Why Monica Needs To Die In Kayce's Groundbreaking Yellowstone Sequel Spinoff

1 week ago 6

Kayce cries in a close up in the Yellowstone season finale

Published Jan 28, 2026, 12:27 PM EST

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As tragic as it is, Monica's death in Marshals is inevitable. The Yellowstone franchise is breaking barriers this year, as its first sequel story becomes a part of CBS's 2025-2026 programming. Spearheaded by Luke Grimes, who returns as John III's youngest son, Kayce, Marshals will see him moving forward from the events of the flagship series and crafting a new path with his newfound life after giving up the ranch.

When Marshals was announced, it confirmed a cast sheet that featured a mix of new and old faces. The familiar ones all made sense, considering that they were tied to Kayce's story in Yellowstone, such as Tate, Mo, and Thomas Rainwater. Noticeably, however, Monica was absent from the list. The newest Marshals trailer seemingly hinted that she is dead in the new show, which would explain why Kelsey Asbille is not part of the project.

Monica's Death Is The Catalyst To The Story Of Marshals

A close up of Kayce and Monica in Yellowstone

Assuming that Monica is actually dead, her death is intrinsic to the story of Marshals. Based on the trailer, it appears as if she died non-violently, as her supposed figure is lying peacefully on the bed when it's being covered while Kayce and Tate emotionally watch. It's unclear how long it has been since the events of Yellowstone and the sequel show. However, it's a significant change for John III's son's outlook to leave the peaceful family life he long fought for and go back to a dangerous job.

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That shift can only happen after a tremendous incident, such as the death of his wife. For what it's worth, Monica was always against Kayce embarking on dangerous adventures — an understandable stance, considering that he has a family back home. That said, being part of the Dutton family at a time when John III was fighting for their property, getting into dicey situations was inevitable. With her possibly dead, Kayce can use his Navy experience to good use in the Yellowstone spinoff.

Why Killing Off Monica Remains Divisive Despite Being Necessary To The Yellowstone Sequel

Monica invited various opinions during Yellowstone's five-season run. Some didn't like how she sometimes functioned as a wedge between Kayce and his biological family, while others appreciated how she grounded her husband and offered a different perspective from the Duttons. Still, because she was such a big part of Yellowstone's story, it's sad to learn that after everything she and Kayce had gone through, she didn't live long enough to enjoy their newfound peace.

Ultimately, it will be on Marshals' storytelling to justify killing another main Dutton family character. Writing her out of the new spinoff sets Kayce and Tate on an entirely different path than when Yellowstone ended. Whether it will be a compelling narrative is still up in the air.

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