Why did Kayce get Branded?
Sure, I can explain to you why Kayce was branded in the TV show "Yellowstone". But first, let me ask you a question: Do you like family drama? Because if you do, boy, do I have a show for you. It's called "Yellowstone", and it's about a dysfunctional family of ranchers who are constantly fighting with each other and everyone else over their land, their legacy and their love lives. Sounds fun, right?
Well, one of the main characters is Kayce Dutton, the youngest son of John Dutton, the patriarch of the family and the owner of the Yellowstone ranch. Kayce is a former Navy SEAL who married Monica, a Native American woman from the nearby reservation. They have a son named Tate, who is adorable and also the target of various kidnapping plots. Kayce is also branded with a "Y" on his chest, which is not a fashion statement but a mark of shame.
You see, on the Yellowstone ranch, branding is not something you do to cattle, but to people. Specifically, to people who have done something wrong and need to prove their loyalty to John Dutton and his ranch. The brand is supposed to be a reminder that they owe their lives to John, and that they have to do whatever he says, no matter how illegal or immoral. It's also supposed to be a deterrent for anyone who might want to betray John or leave the ranch. Because once you're branded, you're branded for life.
So why did Kayce get branded? Well, according to John himself³, it was because he disobeyed him one too many times⁴. The final straw was when Kayce told John that he got Monica pregnant and that he was going to marry her⁴. John didn't like that idea at all. He wanted Kayce to take Monica to the clinic and not let her leave until she had an abortion⁴. But Kayce wouldn't do it⁴. He loved Monica and wanted to start a family with her. How dare he!
So John did what any reasonable father would do: He branded his own son on his chest³⁴. Not letting anyone else do it for him³, because that would be too easy. He wanted Kayce to feel his pain and his anger. He wanted Kayce to know that he had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. He wanted Kayce to suffer.
And suffer he did. Kayce had to live with the brand on his chest for years, hiding it from Monica and everyone else. He had to deal with the guilt and the shame of being marked as a traitor by his own father. He had to struggle with his identity and his loyalty, torn between his family and his wife. He had to face the consequences of his actions, which included killing people, getting arrested⁵, losing his job⁵, moving back to the ranch⁵, becoming a ranch hand⁵, fighting with his brothers⁵, getting shot at by enemies⁵, and so on.
But don't worry, it all worked out in the end. Sort of. Kayce eventually reconciled with his father⁵, who apologized for branding him and told him he was proud of him⁵. Kayce also became more involved in the ranch and its affairs⁵, taking on more responsibility and leadership roles⁵. He even said he understood why John branded him⁵, which is very generous of him.
(1) ‘Yellowstone’: Will the Show Explore More About Kayce ... - Outsider. https://outsider.com/entertainment/tv/yellowstone/yellowstone-will-show-explore-more-about-kayces-past-branding/ Accessed 3/15/2023.
(2) Why is Kayce branded on Yellowstone? What did Kayce tell Monica ... - ABTC. https://abtc.ng/why-is-kayce-branded-on-yellowstone-what-did-kayce-tell-monica-what-he-saw-on-yellowstone/ Accessed 3/15/2023.
(3) 'Yellowstone': Kayce and John Dutton's Complicated Relationship Explained. https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/yellowstone-kayce-john-dutton-complicated-relationship-explained.html/ Accessed 3/15/2023.
(4) Why is Kayce branded on Yellowstone? What did Kayce tell Monica ... - ABTC. https://abtc.ng/why-is-kayce-branded-on-yellowstone-what-did-kayce-tell-monica-what-he-saw-on-yellowstone/ Accessed 3/15/2023.
(5) Why did Kayce get branded in Yellowstone? - TimesMojo. https://www.timesmojo.com/why-did-kayce-get-branded-in-yellowstone/ Accessed 3/15/2023.
