With Y: Marshals preparing to merge the gritty world of cowboys and U.S. Marshals, all eyes are on Kayce Dutton’s (Luke Grimes) next chapter. The series promises to spotlight his Navy SEAL background while exploring the toll law enforcement takes on family life. But if the spin-off wants to truly rise above Yellowstone, it needs to resurrect one of the franchise’s most overlooked characters: Cade McPherson (Jake McLaughlin).

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Cade McPherson Deserves a Bigger Role

The CBS series is already introducing Logan Marshall-Green as Pete Calvin, one of Kayce’s military brothers. That’s a promising start—it ensures Kayce’s darker SEAL days won’t be forgotten.

But Yellowstone Season 5B planted an even stronger seed with Cade McPherson. Introduced late in the game, Cade appeared in “The Apocalypse of Change” and “Counting Coup,” helping Kayce uncover Jamie’s role in John Dutton’s murder. Though his part was brief, Cade’s sharp intelligence and government ties made him instantly compelling.

Unfortunately, he never got the screen time he deserved. He became more of a plot device than a fleshed-out ally. Y: Marshals now has the chance to change that, giving Cade the development he was denied in Yellowstone.

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Brotherhood That Begs to Be Explored

Kayce’s sudden call to Cade in Season 5B hinted at a deeper history. Their bond, forged through years in the teams, doesn’t disappear overnight. If shows like SEAL Team and The Terminal List have taught us anything, it’s that brotherhood among veterans makes for gripping, character-driven television.

Cade already showed his skill in tracking and protecting sensitive intel. His use of covert communication methods revealed a man still deeply connected to shadowy networks. That kind of resourcefulness fits perfectly into a series blending Western grit with procedural intensity.

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Flashbacks Could Unlock Kayce’s Past

Y: Marshals will almost certainly lean into Kayce’s SEAL history, especially with former SEAL Team showrunner Spencer Hudnut guiding the project. Flashbacks to missions overseas could break up the show’s case-of-the-week format, while deepening Kayce’s trauma and motivations.

Cade could be vital here—either in the present or through flashbacks that reveal untold missions. With Pete Calvin also entering the picture, Kayce’s military brotherhood could become a defining throughline, offering continuity between Yellowstone and its next evolution.

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A Different Direction for the Yellowstone Universe

Unlike Yellowstone, which thrived on ranch wars and Dutton family betrayals, Y: Marshals promises something new: a crime-driven, action-packed series with a neo-Western heart. By weaving Cade McPherson into Kayce’s journey, the show can ground its procedural storytelling with personal stakes that longtime fans crave.

Whether through present-day cases or haunting flashbacks, Cade represents unfinished business. And in a series designed to dig into Kayce’s past and his pursuit of justice, he’s exactly the kind of character who shouldn’t be left behind.