Yellowstone's Forgotten Storyline That Deserved Way More Justice
Yellowstone has been full of mystery and intrigue since it arrived in 2018. The highly successful series has featured its fair share of gripping storylines, some of which have helped make the show iconic while others have failed miserably.
In fact, fans will need to revert back to season two (S2, E6 "Blood the Boy") to find the one forgotten Yellowstone storyline that deserved way more justice.
The episode opens with the patriarch of the Dutton family (Kevin Costner ) informing his second-oldest child, Jamie (Wes Bentley), to do whatever it takes to silence a reporter threatening to publish a damaging story on the prominent Montana family.
Jamie meets with the reporter, Sarah Nguyen, in a remote area and insists that the story not get published. When Sarah refuses, Jamie loses control and reacts by smashing her head against the car window. Initially disturbed by his actions, Jamie finishes the deed by putting his hands around the woman and strangling her to death.
Moreover, Jamie enlists the assistance of Rip (Cole Hauser) and Walker ( Ryan Bingham) to dispose of the body. The wranglers opt to make Sarah's death look like an accident, staging a kayak to make it appear like a drowning. The shocking episode reveals the blind loyalty Jamie has for his father as well as how far he'll go to protect family secrets.
However, as many fans have alluded, more should have come of the shocking murder. In the story, it's simply reported that the death was an accident and no investigation ever comes from it. This could demonstrate the incredible power and influence the Dutton family has in Montana, but it also suggests police ineptitude (not to mention poor writing).
For example, as one Redditor commented in a thread discussing the subject, a mysterious death like this involving a young subject would warrant an investigation. At the very least, an autopsy would have concluded that damage was done to the larynx.
Moreover, bruises and wounds should have been apparent from the assault. Then, considering the absence of water in the lungs, it would be impossible to reach the conclusion the death was a result of accidental drowning.
Rather, most fans agree that a coroner would have been able to establish the death was not accidental, and the result of strangulation. For this reason, an investigation into a homicide would have been launched by local authorities or, even the FBI. As another Redditor reminded, the complete lack of a federal presence (FBI, Department of Interior, etc.) on Yellowstone seems unrealistic.
Of course, it would have also given the writers another angle to pursue. For example, seeing Jamie sweat over the murder as he's being investigated could have introduced an intriguing dilemma. Would Rip go to more extreme lengths to cover up the murder? Would a reluctant Walker confess after being charged as a co-conspirator?
Unfortunately, we'll never know because this forgotten Yellowstone storyline deserved way more justice than it received in the show. Do you agree or disagree?