Kayce Dutton’s ongoing struggle to reconcile his late father’s heavy legacy with his responsibilities as a protective parent anchors the dramatic core of Marshals Season 2. In Episode 2, titled “End of Watch” and broadcast on Sunday, October 11, 2026, actor Luke Grimes portrays Kayce confronting deep-seated fears that his teenage son, Tate, could inherit the cycle of violence and family conflict that defined his own formative years in Montana.
The episode centers on a rogue former police officer who launches a dangerous vendetta against individuals he blames for destroying his career, dragging his own son directly into the crossfire. The high-stakes case forces Kayce to step in, evaluate the young man’s choices, and reflect heavily on his own complicated, often painful relationship with John Dutton. During a tense confrontation in the episode, Kayce warns the officer’s son, “Just because he dragged you through hell doesn’t mean you have to become the devil.”
The Echoes of John Dutton in Marshals Season 2
According to Grimes, that advice carries layers of meaning tied directly to Kayce’s upbringing under John Dutton’s strict and demanding rule on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Throughout the original series, John pushed Kayce to follow family expectations, famously branding him to maintain control. While father and son eventually reconciled, the trauma of defending the ranch left lasting scars.
Now starring in the CBS spin-off Marshals following the tragic off-screen passing of Monica in Season 1, Kayce finds himself navigating parenthood without his former support system. With Tate approaching his 18th birthday, Kayce worries frantically that his son cannot escape the violent shadow of the Dutton family name.
Wrestling With Father-Son Dynamics and Guilt
Grimes shared in interviews that a major theme of the second season is this father-son dynamic and the internal battle over what kind of father Kayce wants to be versus the intimidating figure John cut in his life. Compounding these fears is an underlying sense of guilt that Kayce never fully avenged his father’s murder.
Coupled with his military background and severe PTSD from his Navy SEAL days, Kayce remains extraordinarily hard on himself. Even as he leans on his new U.S. Marshals team-including Belle, Cal, Andrea, and Miles-to fill the void left by his estranged family, the heavy burden of the Dutton legacy continues to shape every move he makes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kayce Dutton and Marshals
What is Marshals about?
Marshals is a CBS drama series and Yellowstone spin-off following Kayce Dutton as he joins an elite team of U.S. Marshals in Montana, balancing law enforcement duties with the personal challenges of raising his son, Tate.
How does Kayce’s past influence his relationship with Tate in Season 2?
Kayce fears that Tate will inherit the violent legacy of the Dutton family. Having lived through severe trauma and warfare himself, Kayce constantly worries he is running out of time to guide Tate toward a peaceful and stable future before he turns 18.
Do any other original Yellowstone characters appear in Marshals?
While main characters like Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler do not appear in the current episodes-having moved to Texas-Kayce regularly interacts with Broken Rock Tribe allies like Chairman Rainwater and Mo.
Why does Kayce feel guilty in Season 2?
Luke Grimes noted that part of Kayce’s emotional arc involves struggling with the fact that he never fully avenged his father John Dutton’s murder, adding to his internal weight and self-criticism.
