in with Modern Day & Politics to boot and Cowboys & Indians, Bucking Broncos...You get it ALL...What's not to Love?! Some of the Lines from the show...I quote to people daily...man...Great Writing! Awesome Season 3 Ending...Can't wait for Season 4!!!!
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P
Can't wait to see the next season! Beth is going to be out for blood. Instead of asking who did you kill today, she'll be asking who's next!
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R
I don't think Kayce dies either, he is a SEAL after all and flipping that desk over would buy him enough time to hit the gunman first. Can't wait for next season but also the reason i hate getting involved in these kind of shows until after they've concluded 🙂 Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, etc. Didn't watch until i could binge watch them all.
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O
Best show EVER !
The hour goes too fast.
Beth, Kayce, John gotta stay.
Jaime will go!
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G
I think everyone needs to watch the finale again. No one has mentioned the explosion that clearly takes place on the Dutton ranch while Kaycee is on the phone with his wife. Just as people are busting in his door, she turns to look back towards the barn area due to what appears to be an explosion. No one has seen Kaycee's son in any of the final moments....Could he be hurt or killed? There was a dead cow/horse on the range as rip drives up to the ranch, indicating someone has been there. Could the explosion have targeted him? Maybe the explosion was actually designed to have taken out john, but he was delayed by fixing a flat tire, this is why the van stops and asks" are you John Dutton?" they just shoot him there so that they have visual confirmation of his hit, but the explosion is something that hasn't been talked about in any theory I've read. Am I the only one to catch that other than my wife? we even rewound right there in live tv to confirm......just saying.
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G
Best line from John Dutton, “ This is America, I don’t have to share my land!”
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O
I think it’s a great show. I watched all seasons 3 times. Kelly Relly is a great BETH. I pray the show will continue.
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O
None of the Duttons will die although Beth will be in a coma while Ripp enacts his revenge.
But someone had to die and Jimmy was sacrificed. His character was weak anyway. More importantly is Jaime knew all about it. And I loved that John Duttons life was saved by a cellphone (The one thing he hated ) that blocked the bullet that would have killed him for sure. No one is taking out Kasey . In fact he will become Governor which is how they will save Yellowstone.
Revenge is the rule for season 4 and Rainwater will become a real ally. In fact I see him sharing the land With Dutton in the end as it will become reservation land and therefore protected forever.
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G
I think all 3 Duttons survive. John is crucial to the dynasty and he's a tough man. I think Kaycee will continue on and even run for governor. Beth is that nasty yet tough love character that shows us family means everything. I think all 3 characters keep the fans interested and riveted.
I also think Jamie's son is going to be a competition for Tate for the dynasty down the road and Jamie's biological father is using Jamie for revenge against the Dutton family.
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O
Yeah my wife asked if it is a law in Montana that everyone has to use the F-bomb every third word. We aren't puritans, but some of it seems gratuitous. It almost becomes a distraction.
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O
This show is fantastic starting with the awesome opening music. I love anything Costner!. I love the love story, the guys (and girls) cowboys, scenery - Everthing!! But wish they could clean up the language some but that's just me. Hope "Yellowstone" has many more seasons.
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O
While I can’t imagine Yellowstone without Beth, Kayce, or John Dutton. I feel they have to have one of the 3 die to make it realistic.
Beth’s assistant is surely a dead. Jimmy is likely paralyzed from the waist down. Not sure how much sense it makes to kill him off at this point, but since he no longer brings anything interesting to the show, (other than being with a hot chick way out of his league), might as well take him to the train station…
Kaycee is John’s heir to the farm, and key to keeping the show moving forward. And that desk was a stone top desk that would have provided a good barrier for him in the gunfight. I think he lives. I think Jesse and his biological father set this hit up.
John Dutton is the central figure of the show and it simply can’t go on without him… I believe Jesse and his biological father set this hit up. I can’t believe his biological father flipped Jesse so easily…
Beth is one of the most dynamic and polarizing figures on the show. As one person wrote, “she is my wild-haired queen of curse words and day drinking”… I think Rourke set this hit up…
If she dies, then Rip will be devastated, and will surely go on a killing rampage that will either kill him or imprison him. Going to be a very interesting 4th season for sure.
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O
me and my husband both love this show
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O
The Governor of coarse! She has been sleeping with John thinking he was listening to her but he wasnt. He was getting what he wanted from her thats all. Kaycee will be Governor. He will get the land under Dutton control.
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O
Yellowstone is so good I just concentrate on getting through the week to see the next episode! Great lines in that show! I quote them all of the time! Best on the television.
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C
Either way it’s going to be interesting but Rip is the man as long as he’s in the game it’s all good!!! Love Yellowstone!
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O
Oh... and the little boy on the side of the road??? His mother is dead, they have no other family, and John brings him home to live on the ranch. IMO that is why they took the time to build that relationship in the finale. Another reason I think John lives through the assassination attempt. If the mother somehow lives... she comes to the ranch too.
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G
Its not who gave the ring as much as it is who the ring belonged too.
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G
Kaycee is not the only heir, Kaycee's son is an heir as well and Johns pride and joy. Remember the season two moment when the bad guy said to hit him where it hurts the most and the grandson was kidnapped, not Kaycee..... I like your theories, Jimmy is dead, the show gave an audible crunch sound when he hit the ground and there is no sense in having his character remain if he is paralyzed. also a fracture of the neck would likely result in more than paralysis from the waist down, remember Christopher Reeves, horse accident broke his neck and ultimately led to his passing.
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P
i love it
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G
why did no one flollow up the woman and childwho were there when john got shot?
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C
The woman John helped ... Where is her kid
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G
I noticed on a preview of Season 4 that John, Jamie and Beth were standing close (all dressed in funeral attire , btw) and Kasey was not in the scene. Beth asked John who to fight and he told her everyone. So is Kayce really gone? Or is he “under cover” or pretending to be dead to get the bad guys from behind the scenes?
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B
I love this show and it is crazy that the award committee is blinded to the popularity of it and the amazing raw talent in the characters. Everyone on multimedia is talking about this show and how exciting it is to watch. It's addictive and we can't wait to see the next episode. looking forward to the next season starting.
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G
I think you would make a great scriptwriter for this show. So much insight lol🙂
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B
The ranch gets saved because John gave it to Kacey’s son who is half Native American. That saves the land from being sold.
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P
kacey and jimmy can't die
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O
Hard to imagine Beth dying (although I am one of the few who wouldn't mind). I think all three Duttons live. Look at the image at the top... I think it represents what happens. Rip kills Jamie (even though he is only tangentially guilty) and Beth, John, and Kayce live to keep the important story lines going. Jimmie? Not sure why they would kill him off, but his character has been less interesting since the barrel racers arrived. There WAS one funny moment with Jimmie, Mia, and Rip in the truck.
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G
Love it
Beth & Kaycee Kevin of course all the horses Scenery is too die for We all want to live there Barns & all fine stalls beautiful horses & people great show just finished Season 3 Great
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O
Loved it
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G
I think one of the Dutton’s dies. But, which one?
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G
Great show! Get the idiot that got thrown off horse GONE PLEASE
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G
The painful looking brands and taking a ring off a corpse is so offensive but I sure want to know what happens next season. This show is not like Dallas.
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O
At first the ring thing was pretty gross, but it showed a side of Rip that he respected and loved his mother.
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G
I wonder why he would want his moms ring given by his POS dad who killed her though?
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O
Love the show but truly disappointed in the finale.
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