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Spoiler Alert for “Marshals” Season 1 Episode 2 — “Zone of Death”
Sonja Flemming/CBS
CBS’s prime time roster is packed with characters who walk the line between honor and inner conflict, such as Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) from “Boston Blue” and the many agents of “NCIS.” However, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) stands out as a morally ambiguous figure. In the episode “Zone of Death,” he is involved in a controversial act of mercy, granting a dying terrorist suspect’s final wish by ending his life. This act becomes Kayce’s first kill in the notorious area, familiar to “Yellowstone” fans as the train station.
The lead-up to this fateful moment unfolds in a familiar fashion. Kayce and his team engage in a high-speed pursuit of the suspect, which concludes with the suspect’s vehicle crashing. Severely injured and facing a painful death, the suspect pleads with Kayce to end his suffering swiftly. Despite the suspect’s evil deeds, Kayce is moved by his pleas and makes the difficult decision to oblige. He keeps the true reason for the killing to himself, a characteristic choice for Kayce, whose moral ambiguity was a hallmark during his time on “Yellowstone.”
Kayce often claims to be more compassionate and less ruthless than his family, yet in “Yellowstone,” he frequently toes the Dutton family line. Acting as the enforcer for his father John (Kevin Costner), Kayce carries out violent acts both in his father’s name and his own, though often with justifiable motives.
One of his most notable actions involves the murder of corrupt businessman Teal Beck (Terry Serpico) while Beck is on the toilet. Kayce’s justification? The Beck brothers had kidnapped his son Tate (Brecken Merrill) to manipulate John. On other occasions, he resorts to morally questionable tactics, such as threatening the child of corporate villain Grant Horton (Matt Gerald) to keep him at bay from the Duttons. Despite these actions, Kayce shows moments of mercy and kindness. Which aspect of his character will ultimately prevail? “Marshals” holds the answer.
This isn’t the first time Kayce has crossed a moral event horizon
Sonja Flemming/CBS
While Kayce Dutton has often protested that he’s kinder than his ice-cold family and less ruthless to boot, he had a long history of toeing the Dutton family line in “Yellowstone.” He acts as his dad John’s (Kevin Costner) muscle more than once, and commits acts of violence with impunity in his own name as well, though most of his actions are justified.
Memorably, he murders dirty-dealing entrepreneur Teal Beck (Terry Serpico) while he’s sitting on a toilet. Kayce’s actions are understandable in this case — the Beck brothers had kidnapped Kayce’s son Tate (Brecken Merrill) in an attempt to get to John. But Kayce also does questionable things like holding the child of evil corporate bigwig Grant Horton (Matt Gerald) at gunpoint and demanding that he stay away from the Dutton family. Yet Kayce frequently shows mercy to others as well as kindness. Which side of his personality will win out? Better watch “Marshals” to find out.
