Taylor Sheridan, the writer and mastermind of the Yellowstone-verse, did something rather unexpected when he quickly revealed during the season 5B premiere — and return of TV’s No. 1 show — that John Dutton has indeed died. That fate was likely expected, given Costner’s high-profile and abrupt exit from the Paramount Network series between the first and second half of season five. But the fact that it was revealed so quickly was a surprise.