Family is a core element of Yellowstone. The Dutton family is the central force in the franchise, having started the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. With wealth generated by owning the largest ranch in Montana, the entire family has unimaginable power, often leading to conflict with surrounding communities. Generally, the only people that the Duttons can trust are their own. Even then, Jamie has proven that even Duttons can turn on Duttons.
Yet there was one Dutton that secured the respect of every member of the family. Lee (Dave Annable) was a character who has endured in his family’s memory but left the show after Yellowstone Season 1, episode 1, “Daybreak.” He has since appeared in several other major episodes, but he has never enjoyed the prominent role that he had in the first episode. Unfortunately, Lee’s fate meant Annable needed to leave the hit show incredibly early.
Who Was Lee Dutton?
As the eldest-born child of John and Evelyn Dutton, Lee had exceptional power. He was the heir to the Dutton fortune and was in line to inherit the largest ranch in Montana. He never left the ranch and worked closely with his father to maintain the source of the family’s power. In many ways, he never had a life outside the ranch, as he was dedicated to protecting the livestock and his family. He never intended to get married or to have children. Instead, he could rely on his siblings to continue the Dutton line.
Because the Duttons had nothing until they took the ranch, Lee was always well aware of the importance of preserving himself. With his father always at his side, Lee worked faithfully to ensure the livestock remained within their ranch’s boundaries. After all, they are the source of the family’s wealth. Even his death was directly caused by his endless desire to protect everything that his ancestors built.
What Happened To Lee Dutton?
- Lee was killed by Robert Long while trying to take back grazing cattle from the Broken Rock Indian Reservation.
As John’s heir, Lee was always dedicated to protecting the family’s livestock. On one seemingly typical night, some livestock wandered away from the ranch and into the Broken Rock Indian Reservation’s territory. Unwilling to let the cattle get away, Lee wanders into enemy territory. His brother, Kayce, worked to keep the cattle away from the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. His decision would have tragic consequences. While John tries instructing Lee to return to the ranch, the Broken Rock police arrive. Among them was Robert Long.
Seeing Lee there, Robert shot at the rancher. Kayce forced him to stop before he could fire again, but it was too late. Though Kayce shot and killed Robert in the aftermath, it was too late. Tragically, Lee had been shot in the throat, and his wound was fatal. Kayce had to kill his brother-in-law to save his brother and still failed to save Lee. The eldest Dutton brother was written out of the show, leaving the family in turmoil. The death turned Yellowstone into a Shakespearean drama, as Kayce was forced to deal with the realization that his actions contributed to Lee’s death.
Lee Was Supposed To Lead the Duttons
As the eldest brother, Lee’s responsibility was to lead the family through the modern era. As all people do, John Dutton will eventually die. He always expected that, when he did, the ranch would be passed down to Lee. If not for his death, Lee might have inherited the ranch after Kevin Costner left Yellowstone, which would have provided a much clearer path for succession.
Instead of a peaceful transition of power from John to Lee, there has been no clarity about the future of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Beth and Jamie have always been at each other’s throats, and Jamie has been scheming to destroy the Dutton family name. Beth and Rip are the likeliest options to take over the Ranch, but Beth’s scheming against Jamie has put the family in a difficult position. With Jamie working to take the family down, Beth may be dragged into his war. That could spell out a dangerous end for the entire family, especially since Beth is determined to destroy everything associated with Jamie.
“I see a life I got to feed and defend until it grows up and feeds me.”
– Lee Dutton
Kayce seemed to be the clear answer when he was handed over the keys after John became the Governor of Montana. But following the death of his baby, Kayce has been at war with himself to choose between the ranch and his family. The Yellowstone Season 5 mid-season finale promises a chance for Kayce to have both the ranch and his family, which could help them start over. The best case scenario would be Kayce taking over with Monica, and starting a new generation of cowboys that rejects the old Dutton lifestyle that involved crime and murder. But Yellowstone often reminds the Duttons that they’ve outlived their stay for a long time, and it’s possible the ranch might not even exist in the end.
Other than Kayce, Rip has also proven himself as a likely contender to take Lee’s place as the eventual patriarch of the family. John has boundless respect for Rip and is one of the few allies with no reason to turn on the Dutton family. He has even moved into Lee’s old home, where he continues to protect the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Rip is honoring Lee’s legacy and working to repair the wounds created by his death by protecting the family. Yellowstone‘s sequel, which may be led by Michelle Pfeiffer, could \focus on the aftermath of the Yellowstone succession plan. Had Lee been alive, he might have been present to ensure that easy transition. Instead, every member of the family is likely to suffer for decades in the aftermath of his death. It proved that the Dutton family is not untouchable and took away the man that John was grooming to be the leader of their household.
Lee Dutton’s Death Broke the Dutton Family, But He Also Went Forgotten
Before Lee’s death, all the Dutton kids except for Kayce had roles on the farm. Lee was the leader of the next generation, Beth handled the Ranch’s finances, and Jamie was in charge of anything related to the law. Kayce spent years estranged from the family, which strained their relationship already. The death of Lee, however, ensured that the last opportunity to right their path was eliminated. Since the family has been embroiled in an everlasting conflict, it doesn’t look like there will ever be a peaceful resolution.
His death forever changed the Dutton family dynamic. Jamie and Beth’s slow-simmering hatred has evolved into a full-scale war that will inevitably lead to deaths. The Duttons have done horrible things, and they have been turning their worst impulses on each other. Their existing dynamic, which existed before Lee’s demise, was poisonous, but it was a less fatal poison. If not for his death, he could have brought the family together. It’s possible Lee could have ensured that Jamie would not turn against the rest of the family.
“I’ve got one child I miss, one child I pity, one I regret.”
– John Dutton
Despite the impact of Lee’s death on the family, he’s rarely remembered in the series. His siblings don’t mention him often, nor does his own father. The one deceased Dutton who is memorialized in either monologues or flashbacks is Evelyn — John’s wife and the children’s mother. Evelyn is often regarded as the glue who held the family together, and once she tragically died, the family broke apart. John became a worse person and father following her death, and Beth’s merciless attitude resulted in Evelyn being verbally abusive toward her only daughter. Evelyn is still grieved for multiple seasons, but Lee is relegated to rare mentions here and there. The irony is that Lee’s death catalyzes all the following disasters.
There is no way to know what would happen if Lee had not been killed. Because he died so early in the show, it is difficult to know too much about his character. He has reappeared occasionally to warn the family not to forget him, but Lee’s presence has largely been relegated to the background. Had he lived, Lee would have played a much bigger role. Instead, his early death changed Yellowstone forever, while sacrificing his memory.
