‘Yellowstone’ Season 3 Finale: Is John Dutton dead, but who shot him? Fans think Jamie's real father is behind it (2024)

A deadly threat was looming over the Dutton family. ‘Yellowstone’ made our worst fears come true in the season finale ‘The World is Purple’ as three main members of the family were brutally attacked. Beth Dutton (Kelly Reily) and her secretary were busy cleaning out her office when the latter opened a box addressed to her boss and a bomb blew right in her face.

At the same time, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) was attacked when gunmen suddenly burst into his office and sprayed bullets at him. And if that wasn't shocking enough, John Dutton (Kevin Costner) was helping a lady and her little boy when a van pulled up beside him. A man got out and asked, “You’re John Dutton, aren’t you?” Within a second, he shot John in the chest and also killed the lady who ran away in fear.

After the tragedy, Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) tried to look for everyone but couldn't get in touch with John, Kayce, or Beth. He then called Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) who simply rebuffed him saying, “I don’t think you should call me anymore.” The most heartbreaking moment, perhaps, was when Rip spotted a dying horse and said: “I’d rather kill a thousand men,” he sighed, “than shoot another horse.”

As the episode came to a close, John could be seen counting like what seemed to be his last breaths. He took out his phone from his pocket and it had a hole. With that major cliffhanger, the one question on all minds is: Is John Dutton dead or will he survive? Even after the brutal attack, many viewers feel all three will live to see another day. "#YellowstoneTV way too early predictions for season 4-John-Casey-are alive-Beth is dead-Rip goes after Jamie w/a vengeance! Can’t wait for Season 4!" one fan said and another posted, "John’s nightmare came true! S3 E1."

One fan said, "Think about it ... John was on his way home when he was changing the tire ... the plan was already in motion ... not enough time for anyone but Jaime's birth father to do this... Yellowstone is an empire... kill the king..." Another said, "As much I hate to wait an entire year to see what happened...that's excellent writing. John Dutton foreshadowed that last scene when he told Tate about his nightmare in episode 1 this season. That's great storytelling! Kudos!"

Another viewer said, "Jamie did this. He and Roark. That ending is going to haunt me for MONTHS. When is season 4? Next Sunday, please?" Another posted, "I guess that's a part of the cliffhanger... was it Roarke escalating their war, or was it Jaime's power play against his dad? But you'd think that Jaime would know to take care of Rip and Kayce for sure. So that's why I'm thinking more that it's Roarke."

One even went on to say: "I think there’s two different scenarios—Roark/Willa bombed Beth’s office and went after Kayce bc Yemen comp but I think JD was allllllll Jamie. The other two were more planned out—mailed bomb/hit men but JD’s was dudes in a van who used their voices/could be identified."

The last episode of Season 3 on Paramount Network aired this Sunday, August 23, 2020.