How Luke Grimes took the lead of 'Yellowstone' in Sunday's stirring episode

In his best scene yet as Kayce Dutton, the supporting actor became the star.

With no offense to the strong Rip Wheeler, Yellowstone will always belong to a Dutton. There have been talks of a spin-off with Cole Hauser’s Rip and Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton, but the Montana ranch and main setting for Taylor Sheridan’s most popular show will have to be pried out Kayce Dutton’s (Luke Grimes) hands. The reluctant son-the one who has resisted every urge to stand up until his father, John (Kevin Costner), finally fell-is settling into the leader role for the estate.

***SPOILER ALERT, INTIMATE PLOT DETAILS SHALL BE DISCUSSED***

On Sunday’s season-launching episode, the third of Season 5’s back half and the fourth to last episode of the show before its wrap, Grimes had what was easily his best scene. In breaking down what exactly happened to his dad during his murder-setup, Kayce draws on his military experience. Describing how a team of guys could sneak into a well-guarded house and take out a man who could still defend himself was as emotional as it was tactical. With the coroner’s report rendering John’s death a suicide, Kayce has to literally stand over his father’s corpse and demonstrate on a lab tech how you could put someone out inside ten seconds with the right technique, no matter their size and strength.