Yellowstone, the hit drama series on cable television, continues to captivate audiences even as it takes a break from production. In order to attract more viewers during the SAG-AFTRA strike, Paramount has decided to air Yellowstone from the beginning on CBS. This allows returning fans to reconnect with their favorite characters, even those who have long since left the show.

The new airing of the series will begin on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Dutton family, who own generational land in Montana, prioritize both protecting their land and their family. However, identifying the characters and following their stories can sometimes be confusing due to the complex narrative structure of the show.

Yellowstone often jumps back in time to limited series set in 1883 and 1923, making it challenging for viewers to keep track of who is who. To help with this, Paramount Network provides some insight into the Yellowstone extended universe. James and Margaret Dutton, portrayed by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in 1883, are the original patriarch and matriarch of the Dutton family. James, a Tennessee farmer, fought for the Confederate Army during the Civil War before moving west with his family. Margaret served as an army nurse. The family intended to settle in Oregon but had to make Montana their home after the death of their daughter, Elsa.

James and Margaret also had two sons, John and Spencer. Jacob and Cara Dutton, played by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in 1923, took over as the leading couple of the family ranch after James and Margaret passed away. Jacob, who arrived in the 1890s, is James's brother and currently holds the position of Commissioner of the Livestock Association.

Jacob and Cara look after John, James and Margaret's son, and his son, Jack. Claire Dutton, portrayed by Dawn Olivieri, is James and Jacob's sister who traveled with James's caravan in 1883. She decided to stay behind after the death of her daughter and later took her own life.

Claire also suffered the loss of her husband and all her children. Olivieri was later recast as Sarah Atwood in Yellowstone Season Five. John Dutton, played by James Badge Dale, is the lead ranch manager and eventually becomes the head of the Dutton family. He is the father of Lee, Beth, Kayce, and Jamie, although Jamie is technically adopted. John's first son, Lee, was killed in the first season of the show. Beth, the only daughter, is a ruthless businesswoman and is married to Rip Wheeler, John's ranch manager. Jamie, adopted by John and his late wife Evelyn, was later disinherited but has since partially rejoined the family. Kayce is the youngest son and has taken on the role of the Montana Livestock Commissioner. Jack Dutton, portrayed by Darren Mann, is John and Emma's firstborn son.

He works on the Yellowstone ranch and is preparing for his wedding. There is a theory among fans that Jack is a young John Dutton Jr./II, but this has not been confirmed. John Dutton Jr./II, portrayed by a yet-to-be-announced actor, may have a storyline in future spinoffs set in the 1940s and 1960s. Spencer Dutton, played by Brandon Sklenar, is John and Elsa's brother who is currently hunting lions abroad. He fought in World War I before embarking on his dangerous journey back home to the ranch.

Tate Dutton, played by an actor yet to be announced, is Kayce and Monica's teenage son. He is learning to be a cowboy and is set to inherit the ranch in the future. As the series continues, the family's legacy and the fate of their land are still uncertain. There have been rumors that Matthew McConaughey might join the cast for the sequel, but no official announcements have been made. Fans eagerly await the return of Yellowstone and the resolution of the Dutton family's struggles on their generational land.