Yellowstone's Biggest Plot Hole Fans Still Can't Get Over
Yellowstone is one of the most popular shows on television as it prepares for its season five premiere on November 13. However, there are critics of Yellowstone like any successful TV drama. Some complain that the neo-western lacks quality writing and suffers from too much melodrama.
Consequently, there are a few Yellowstone plot holes that fans still can't get over. It's an issue that not only arises in living rooms while watching an episode, but also a subject that stirs a lot of conversation on websites like Reddit.
Indeed, there are a few subplots in Yellowstone that frequently drum up the most criticism for failing to deliver a conclusion. For example, the internet runs rampant with heated debates and outlandish theories regarding what happened to the bomb on the plane from season two (S2, E9 "Enemies by Monday") as well as the dinosaur bones from season one (S1, E6 "The Remembering").
The dinosaur fossils, in particular, seem like the biggest plot hole in Yellowstone. After all, fans will recall how Tate (Brecken Merrill) and his father, Kayce (Luke Grimes) dig up some bones on their land and it becomes a recurring element in season one. The subplot reveals that Tate has become obsessed with the bones and is willing to protect them at all costs.
Later in the season, Kayce spots a drone hovering above the site as treasure hunters attempt to steal the fossils. The thieves not only manage to escape with the dinosaur bones but also turn the family home upside down in the process. The episode is especially traumatic for young Tate, indicating something may come of it.
Nevertheless, it's been four seasons and Yellowstone has still failed to address the missing absence of the dinosaur bones. It has led many fans to label the fossils the biggest plot hole in Yellowstone.
Unfortunately, it's a theme that has occurred in other episodes of Yellowstone where the writers fail to summarize what happened to a marquee event that takes place in the show (i.e. bomb in the airplane).
Meanwhile, others argue that the message with the dinosaur fossils was to present some of the injustices that occur on reservation land. It's common for treasure hunters to raid reservations for artifacts. Thus, the other argument is that the writers planted the idea in the story to demonstrate the many obstacles the family has to overcome. The fact that the culprit of the dinosaur bones remains unresolved could explain how the Duttons are constantly defending the ranch from outside threats, sometimes unsuccessfully.
Nonetheless, it's the one plot hole (along with the bomb still in the fuel tank of an airplane) that drives Yellowstone fans the most insane. Will some of these plot holes finally be resolved in the upcoming fifth season? Fans feel like the writers referenced the dinosaur bones too much in season one for them not to play a factor again in the series.