James, John and Spencer Dutton fight to protect their land in Yellowstone.
Image by Ben Morganti
Understandably, Taylor Sheridan probably feels like he has some unfinished business with some of these characters. After all, he had originally mapped out closer to seven or eight seasons of Yellowstone, assuming, of course, that his lead actor would be around through it all. Sheridan had planned for John Dutton’s death, and in a similar way to how it’s portrayed in the show’s final episodes. However, he didn’t plan on this major plot point unfolding as quickly as it did. With a satisfying conclusion to the series and anticipation for what a Beth and Rip spinoff might be, the trailer for Season 2 of 1923 dropped a couple of weeks later. That’s when it hit me that Taylor Sheridan might be going about the expansion of his Yellowstone universe the wrong way. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t actually have unfinished business with Beth and Rip as much as he does John Dutton. Therefore, there is a better way to expand and conclude his Western epic.

If It Somehow Concludes Their Character Arcs Even Better
Beth and Rip take in a sunset on the ranch together in Yellowstone.
Image via Paramount Pictures
On the green pastures of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch there are couples like Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and Monica Long-Dutton (Kelsey Asbille) and John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz).
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Every Couple in Yellowstone, Ranked
There have certainly been a varied mix of couples in Yellowstone with all these cowboys, buckle-bunnies and wranglers running around.

Yellowstone Can Expand and End Better Through Its Prequel Shows
The Dutton Story Is Not Finished After Season 2 of 1923
Official posters of Yellowstone, 1883 and 1923 with stars Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Tim McGraw and Sam Elliot.
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Every Connection Between Yellowstone and Its Spin-Off Series, Explained
While there are many great Taylor Sheridan shows, Yellowstone and its spin-offs remain the best. They are connected in more ways than one.