Going into Marshals Season 1 Episode 1, it was painfully obvious that Monica Dutton would no longer be in the land of the living.
The series wanted to set itself apart from Yellowstone, and the pre-season promotional footage showcased as much.
Monica deserved better than she got on Yellowstone.
(Paramount Network/Screenshot)
Killing her off is a brutal solution, but Marshals is giving her absence more weight than the mothership ever gave her presence.
Of course, I would have much preferred that Marshals find a way to nestle Kelsey Asbille into the narrative and give her the meaty storylines she wasn’t afforded in Yellowstone’s later seasons.
But since Marshals is a different beast entirely, leaning into a more procedural approach, that would have been a difficult task.
Monica had a lot of potential, but I wrote her off the moment it became clear she wasn’t making the jump to procedural land with Kayce and Tate.
(Fred Hayes/CBS)
Maybe that softened the blow when the inevitable finally happened.
There’s understandably tension between Kayce and Tate in the aftermath of Monica’s passing, and it proves Marshals can make something meaningful out of a very bad situation.
Marshals Could Repair Some of Yellowstone’s Biggest Mistakes
Let’s face it: Tate didn’t get much to do following Yellowstone Season 3, so the spinoff needed a reason for viewers to invest in him again.
I appreciated how he brought his mother’s picture to the rally and how unafraid he was to push back against his father — he’s a Dutton, alright.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
What truly surprised me was the explanation for Monica’s death.
In a universe known for its operatic violence, having her die of cancer is a sharp tonal shift.
It’s a quieter kind of tragedy, and one that fits a procedural far better than another hail of bullets ever could.
Her death also sets up what’s sure to be a season-long arc exploring the contamination’s ramifications for everyone involved.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
I do miss Kayce and Monica’s dynamic because, even when they faced the impossible, they found their way through it together.
Yellowstone Season 5 had finally left them in a stronger place than they’d been in years, which makes the loss sting even more.
Kelsey Asbille Should Return in Flashbacks
There’s a much bigger conversation to be had about how Kayce is processing that grief, and Marshals Season 1 needs to dig into it.
If there’s room for flashbacks featuring Kelsey Asbille, all the better.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
Either way, Monica’s impact will continue to ripple through Marshals, whether she appears in the flesh or not.
Many spinoffs quietly forget the characters who built the foundation. This one is using her absence as fuel.
If Marshals truly commits to exploring how Monica’s loss reshapes Kayce and Tate, her death may end up doing what Yellowstone rarely did — make her central to the story.
For the first time in a long time, I’m curious about where the Yellowstone franchise is headed.
Okay, Yellowstone and Marshals Fanatics!
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
I want to hear from you! What’s your take on how Monica’s death was handled? Is it something you believe can blossom into a powerful story?
What are your hopes for the rest of the season? Pull up a chair, and let’s get chatting!
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Marshals kills off Monica Dutton in its premiere, giving her absence more weight than Yellowstone ever gave her presence.
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