The latest Yellowstone update about Kevin Costner’s absence reveals a harsh truth about the modern Western series. For the past four and a half seasons, Costner has played John Dutton, the patriarch of the Dutton family who fights to keep hold of his ranch and keep his family together. Yellowstone is one of the best Westerns on television and has spawned several spinoffs about the Dutton family, demonstrating how important this family and Costner’s character are to the franchise.