Kayce John Dutton is a main character on Yellowstone. He is John and Evelyn Dutton's youngest son. He had a complex and tense relationship with his father, who increasingly regretted the emotional distance between them. Kayce is married to Monica and they have a son, Tate. He is a Montana rancher, who owns one of the biggest cattle ranches in the United States, given to him by his father after he became Governor of Montana.
Biography[]
Kayce Dutton is one of the main cast members on Paramount Network’s Yellowstone. Introduced in the show’s first season, Kayce quickly became a fan favorite. Like other main characters, Kayce has appeared in all seasons of Yellowstone.
Created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, Yellowstone centers around the Dutton family and their Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Kayce Dutton’s story arc revolves around his conflicts and relationships with his father, his own family, and being a part of the Dutton legacy. Here’s a comprehensive analysis of Kayce Dutton’s character in Yellowstone.
Early Life[]
Kayce and John had a complex and tense relationship, with John regretting his actions resulting in driving Kayce away from the ranch. Kayce and John had been estranged for sometime at the beginning of the series. It is later revealed that part of what drove them apart was that Kayce got Monica pregnant and they planned to keep the baby. That is when John forced Kayce to take the brand. Before the series, he was an ex-Navy SEAL who settled on the Broken Rock Reservation with his wife Monica and son Tate. He befriended some of the locals, including Monica's brother, Robert, who was also a military veteran.
- Kayce Dutton : I didn't say I was fine. I said it went fine.
Rhys Alterman as Young Kayce Dutton in Yellowstone[]
The character was born Kayce John Dutton in Paradise Valley, Montana, on April 24, 1990. His biological father is John Dutton III (played by Kevin Costner), and his mother is Evelyn Dutton (Gretchen Mol). Kayce was raised with his three siblings, Lee Dutton (Dave Annable), Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly). Kayce lost his mother on March 30, 1997, about a month shy of Kayce’s seventh birthday. On that fateful day, Kayce, his mother, and older sister Beth were out riding when their mom accidentally fell off her horse. While Beth rode back to find help, Kayce stayed beside his mother, who died before help came.
While much isn’t known about his growing years, it’s safe to say he had a close relationship with his family and father until they had a major disagreement that would later define their relationship. The cause of his estrangement from his father was later revealed in Yellowstone. Kayce got Monica Dutton (née Long, played by Kelsey Asbille) pregnant and decided to keep the baby against his father’s wish. Monica Long is a Native American and lifelong resident of Broken Rock Indian Reservation, a rival threatening to claim the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. The pregnancy and Kayce and Monica’s eventual marriage put a strain on their father-son relationship, as well as between their ranch and rival Broken Rock. As a punishment, John Dutton forced Kayce to take the Yellowstone brand.
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Yellowstone has yet to flesh out Kayce Dutton’s backstory properly. Much of what is known about Kayce Dutton has been presented through flashbacks. One major flashback is Kayce’s time as a U.S. Navy SEAL. In the season 4 finale (“Grass on the Streets and Weeds on the Rooftops”), during the Hanbleceya (an Indigenous ritual), Kayce’s life as a SEAL is shown. After being branded by his father, Kayce left the Yellowstone Ranch to join the United States Navy.
He was in Pakistan during one of his missions and was confronted with a high-value target that used his family to protect himself. When the man started shooting he couldn't do anything else but start shooting back, killing not only the man but his wife and daughter as well.
Although he served his country dutifully, it left him with lots of PTSD. Several inadvertent mistakes and missions left him with pent-up anger and trauma. He was later discharged from the military service.
Kayce Dutton on the Broken Rock Reservation[]
After his discharge from military service, Kayce Dutton settled on the Broken Rock Reservation with his wife and son, Tate Dutton (Brecken Merrill). While he struggled to fit in, he finally chose to do something he was extremely good at—taming wild horses. Although he does his best on the reservation and makes friends, he’s still largely considered an outsider. However, things turn awry when a herd of the Dutton’s cattle wander into the Broken Rock Reservation.
Broken Rock chairman Tom Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) chose to keep them. The Duttons, never known to back out of a fight, come to claim their lost cattle. As such, Kayce Dutton’s peaceful life at the Broken Rock Reservation is threatened. Kayce is forced to kill his wife’s brother, Robert Long (Jeremiah Bitsui), after he fatally shoots Kayce’s older brother, Lee. Although Kayce, Monica, and Tate briefly remain on the Broken Rock Reservation, they eventually leave to settle back at his family’s Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.
Kayce Dutton on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch[]
Kayce Dutton returned to his family’s ranch to be able to find security and provide for his own family. However, Kayce chose to live in the bunkhouse and work his way back in when he was deserving. While continuing to deal with his personal life and relationship with his wife, Kayce becomes a reliable rancher on his family’s ranch. In season, Kayce Dutton is made commissioner of the Montana Livestock Association, replacing his brother Jamie. His stay in Yellowstone allows Kayce and John to settle and reconcile.
Kayce oversees the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch as his father becomes Montana’s Governor. Kayce and Monica lose their second son after Monica is involved in a car crash. The couple grow closer as they bury the baby in the ranch’s family cemetery, following the Native American traditions. While Jamie plots to impeach their father as Governor in the finale of season 5, Part 1, Kayce Dutton continues to look after the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.
Season One[]
Kayce lived on the Black Rock Reservation with Monica and Tate, breaking colts and stallions for money, though he often gave many of them away. He appreciated life on the reservation but, despite having friends and family there, he was seen as an outsider. Even so, he preferred to stay on the reservation and avoided contact with the Dutton family. When a herd of the Duttons' cattle wandered onto reservation land and the tribe's new chairman, Thomas Rainwater, claimed them for the tribe, Kayce had divided loyalties and could not avoid being drawn into the slowly escalating row. This culminates in a nocturnal firefight between reservation law enforcement and the Livestock Association Agents, led by Kayce's father John and his eldest brother Lee, as they attempt to recover the cattle. In midst of a skirmish, Kayce's brother-in-law Robert, fatally shoots Lee. Kayce rides past him, before he can execute Lee, and kicks him. As Kayce tries to save Lee, Robert draws down and Kayce is forced to shoot him dead.
Kayce, Monica and Tate briefly stay on the Yellowstone Ranch, to avoid hostile reaction to them on the reservation after the killings caused by the cattle dispute. John tries to arrange employment for Monica at Montana State University in Bozeman so that the family can stay on the ranch and John can build a relationship with his grandson, Tate. Kayce seems content to work on the ranch alongside his father though the relationship is still somewhat strained. Monica declines the initial offer to join the faculty, and returns to her job as a teacher at the reservation school. When she arrives at school, she intervenes to break up a fight between two older students and is punched unconscious, resulting in severe head trauma. Over the course of her recovery, she comes to the conclusion that while she loves Kayce, she thinks what's best for Tate is to keep him away from Kayce and the Dutton family because of the dangerous business they're mixed up in.
Season Two[]
Monica moves into a faculty apartment with Tate on the MSU campus, and briefly entertains a fling with her physical therapist Martin. Kayce continues to work on the ranch, occasionally seeing Monica and Tate, and hoping for a chance to save their marriage. Eventually, Kayce and Monica do reunite, and Monica returns to living on the Dutton Ranch with their son. Kayce also accepts his intended role as the future head of the ranch and assumes the decision-making responsibilities. He briefly clashes with Rip when John gives Kayce the foreman's cabin to live in and moves Rip into the bunkhouse. However, when John quietly intervenes and asks Rip to help Kayce learn how to lead the two come to amicable terms. After Monica and Tate return to the ranch Kayce moves back into the main house.
Season Three[]
The following summer after the Dutton's herd of cattle were killed as a result of consuming clover hay, Kayce decides to set up a spike camp in a remote part of the ranch to closely monitor the cattle as they graze and to make sure no new clover is growing in the field after the wet season. He spends much of his summer there with the ranch hands, John, and Tate. When Governor Perry seeks to promote Jamie to Attorney General of Montana, she convinces Kayce to replace Jamie as the new commissioner of the Livestock Association. He reluctantly agrees, and splits his time between his ranch responsibilities and the commissioners office like John before him.
The chairmen of the Stock Growers Association meet with Kayce to thank him for his service, and propose that he run for governor since Perry has two years left in her final term. Kayce is reluctant to consider the offer having just begun to settle into his role as Commissioner, but the chairmen make a strong case that supports Kayce's desire to help people, pointing to the fact that he's not a politician and that's exactly what they want and need. He shares the proposal over the phone with Monica, who seems displeased and frustrated with the changes simply running for office would bring. However, their conversation is cut short when multiple gunmen break into Kayce's office to assassinate him in what turns out to be a coordinated hit on him, Beth, and John.
Season Four[]
TBA
Season Five[]
After his father wins the election and becomes Governor, Kayce is left to run the ranch. Then later on, after the death of John, Kayce becomes the ranch's new owner.
Character profile[]
Kayce Dutton, son of John Dutton and a former Navy SEAL, is a complex and compelling character in the hit TV show Yellowstone. Throughout the series, Kayce grapples with the inherent conflict between his loyalty to his family and his own sense of justice, leading to thought-provoking storylines that delve deep into the complexities of human nature. His exceptional bravery and unwavering moral compass further add depth to his character, making him a truly captivating figure.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Kayce's character is his struggle with loyalty. As a member of the Dutton family, Kayce is expected to prioritize their interests above all else. However, his experiences as a Navy SEAL have shaped his perspective and his understanding of justice. This creates a constant tension within him, as he often finds himself torn between doing what is right in the larger context and staying true to his family's desires.
This internal strife is not uncommon among individuals who have served in the military. When one has been exposed to a broader world vision and has honed a strong moral compass, it can be challenging to reconcile one's duty to family and loved ones with a commitment to justice and the greater good. Kayce's struggles showcase the complexity of such a predicament and invite viewers to reflect on their own allegiances and sense of justice.
Kayce's background as a Navy SEAL also plays a significant role in shaping his character. The Navy SEALs are renowned for their bravery and unwavering dedication. Kayce embodies these qualities magnificently, fearlessly facing danger and putting himself in harm's way to protect those he cares about. His bravery is not only physical but also extends to the realms of emotional and moral courage.
Despite his role as a protective and heroic figure, Kayce's moral compass is not without its flaws. His sense of justice can sometimes be clouded by his emotional attachment to his family and the desire to maintain unity. These flaws make him a multidimensional character, relatable and believable. They serve as a reminder that even the most formidable heroes are fallible, which adds depth to the overall narrative.
Kayce's character also serves as a conduit for viewers to explore high-minded concepts such as loyalty, justice, and the battle between personal values and familial responsibilities. These philosophical ideas are seamlessly integrated into the down-to-earth narrative, ensuring that the audience can both enjoy the show's gripping storyline and reflect upon these deeper themes.
In conclusion, Kayce Dutton is a fascinating character in Yellowstone, known for his bravery and moral compass, as well as his internal struggle between loyalty to his family and his own sense of justice. His background as a former Navy SEAL adds depth to his character, as it exposes him to a wider perspective and challenges his allegiances. Kayce's struggles and flaws make him relatable and multidimensional, further enhancing the show's narrative. Through his character, viewers can explore thought-provoking concepts and reflect on their own beliefs. Yellowstone's portrayal of Kayce is a testament to the show's ability to combine complex and high-minded ideas with a down-to-earth and easy to understand style, resulting in a captivating and resonant television experience.
Trivia[]
- The U.S. Navy Amphibious Forces include two special forces: Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) and Sea-Air-Land Teams (SEAL). Virtually all SEAL team members have graduated from the ranks of the UDT and received additional training for their new combat duties. This is primarily intended to enable them to operate with reduced support and in enemy waters, or eventually on a battlefield on land.
- They can be transported close to shore by ship, submarine or plane, which is why they are trained as paratroopers. They are organized into two groups: NSWG 1, based at Coronado Naval Base in San Diego, formed by SEAL Teams 1, UDT 11 and 12; NSWG 2, based in Little Creek, Virginia, is made up of SEAL 2 and UDT 21 and 22. Each SEAL team is made up of 27 officers and 156 soldiers, divided into five platoons, each of which is qualified to carry out any operations independently. The training course lasts 24 weeks. The first four weeks are devoted to physical preparation.
- Then comes a few weeks of theoretical exercises, open-water swimming, demolition work and reconnaissance training. One week is for escape and evasion training, survival and navigation on land, followed by three weeks of parachuting and finally diving school. In addition to all this training, there is a combat stage, where they become familiar with the characteristics of unconventional warfare. They must have knowledge of foreign languages. Their weapons include the Stoner M63A1 5.56 mm machine gun, with a capacity of eight hundred rounds, the M16 A1 rifle and the Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol, specially manufactured for the SEALs, in stainless steel to prevent corrosion from salt water. They do not wear special uniforms, except when in action, wearing clothing suitable for diving.
Quotes[]
| “ | Where I come from, we call that counting coup. That means I took a piece of your soul and I'm gonna keep it. And, yeah, you should cry. Have fun explaining this to your wife. When I get out, you take off. You look back, I kill you both. | ” |
–Kayce's warning to Grant Horton and his daughter, Ally, before pistol-whipping Grant and leaving. | ||
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
