One Character Death May Be a Final Piece in Yellowstone's Prophecy Puzzle
So, what exactly did Kayce Dutton mean when he told his wife in season four of Yellowstone that he witnessed "the end of us"?
This moment in the season finale revealed several critical details of Kayce's past. Moreover, it also foreshadowed some of the things that are in store for viewers in upcoming episodes of Yellowstone .
If you recall, Kayce decides to participate in a Lakota sacred ceremony known as Hanbleceya after consulting with Broken Rock chief Thomas Rainwater near the conclusion of season four (S4, E9: No Such Thing as Fair).
The ritual – which translates to mean "crying for a vision" – is designed to cross into the spiritual world where one can find their purpose. So, after consuming the mind-altering substance mescaline, Kayce experiences grueling hallucinations that take him back to the past, as well as allow him to glimpse into the future.
The vision quest analyzes the intentions behind the wolf that has been following Kayce the past couple of seasons. Furthermore, the hallucinations involve a haunting encounter with his older brother, Lee, as well as with a former ranch hand named Avery (who always made it clear she had feelings for him). Thus, when Kayce awakes from the experience, he is confronted by his wife – Monica.
When asked about the experience, Kayce simply replies "I saw the end of us." The gloomy forecast immediately leads Monica to question her husband. Nonetheless, he's adamant that it does not mean their own demise. Rather, Kayce insists that the vision signifies something else. But what?
The ominous words of Kayce have got many fans speculating. In fact, one Reddit theory asserts that the "end of us" prophecy is much more associated with Tate – the only son of Kayce and Monica Dutton – and foreshadows his death.
The theory expands to explain why Tate is the most likely culprit of his father's gloomy prediction. For now, he remains the only biological grandchild of John Dutton (Kevin Costner). And, that doesn't factor to change soon considering (spoiler ahead) Monica just lost her second child in a devastating tragedy. Moreover, Beth Dutton is incapable of conceiving a child of her own following the controversial sterilization that has traumatized her own past.
Accordingly, Tate Dutton seems like the most likely candidate to eventually inherit the ranch. Even worse, he's the most likely to experience a sad existence. It's true, when you consider the Reddit theory, there are scenes in Yellowstone that hint at Tate's demise, including the "end of us" prophecy.
Indeed, the vision Kayce experiences does include an owl, which is a frequent symbol of death in most indigenous cultures. Furthermore, his confrontations with Lee foreshadow family trouble. Meanwhile, Kayce fails to dismiss Avery in his vision which indicates he may not remain faithful to Monica in the future.
However, while most of the attention is on the father, it's Tate who actually stands the most to lose. After all, Kayce has experienced a life of turmoil and sorrow, so why would Tate's circumstances be any different? In the end, how else can you explain such a bleak and dreary sentiment?