Director explains revisiting huge death in ‘Yellowstone’

Yellowstone season 5B premiere at the start suggested John Dutton was dead by suicide. However, the death of the lead character was revisited in episode 11.

In the Three Fifty-Three episode, the series makers showed Kevin Costner’s character was, in fact, assassinated, and his killers created a scene that gave a hint that he took his own life.

Director Christina Voros explained to THR in an interview why they believed it was important to show details about his death.

“It’s not something that you could pull off in exposition,” the filmmaker added. “It wouldn’t make sense. I also think the violation would not be felt the same way.”

“There is something terrifying about people breaking into your home and putting you in a chokehold, and then murdering you and framing it as suicide.”

She continued, “There’s no way that could resonate unless you saw it. In our story, it’s also the last moment we were with John.”

“To have created this character who is so bold and brave and noble and strong, the violation of that person being taken off guard when they thought they were safe and experiencing this horrible death, it’s supposed to be infuriating.”

“Beth and Kayce, and Wes weren’t there. They’re solving the mystery. But I think it’s important that the audience is there to witness it,” she noted.