'Yellowstone' Season 2 Episode 4 preview: ‘Only Devils Left’ sees negative forces getting closer to Dutton Ranch
The third episode of the second season of 'Yellowstone' titled 'Reek of Desperation' was a happening one. John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner) puts in more efforts to ensure that Kayce (played by Luke Grimes) takes over the ranch despite John's strongest hand being Rip Wheeler (played by Cole Hauser). Simultaneously, John also wants Kayce to be his successor at the Livestock Commission Office.
Meanwhile, Kayce struggles to know the ways of the ranch and how to best handle the cowboys as he also fights an internal battle with himself. Kayce wants to be with his son and wife Monica (played by Kelsey Asbille) but is bound by his father's obsession with legacy. When the couple finally meets face to face, Kayce confesses that he cannot live without Monica and expresses his wish to reconcile with her. However, Monica makes it clear, as she has made several times in the past, that she doesn't want their son anywhere near John Dutton and that if Kayce wants to reconcile, he will have to choose between his father and his own family.
Far from the Dutton ranch yet too close are the second season's adversaries – Danny Huston's Dan Jenkins, Gil Birmingham's Chief Thomas Rainwater and Neal McDonough's Malcolm Beck (the Big Bad of this season) – all of whom are ready to pounce at the ranch and make it their own.
In another part of the Dutton universe, Jamie (played by Wes Bentley) finds himself in a coup – his political ambitions have been completely sabotaged by father John and sister Beth (played by Kelly Reilly). By the end of the first season, Jamie was ostracised from the family and the ranch for his political ambitions of becoming Montana's next attorney general.
By enlisting a competitor who could easily take over Jamie, the Duttons leave him with no choice – he has no backing, financial and otherwise. So when he is approached by Birmingham's Chief Rainwater, he finds himself in a dilemma, but finally refuses to join hands with him because at the end of the day Jamie is nothing but loyal.
Finally, there is McDonough's Malcolm Beck, a local player who isn't entirely happy with Jenkin's plan to encroaching his territory. Beck's character can be best described as a dog who is extremely possessive about his territory and would terrorize anyone who would even imagine taking over it – and McDonough does it with brilliance. "Thriving in Montana is about staying in your lane," he threatens Jenkins in a very intense meeting.
Jenkins has, however, decided that he won't be the loser this time around and says, rather valiantly for Jenkins, "I’m so tired of you bullies with your bolo ties and your Lucchese boots." Still, when he gets to know that for the casino to acquire a liquor license, it will only come through Beck's office – a revelation that leaves him unsettled, but all the more determined to win this battle.
'Reek of Desperation' showed us that enemies of the Dutton ranch are creeping in closer – Jenkins is ready to build a casino complete with a model, Birmingham made a fail attempt at getting the ostracised Jamie Dutton on his side and Beck – well, Beck wants to not just give his land away, he wants the ranch as well. This leaves a lot to be imagined for the fourth episode 'Only Devils Left'.
'Yellowstone' will return to Paramount Network on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.