Yellowstone: What happens to Tate? Character arc explored in depth

Brecken Merrill's Tate Dutton has had a tumultuous journey on Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone, but thankfully survived the show in the Season 5 finale, with his parents, Kayce and Monica Dutton.

As a future heir to the Dutton legacy and John Dutton's grandson, Tate was an important character in the universe, and often targeted by his family's enemies to exact revenge. Throughout the show, Tate faced grave perils that included battling a rattlesnake, almost drowning, a traumatic kidnapping, and even the killing of a man in self-defense.

Emerging victorious through these ordeals, Tate survived through five seasons of Yellowstone, and was shown moving into the East section with his parents in the finale.

In addition to Luke Grimes, who is the only confirmed cast member for Y: Marshals, Brecken Merrill's Tate Dutton and Kelsey Asbille's Monica Dutton are also expected to appear in the spin-off show, which will further Tate and Kayce's family lore after the events of the flagship series.

More on this in our story.

Tate has been surrounded by misfortunes throughout Yellowstone

While Tate was a child in the initial seasons of Yellowstone, his character was not spared from the misfortunes befalling the Duttons at every corner. Being John's grandson and Kayce's son meant that Tate was always surrounded by tragedies and misfortunes, from Season 1 itself.

In the debut season of Sheridan's flagship show, Tate was left alone in a drainpipe by his father while he chased criminals. This was when the young boy came face-to-face with a rattlesnake, but he eventually killed it with a rock. Further, he almost drowned in the river when he went on a fishing trip with his grandfather in Season 1, but was saved by John.

While these childhood incidents were traumatic enough, Tate's most dangerous storyline was featured in Yellowstone Season 2, when he was kidnapped by a group of trained nationalists hired by the Beck brothers. The group kidnapped Tate, kept him in isolation, and subjected him to abuse. While he was not physically tortured, they shaved his head and threatened him, which had a traumatic effect on his young mind.

After John located and shot Malcolm Beck, Kayce and some agents drove up to the location where Tate was being held captive, and rescued him. While Kayce rescued his son, he suffered PTSD, and it took him some time to come back to reality and his parents.

What happened to Tate in Yellowstone Season 5?

While this traumatic experience broke Tate to his core, he was also involved in a car crash with his mother in Yellowstone Season 5 Part 1. Season 4 revealed that Monica was pregnant with her second child, and the Season 5 premiere saw her having contractions.

Since Kayce was on his job as the livestock commissioner, Monica had to drive herself to the hospital, and her son accompanied her. However, the mother-son duo soon crashed their car into a stranger's truck and a passing buffalo, which resulted in the death of Monica and Kayce's unborn child. However, Tate and Monica survive the crash and return home.

While Tate was shrouded in misfortune throughout, he managed to survive in the Yellowstone Season 5 finale, and was shown moving into the East Camp section with his parents. The final scene of Tate taking care of the cattle with his parents suggests that he will likely adopt the ranching lifestyle in the upcoming spin-off show.

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