Kayce Dutton was supposed to find peace—but Sheridan’s latest spinoff yanks him right back into the fire

Sheridan’s Expanding Empire Leaves Yellowstone Behind

TV powerhouse Taylor Sheridan is busier than ever. With Landman getting critical praise in its second season and Tulsa King wrapping a successful third—with a Samuel L. Jackson–led spinoff in the works—Sheridan’s content machine is operating at full steam.

He recently signed a lucrative new deal with NBC, solidifying his future as one of television’s most dominant creative forces. But even with so many fresh stories on the horizon, Sheridan isn’t quite done with Montana’s most infamous ranching family.

What Went Wrong with the Yellowstone Ending?

Fans were already divided on how Yellowstone ended. Season 5 raced toward the finish with familiar stakes: a major corporation trying to seize the Dutton land. This time, John Dutton is assassinated, pushing Beth and Kayce into the fight.

In the final episodes, Kayce makes a huge decision—selling the land to Thomas Rainwater of the Broken Rock Reservation. The move secures the ranch’s future while honoring his father’s legacy. Kayce only keeps one slice of land for himself, Monica, and Tate—his way of escaping the violence and reclaiming peace.

It wasn’t a perfect ending, but it gave Kayce a well-earned exit. He’d finally left behind the war, the violence, the badge.

Enter Y: Marshals—And Exit the Peace

That hard-fought peace? Sheridan is now undoing it completely with Y: Marshals, the newest Yellowstone spinoff debuting March 1, 2026, on CBS.

In this series, Kayce Dutton returns—this time as a U.S. Marshal, part of a team hunting Montana’s most dangerous criminals. Drug lords, traffickers, and killers are in the crosshairs, and Kayce is back on the front lines.

So much for retirement.

Yes, Sheridan might offer an explanation. Maybe Monica approves. Maybe the money’s good. Maybe danger follows him no matter what. But no matter how Y: Marshals justifies it, the emotional weight of Yellowstone’s ending is already compromised.

Why Kayce Deserved Better

The issue isn’t that Y: Marshals can’t be good—it might be excellent. But there was value in letting Kayce ride off into the sunset, especially after losing his father and nearly destroying his marriage.

Now, that quiet ending has been overwritten in favor of more shootouts, more tension, more Kayce with a badge. The message? Peace doesn’t sell. Heroes can’t rest. And maybe, characters like Kayce aren’t interesting unless they’re breaking bones and dodging bullets.