2 min readThe initial reception for Marshals among Yellowstone enthusiasts was less than favorable. Despite being marketed as the evolution of Yellowstone ‘s narrative, viewers of Marshals ‘ inaugural episode were met with a conventional police procedural, notable only for a minor appearance by Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes).
Admittedly, Marshals bore a significant burden as the successor to the Yellowstone legacy. For those unfamiliar with the Dutton family saga prior to the Marshals pilot, it simply presented itself as another police drama airing on CBS Monday evenings before Tracker, indistinguishable from any other new show. The second episode endeavors to bridge the gap between these audiences. Early in the episode, Kayce confirms Rip (Cole Hauser) is well. Subsequently, he is encouraged to properly grieve his wife by visiting his unseen father-in-law—a request I found surprisingly challenging. While Marshals‘ incorporation of its Dutton family heritage feels clumsy at times, their effort is commendable.
Titled “Zone of Death,” episode 2 kicks off with US Marshal superior, and returning Yellowstone guest, Harry Gifford (Brett Cullen) advising team leader Pete Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green) against granting a Dutton excessive power in Montana. Harry questions, “Doesn’t it strike you as peculiar that he’s re-entering law enforcement when the state’s two most significant cold cases involve his father’s demise and his brother’s vanishing?” Pete’s simple reply: “It’s a coincidence.”
How would Kayce react if the US Marshals discovered Jamie’s remains?
No, Pete, he’s correct. Until he mentioned it, I had genuinely forgotten about the remote Wyoming mountain pass where the Dutton family routinely disposed of bodies. Initially dubbed “The Train Station,” 1923 subsequently re-designated it “The Zone of Death.” This area is essentially a borderland between Montana and Wyoming, notorious for its absence of law enforcement, allowing for the disposal of deceased adversaries, much like The Sopranos utilized the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
The Zone of Death is the location where Kayce’s brother, Jamie (Wes Bentley), was cast following Beth’s actions in the Yellowstone finale. Numerous other individuals also met a similar fate there. Consequently, when Marshals are dispatched to intercede in a botched drug transaction, Kayce becomes uneasy, fearing the revelation of his family’s buried secrets.
Ultimately, none are revealed. However, a subtle unease now permeates the Dutton heir’s new career. It is hoped that Marshals will further explore Kayce’s confrontation with the “sins of the father” storyline established in episode 2. Otherwise, Marshals will require more than just a passing reference to Rip to sustain the Yellowstone franchise.