'Yellowstone' season 2: Jaime is not a murderer, but his momentary anger might end up causing trouble for the Dutton ranch
The sixth episode of the second season, 'Blood The Boy', was packed with the most shocking twist we could have imagined for Jamie Dutton
Jamie has been portrayed as a simple guy on the show. An attorney with a political aspiration, Jamie has always been loyal to his father John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner) and his family. Although unflinching in his loyalty to his family, he is also constantly frustrated at the state of his family and at loggerheads with his sister Beth (played by Kelly Reilly).
After giving an interview against John (we still don't know what exactly it was that he revealed in that interview, but it was one that held the potential of murder), Jamie is at his wit's end. In desperation, he also reaches out to Beth to ask for help but ends up being outed to John.
Jamie tries talking to the reporter Sarah Nguyen (played by Michaela Conlin) to dissuade her from publishing the interview. At first, she tells him and there is nothing that can be done and that he cannot rescind his quote and then reveals her true intentions – "No man should hold as much land as John Dutton does". The Dutton ranch should instead be a ranch. She also says that she hopes her article will help this very cause.
There is something that is said, or unsaid/ implied, in this conversation that makes Jamie snap. After Sarah turns her back to him, Jamie rushes towards her, bangs her head on the car, and then chokes her to death. Later, with the help of Rip (played by Cole Hauser) and a reluctant Walker (played by Ryan Bingham), a very disturbed Jamie tries getting rid of her body. They put her dead body on a kayak and leave it on the river.
When the news is out, John recognizes the reporter and realizes what Jamie has done. When he does find Jamie, he finds him forlorn. When he asks Jamie how they move on from here, Jamie answers that he had no choice. But John tells him that there is always a choice – that Jamie could have jumped in the river. There is no doubt that John does not appreciate one bit what Jamie has done.
Jamie has been losing control over things for a while now. His own father sabotaged his political aspirations, he had to give up on his ambitions, and his own sister manipulated him into coming back to the ranch. Beth is also always looking for one way or the other to deter him. With his luck not on his side, Jamie's judgment was clouded and one could say he acted out of desperation. After losing so much, this interview was another one of his mistakes that had come back to bite him. If he ends up messing this too, what next?
Perhaps what determined Jamie's actions were both anger of having lost so much in the recent past and the fear of what would happen if this is not kept under control. What would John do? While this is no justification for his deeds, we can't tell if we should feel sorry for Jamie or marvel at his fate.
But more importantly, what does this mean for the future of the ranch? The reporter may be quiet for now but the story and the information is still out there. Plus, it is not like Jamie didn't leave any trace on Sarah's body. A drowning and being choked is going to show in the autopsy. What would this mean for Jamie?
