A seemingly unimportant character and a protagonist’s unclear fate—these moments captured the attention of social media users in the latest season of “Yellowstone.”

The tenth episode of “Yellowstone” Season 5 ignited intense emotions among fans, who clashed over character developments—particularly the fate of John Dutton III, played by Kevin Costner—and the show’s evolving narrative.

Speculation about John’s potential demise left many viewers shocked and heartbroken. On Instagram, one fan expressed, “I’m sorry but killing off kevin Costner sucked [sic]!” Another echoed the sentiment, “I agree. I cried. Not the way I wanted him to go.”

However, confusion over John’s status lingered, as some fans debated whether he had truly been killed off.

While Costner’s fate dominated the conversation, criticism also focused on Piper Perabo’s portrayal of Summer Higgins in the drama series. “I was hoping Summer would fade away. Her character annoys the heck outta me [sic],” a user commented.

Another questioned, “Why is summer [sic] still here? Can’t stand her. Don’t trust her either, she’s worming her way in for something.” Others speculated about Summer’s future in the plot, “Watch Summer be pregnant.”

Someone else remarked, “Ugh…Summer most useless character…like the actress but character should have been written off. Maybe if she’s pregnant with John’s baby and Beth can raise it. 🤷🏻‍♀️Hopefully it’s a good episode and not just fluff. #revengeoftheduttons [sic].”

More viewers also expressed frustration with the show’s narrative structure. On Facebook, a user pointed out that the new season is “awful,” while another criticized the heavy reliance on flashbacks and time jumps, which some felt disrupted the flow of the story and detracted from the overall narrative coherence.

On Reddit, users criticized the pacing and cohesion of the episode. Some suggested it would have been better as a three-hour movie to wrap up the story, noting that the time shifts were disorienting but describing the rattlesnake infestation scene as “hilarious.”

Another described the episode as “a disjointed mess,” saying it felt more like a promotional piece than a coherent storyline. They also questioned why no plans were being made for the governor’s funeral.

While fans remain divided over Summer’s role in the drama, the actress shared her thoughts on the character’s development and her experience on the show.

In a January 2023 interview with Variety, Perabo shared her confidence in show creator Taylor Sheridan’s ability to craft complex and layered characters. “I know Taylor loves a fighter, a complicated fighter. That’s what he writes about over and over and over again. she said.

She added that developing a supporting role like Summer’s requires patience and trust. “I think if I hadn’t known Taylor Sheridan, it would have been a different story, but I know him pretty well, so I can walk into moving traffic for him,” she added.

The TV star also discussed a scene in which Summer shares a lighthearted moment with John at a fair. For John, who is constantly burdened with saving his family, ranch, and Montana, such moments of peace are rare. “This guy is constantly on the offense, he’s got enemies coming in from all sides,” Perabo observed.

Perabo described the scene as “nostalgic” and dreamlike, a rare moment of calm in the show’s intense world. For the actress, it was a meaningful departure from the usual tension.

“Mostly what I was thinking about was like making sure of holding the tone of ‘Yellowstone,’ but also holding this special moment because you know the other shoe’s going to drop in one second,” she explained.

Before the eleventh episode sparked mixed reactions among viewers, some had already decided to skip the show’s new season.

On June 20, the show’s official Instagram account posted a video teasing the arrival of the second half of the show’s fifth season. While their post had all the perfect elements for building up anticipation among viewers, with its ominous voice-over and striking visuals, netizens didn’t agree with a certain change that affected the cast.

Using the show’s signature “Y” emblem that was enveloped by bright orange flames, the Instagram video alerted fans that “the epic return of Yellowstone” would air on Paramount Network this month.

“Save the date: November 10. #YellowstoneTV,” captioned the account. In contrast to the teaser’s excited vibe and tone, online viewers came forward to express their grievances with the show’s return.

Many fans have expressed disappointment over Costner’s absence from the series. Some viewers widely expressed that the show won’t be the same, with some sharing their sadness over his departure.

Another questioned the value of continuing the series without Costner, while another criticized the show’s creator, stating that the series lacks purpose without the actor’s presence.

Many viewers believe that Costner’s absence has significantly impacted the show’s appeal. One fan declared they would no longer watch the series without him, while another shared that the show feels incomplete without Costner.

“Dead to me. No Kevin = not watching. So what if he has a passion for doing another show? A starring actor can make that balance. But greed is king for Sheridan,” opined another user who was up in arms over the situation.

On the other hand, some people were elated to hear of the show’s return, with or without Costner’s presence. They expressed excitement for the continuation of the storyline, particularly highlighting characters like Beth and Rip as capable of keeping the drama engaging.

Others shared their anticipation enthusiastically, eager to see what the new season would bring.

A day after the new season teaser came out, Costner took to Instagram to confirm that he would not be making a return to the series.

Costner began, “Hi, everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on ‘Horizon’ and doing all the things that’s required, and thinking about ‘Yellowstone’ — that beloved series that I love, that I know you love — I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue season five b or into the future.”

He highlighted how much “Yellowstone” had changed him as a person and reiterated his deep adoration for the series. “I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies,” concluded the star.

Shortly after sharing his post, Costner sat down for an interview with USA Today, where he contextualized his video. At the time, the Hollywood talent was on an extended media tour promoting his then-new Western film series “Horizon.”

“Simply with all the questions that were being asked (about ‘Yellowstone’), the longer I thought about that … I just wanted to say that this is a stepping-off point,” explained Costner.

He then added, “Whatever I’d hoped for maybe was not in the cards. I don’t want to keep saying, ‘Yeah, I hope I can do it.’ That’s drifted to a place that I don’t think is realistic anymore.”

In the same interview, Costner also clarified that there was nothing specific that had been done by Sheridan or Paramount Studios that led to him making the video. Instead, his post was meant to signify that he was done holding out optimism for his return that wasn’t there.

“I just wanted to get that done. I’m not a machine trying to figure this out. But I’m not a person that leaves people high and dry,” disclosed Costner.

Since 2018, Costner has been a staple on the show that follows the lives of a ranching family in Montana, who have frequent face-offs with people encroaching on their land.

His beloved portrayal as the owner of one of the biggest cattle ranches in the U.S. and the patriarch of the Dutton family has been revered by many. Costner’s role has also been spoken about by his fellow cast mates, one of whom addressed the actor’s exit from the show.

Famous actor Luke Grimes, who plays Costner’s on-screen son, Kayce Dutton, previously opened up to People magazine about the ordeal.

Speaking about what it was like to not have Costner back on set, Grimes divulged, “Him not coming back felt like, ‘Okay, we’re going to have to land this plane now for real’ […] It definitely felt different.”

While Grimes acknowledged the difference that came with Costner’s departure, he said, “I think the patriarch leaving was always going to be part of the story. That’s always where it was headed is like, ‘What do these kids do? What does this family do when their rock is gone?'”

Amid Kevin Costner’s exit and mixed reactions from viewers, “Yellowstone” shows no signs of fading, keeping audiences hooked and fueling debates about its characters and twists online.