Even Kevin Costner was a little concerned on behalf of Yellowstone before the show became the massive hit that it was.
It's crazy to think that the rollercoaster that was Yellowstone has officially come to an end. The journey that spanned over 6 years (felt like longer) and 53 episodes concluded this past weekend with an explosive, no-holds-barred finale. Funny enough, the ending was actually spoiled by a Reddit user back in August.
Taylor Sheridan's ending to the sprawling western drama was met with some mixed reviews online. Some thought he beautifully tied a bow on the story, while others suggested that it was the worst finale - and worst final season - since the Game of Thrones debacle that happened a couple of years ago.
Regardless, you have to think that Yellowstone would have had an easier time sticking the landing if Kevin Costner's iconic John Dutton character didn't have to be written out of the show with only a few episodes remaining. Fans were rather perturbed with how Costner exited the show, but if we're being honest (SPOILER ALERT), did fans really expect the patriarch of the Dutton family to get away with everything scot-free?
Despite not being present for the finale episodes, John Dutton's presence (and fingerprints) were all over the storyline that ended in... let's just say violent fashion. After all, the story revolved around Kevin Costner's character more than anyone else. He was the center of the show, and that was understood from the very beginning.
Denim Richards, who played Colby in the series. recently sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss how intricate Costner was to the success of Yellowstone. He even talked about his very first memory of the legendary actor walking in for the show's first ever table read.
As Richards explained, everyone was a little nervous about the new venture. Looking back with hindsight, they were all sitting down and getting ready to bring to life one of TV's greatest and most popular shows of all time. However, it was still very new at the time, and Kevin Costner's transparency apparently helped to ease the nerves everyone was feeling:
"Everyone is getting together and [Kevin Costner] walks in. He’s this massive presence, but so humble. Everyone is getting ready to get up from the table read and go outside. (Costner) said, ‘I don’t know about you guys, but I’m scared as hell. So why don’t we come together the best we can, and make this happen, and support each other.’"
What a message from the show's leader.
Denim Richards said Costner's speech helped to create and foster a closeness amongst the cast, and set the tone for the production and making it known that everyone was on the same level:
"You could feel the stress go out of the room. It was a beautiful thing. This is an Oscar-winning legend… whether or not he was really scared, who knows. But it gave everyone this extra level of confidence that there’s no hierarchy."
It would be crazy to think that Costner, who has been in such critically acclaimed hits as Dances With Wolves and Field Of Dreams, was actually nervous ahead of Yellowstone. But if you take him at his word, I guess he was. Part of me thinks he was just trying to get the western drama off on the right foot, and if his speech before the first table read had as big of an impact on other cast members as it did Richards, you could argue he did just that.
And when you think about it, it makes sense... everyone is kind of nervous to get started, but when the one person who isn't nervous (or at least you wouldn't think so) tells everybody else that he is, suddenly you don't feel so alone and terrified at that table anymore.
Stay classy Mr. Costner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_yusrocS28&pp=ygURWWVsbG93c3RvbmUgcmVjYXA%3D
