I stand by my belief that one of Kevin Costner’s greatest roles is John Dutton from Paramount’s ‘ series. John is one part Walt Longmire, one part Walker the Texas Ranger, and one part Big Jake, all rolled into a rugged, tough display of cowboy perfection.
And, I think it’s a crying shame that the Dutton’s magnificent ranch resides on the of Yellowstone in Montana. Not that I have anything against Montana. It’s a beautiful state full of natural wonders.
Why did Yellowstone Ranch end up in Montana? Alas, lack of film incentives reportedly led to the series being filmed in our northern neighbor – and thus, Yellowstone Ranch became part of Montana’s domain.
But, if I had to pick a place where John Dutton and the Yellowstone Ranch truly belong, I don’t think it would be Montana. It would be right here in the Cowboy State. Here’s why:
If you’re naming your ranch ‘Yellowstone,’ it should be in the state with of the national park residing in it. Montana has just 3% of Yellowstone National Park in its boundaries. The rest is in the Equality State.
John Dutton, like many Wyomingites, is not a “people person.” He’d much rather be out in nature, avoiding people (I feel that, John.) He’s not above leaving his phone on the kitchen counter or escaping to areas with no cell service…which is, like, half of Wyoming.
John isn’t a fan of tourists. In Season 1, he comes across tourists trespassing on his land. John’s not afraid to tell ’em to hightail it out of there…after, of course, saving the tourists from a bad day with a bear. Wyomingites also have some strong feelings against tourists disrespecting land out here.
John Dutton is a man of honor, true grit, and courage. He lives by the Code of the West – in fact, he practically embodies it.
John pretty much makes his disdain for cities clear in this line from ‘Yellowstone’ Season 1: “All
Good news, John! Wyoming doesn’t have big cities. Our capital city of Cheyenne only has 65,000 or so folks living there. Comparatively, Billings, MT, has a population of 115,689, and Missoula has a population of 73,000.
Wyoming is a land of hard work and diligence. Those are qualities John lives by. He believes in earning what he has. In the wise words of the Dutton patriarch,
Honestly, John Dutton is one tough cookie. He’s survived countless ordeals – which I won’t disclose too much because SPOILERS ARE NOT OKAY. But long story short, he’s gone through a lot of physical and emotional turmoil in his life and is still kicking. So he’d do just fine in the rugged wilderness of Wyoming.
Enough said. Plus, the Yellowstone Ranch colors would match perfectly.
Wyoming isn’t above digging our heels in and sticking it to Washington D.C. with a lawsuit when the need arises. That’s definitely something John would approve of.
