Spoiler Alert for Yellowstone season 5, episode 10, “The Apocalypse of Change”
Yellowstoneseason 5, part 2 proves that the next generation of Duttons is making up for John Dutton III’s shortcomings as a father.Kevin Costner’s John Dutton IIIrisked everything to protect his family’s legacy, including ensuring his kids would help protect it. John urges Jamie to become a lawyer, and he expects Kayce (Luke Grimes) to take over as Livestock Commissioner and run the ranch when his youngest son returns. John even told Beth (Kelly Reilly) what was what when he was alive, her father being the only person Beth would take orders from.
AsYellowstoneseason 5 reveals John Dutton’s divisive fate, the next generation of theDutton family tree— Beth and Kayce — step into their father’s shoes as the series leads, including running the ranch. The siblings are entrenched in a battle for the land, pitted against their adopted brother, Wes Bentley’s Jamie. As the sixth generation of Duttons position themselves where many of their ancestors have been before, at the helm of their family’s ranch, thereturningYellowstoneseason 5 charactersare doing things differently.
Kayce & Beth Are Better Parents Than John Was To Them In Yellowstone
John Dutton III Put The Ranch First
Beth and Kayce are better parents to their children than John Dutton was to them, and it will set up the next generation of Dutton ranchers to take over successfully. If the family keeps the ranch,Tate (Brecken Merrill) will inherit the largest ranch in Montana. Still, the seventh-generation Dutton is hesitant to take over, and Kayce makes it clear inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 10, that he will support his son’s decision regardless. Kayce tells Tate his primary concern is that his son does what he loves, and the father notes that he never had a fulfilling job.
Kayce has said from the very beginning that if he was going to run the ranch, he wanted to do things differently, and he has.
The moment shows howKayce is evolving from his father’s mistakes, allowing his son to speak for his own future. Episode 10 leaves Tate’s decision ambiguous, but if he decides to run the Yellowstone, the proud father can rest assured that it’s what his son wants. Kayce has said from the very beginning that if he was going to run the ranch, he wanted to do things differently, and he has. John’s youngest son is moving forward into the present with intention, especially afterKayce’s visions inYellowstoneseason 4gave him insight into his family’s future.
How Carter’s Growth Spurt Changed His Yellowstone Season 5 Storyline
Carter appears in Yellowstone season 4 as a precocious young kid but his story changes in season 5 and it may be because of how tall Finn Little grew.
Beth and Rip (Cole Hauser) also set Carter (Finn Little) up for success despite their growing pains while becoming a family.Rip comforts Carter in “The Apocalypse of Change,”telling him that he’ll always have a home at the ranch. While Carter has fewer options than Tate as he grows into an adult, he has the support of his adoptive family.
Carter & Tate Are The Perfect Inheritors Of The Dutton Ranch
Carter And Tate Are The Seventh Generation Of Dutton Ranchers
Especially with the support of their parents,Tate and Carter are the perfect duo to inherit the ranch. Owning the Yellowstone ranch means protecting it — historically, the Duttons have needed more than one person to accomplish that. For now, Rip, Beth, and Kayce can work together to manage the ranch, but they’re also setting up its future by supporting the next generation to take over. Tate and Carter can continue to get closer inYellowstoneseason 5 as they grieve the loss of their grandfather, and they can bond over their shared desire to preserve the Dutton family legacy.
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 30, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
