This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of “Yellowstone.”

Kevin Costner, the Hollywood icon, learned a tough lesson in loyalty regarding his iconic role in “Yellowstone,” and this lesson was harshly illustrated in the recent episode.

Longtime viewers are familiar with the tumultuous relationship between Costner, who has portrayed John Dutton since the show began in 2018, and Taylor Sheridan, the series’ creator and executive producer. Their often-public disagreements seemingly came to a head when Costner announced in June that he would not return for what appeared to be the final episodes of “Yellowstone.”

In a shocking twist, Sheridan promptly eliminated Dutton right at the start of the second half of Season 5, which debuted on November 10, portraying a bloody death that was staged to look like a suicide. Although Costner’s stunt double took on the role in this grim sequence, viewers were spared the most graphic scenes. Despite the drama, Dutton’s demise and Costner’s reaction gained widespread attention, even as the actor claimed he hadn’t watched the episode. It felt like “Yellowstone” would continue its course.

However, things took a turn in the latest episode, where Dutton’s lifeless body was thoroughly inspected by the coroner, flipping him over for a detailed examination reminiscent of a gritty crime drama.

The morgue scene isn’t merely a jab at Costner, who had no say in his character’s fate. Rather, it illustrates the rising scrutiny surrounding the investigation into Governor Dutton’s death. Here’s a breakdown of the exciting episode:

What led to John Dutton’s demise? Episode 11 reveals critical flashbacks

This episode of “Yellowstone” takes a new direction, morphing into a blend of crime mystery and political thriller. Only Dutton’s dedicated children, Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Beth (Kelly Reilly), seem to suspect foul play in their father’s death. They share a unique connection from the moment he died, with Beth’s insight possibly affected by her use of Adderall during a late-night drive home.

The flashbacks unfold Dutton’s tragic end vividly. Three masked assailants ambush the unsuspecting governor while he sleeps, quickly overpowering him. He is dragged and incapacitated in the bathroom, forced to hold a gun to his head. The tension is palpable as he remains silent—conveniently, since Costner wasn’t available to film this scene.

Kayce Dutton takes charge of the investigation

Sheridan spotlights Kayce’s role as the commissioner of the Montana Livestock Association. Armed with his MLA badge, he asserts his authority in the coroner’s office, but mostly he relies on his genuine connections and determination to challenge the initial suicide ruling. Dr. Everly (Vinessa Shaw), the coroner, agrees to re-examine the case, prompting Kayce to accompany her.

In the morgue, the war veteran Kayce presents his theories about the governor’s murder, convincing Dr. Everly to reconsider. Thus, the case is reopened, igniting speculation of a murder! Someone should definitely consider a CBS spinoff featuring the sharp commissioner and Dr. Everly!

The police reveal that a formal homicide investigation will involve the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Tensions rise as Kayce confronts Jamie Dutton

Kayce and Beth are well aware of the bigger picture: their adopted brother, Attorney General Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), seems to have been involved in plotting their father’s death with his lawyer girlfriend, Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), after John Dutton blocked a lucrative land deal.

Jamie hinted at being proactive with Sarah while they were together, leading her to engage the hitmen to eliminate Dutton while keeping Jamie’s hands clean. Dutton’s assassination opened the door for the delayed development project, threatening the Yellowstone Ranch and Paradise Valley. Jamie, despite his ambitions, struggles with the fallout from the investigation. If there were an award for dramatic performances, Bentley would take the prize for his emotional distress.

In the previous episode, Beth had an altercation with Jamie. This time, it’s Kayce’s moment to retaliate. He barges into Jamie’s office, seizes him by the collar, and throws him across the desk, sending Jamie crashing into his chair and dropping his phone. However, Kayce stops short of going further, as Beth has made it clear she wants the honor of avenging their father’s death. Thus, Jamie’s fate hangs in the balance for now.

Sarah Atwood faces dire consequences for crossing the Duttons

Sarah is quite the manipulator, yet she finds herself shaken by unexpected investigations, the relentless Dutton family, and the assassination corporation’s failure to respond to her calls. In a humorous twist, she purchases a burner phone but ends up leaving a store in frustration after refusing to show her ID. Typical Sarah.

While waiting at a red light — one of the rarely obeyed traffic signals — she reassures Jamie during a phone conversation, telling him to trust her.

Poor Jamie is still on the line. There’s no handbook for handling a situation where your assassin-hiring girlfriend is killed while you’re on the phone with her! He immediately calls 911, filled with despair.

Next week, we’ll see how Jamie tries to navigate this chaotic predicament.