As has been heavily scrutinized in the two years since “Yellowstone” Season 5 first premiered and Costner’s exit became inevitable, the series did little to set up John Dutton’s departure. In Episode 8 (the last to air before the lengthy hiatus), Costner’s rancher was still the sitting governor of Montana, and he’d just lent his public support to his former (and current?) nemesis Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). Together, they hoped to stop a pipeline from being built across tribal land — a pipeline that would also damage the Yellowstone ranch.