Left in the Plot Dust: 5 Yellowstone Storylines That Didn't Get the Spotlight They Deserve
Clearly, the writers should have developed these storylines better.
Yellowstone is a remarkable series that tells the dramatic story of the Dutton family. Throughout its five (well, four and a half) seasons, we have seen numerous plot twists, intrigue, and criminal acts.
However, it seems that in an effort to get to the end of every character's arc as quickly as possible, the writers either scrapped or completely ignored several intriguing storylines. While there is still a chance for some of them to serve as Chekhov's guns in the finale, we have compiled a list of those that definitely should have been given more attention.
5. The dinosaur bones
Tate and his father Kayce discovered fossils on the ranch that turned out to be a Tyrannosaurus skeleton. Tate promised to preserve it as an important family heirloom, but it wasn't long before unidentified treasure hunters stole the bones. Although this arc illustrates the constant exploitation of reservation lands, it fails to convey this message in a loud and clear enough manner.
4. Dan Jenkins' story
Danny Huston portrayed a fascinating character, Dan Jenkins, who transitioned from villain to ally, endearing himself to fans with his believable arc. However, the writers chose to kill him off, despite his potential to become either an important ally or adversary for John when he became the governor of Montana.
3. Beth's relationship with her mother
Although the backstory of Beth and Evelyn Dutton's relationship perfectly explained Beth's unhealthy and overprotective attachment to her father and the ranch, the dynamic between her and her mother was never explored properly.
Why was Evelyn so harsh with Beth even before the tragedy? Why did she blame the little girl for all the bad things that happened when a horse trampled her? The writers never provided a thorough and thoughtful enough explanation.
2. Sarah Nguyen's death
In season 2, Jamie killed a reporter who was investigating the Dutton family's corruption. Although her body was found, an autopsy was never performed to confirm a violent death. Also, her girlfriend was still alive, yet this had no effect on the series' events. She was simply forgotten!
1. Lee Dutton
Lee was one of the main triggers of the series' central conflict, as his death led to an urgent question about the ranch's future and who was going to inherit it. However, featuring him in just two episodes, the writers simply abandoned the character. Given that he was John's eldest son and a brother to the other Dutton siblings, it's somewhat odd that none of them ever reminisced about him or reflected on his death.