Yellowstone Fans Rally Over Monica Dutton’s Shocking Twist in Marshals Episode 1

CBS’s latest offering, “Marshals,” hoped to capture the “Yellowstone” audience, but many fans were left disappointed, particularly about what the show implies for Kayce Dutton’s (Luke Grimes) storyline. A major point of contention was the unexpected demise of Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille), which fans across the board felt was unnecessary.

Monica’s death in the premiere episode sparked controversy, as many believed it added an unbearable layer of tragedy to Kayce’s life, which was already rife with loss. One fan on the “Yellowstone” subreddit, u/MerelyWhelmed1, summed it up by listing Kayce’s numerous tragic losses, including his mother, father, eldest brother, adopted brother, second-born child, and now, his wife. “That’s a bit much,” they commented.

Further criticisms arose regarding how Monica’s death seemed to undermine the conclusion of Kayce’s arc in “Yellowstone.” u/Disastrous-Fruit8037 expressed frustration, saying, “Killing Monica is such sloppy writing and really changes how I feel about the end of Yellowstone for Kayce. So much of how that show ended is really meaningless with Monica dying shortly after.” Yet, the plot twist wasn’t the sole disappointment for returning fans.

As ambitious as “Marshals” aimed to be, many viewers criticized it for resembling typical CBS dramas instead of delivering something distinctive. One Reddit user remarked, “It’s not good. Like a generic network show with Luke Grimes shoehorned into it. Can tell Taylor Sheridan had minimal involvement,” highlighting their dissatisfaction with the show’s execution and direction.

Despite its ambitions, a good number of fans felt that “Marshals” was far too much like every other CBS drama in existence instead of something unique. “It’s not good. Like a generic network show with Luke Grimes shoehorned into it. Can tell Taylor Sheridan had minimal involvement,” remarked a Reddit user.

The fact that Sheridan isn’t as involved in “Marshals” as he is with his other shows in the “Yellowstone” universe — here only acting as the show’s executive producer instead of writing or showrunning – remains a disquieting factor for many viewers. Still, some blamed Luke Grimes’ acting for their malaise. “Kayce was the weakest character and Luke Grimes the weakest actor; he had the least charisma of all the leads on Yellowstone. Why they thought he could headline his own show really beggars belief,” said u/IceStorm22. 

For many, this first dose of Kayce’s future proved to be the only thing a show about the Dutton clan shouldn’t be – boring. “I really tried to like it. But I litterally fell asleep twice,” remarked u/jlive9. Kayce’s future looks like it’ll be anything but sedate, yet with Monica gone — and the action turned way up — audiences just might reject this sojourn into Kayce’s new life.