Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Yellowstone season 5, episode 12!Yellowstonedirector Christina Voros has explained Kayce (Luke Grimes) doing a “counting coup,” and what it means for Yellowstone season 5 as the final episodes approach. InYellowstoneseason 5, episode 12, Kayce finds Grant (Matt Gerald), the man who killed his father, John Dutton (Kevin Costner), and threatens him and his daughter. The former soldier decides to invoke a “counting coup,” a Native tradition that involves harmlessly showing one’s mettle to their opponent. This involves knocking him out with the butt of his gun, signaling his loyalty to his family.
Speaking withThe Hollywood Reporter, Voros explained howKayce’s decision to employ a “counting coup” when confronting Grant about John’s murder shows how he’s willing to fight for his familyinYellowstone. She explains how it’s a symbolic moment for him, showing how he’s willing to protect the people he loves in ways that emphasize the history he’s part of. Check out what Voros had to say below:
It is him choosing his family and him choosing to battle for his family, and him choosing to battle for his family in a way that is true both to his own history and to the history of the family that he has married into. So, it feels destined.
What Kayce’s “Counting Coup” Means For The Final Episodes Of Yellowstone
Kayce Will Continue Protecting His Family
Out of everyone on thecast ofYellowstone, Kayce has been the one pursuing vengeance for his father’s death the most, despite their conflicts when he was alive.This latest episode illustrates how he isn’t done yet, his threatening actions showing he’ll do whatever it takes to protect the people he cares about. Which, in this instance, includes getting revenge for his dad’s murder, invoking practices of his wife’s culture in order to emphasize what he’s willing to do. It also hints that he’s not done, with the show’s two remaining episodes possibly continuing this storyline.
Kayce’s Yellowstone Season 5 ‘Counting Coup’ Threat Supports Taylor Sheridan’s Hit Show’s Ending Prophecy
Kayce’s ‘Counting Coup’ threat in Yellowstone season 5, episode 12, supports a prophecy in Taylor Sheridan’s epic franchise predicting how it ends.
With the series hurtling to a close, andYellowstoneseason 6still just an unconfirmed possibility, Kayce’s story will seemingly end with his decision to enact revenge against Grant. It’s unclear what “counting coup” really means for the killer going forward, but there’s a real chance law enforcement isn’t involved with his final fate. However,John’s son hasn’t done irreparable harm to his father’s killer just yet,meaning whatever his next move is, it will likely be something that benefits his family and their safety over anything else.
Our Take On Kayce’s “Counting Coup” In Yellowstone Season 5
A Respectable Way Of Dealing With His Father’s Killer
By not outright killing the man who murdered his father, Kayce emphasizes his own morality, doing what he can to preserve himself and his family despite wanting revenge. While that could change inYellowstone’s final two episodes, his current trajectory symbolizes how he’s approaching the situation from a mature perspective. Since this could possibly be his final storyline in the show, it remains to be seen how he’ll deal with Grant as the show reaches its conclusion.
18-07-2025
09-08-2025
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on July 25, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
