It isn't easy for Yellowstone star Wes Bentley to decide his character's worst mistake. Following the adventures of the Dutton Family, Yellowstone explores the many conflicts that come from owning a large allotment of land in a neo-western show that doesn't shy from politics and murder. With the Duttons owning the largest ranch in Montana, they need to do everything they can to maintain their land, wealth, and power, which often means sinking lower than any of them would have originally been able to imagine, which means that their soil is watered by blood.
Playing a deeply conflicted character with a strong love for his family and a resentment for how they have treated him, Bentley has taken up the role of Jamie Dutton, and Jamie has taken a real-life toll on Bentley, as the actor has struggled not to bring his character's misery everywhere he goes. In an interview with TV Insider, Bentley was asked what Jamie's worst mistake was. While he struggled to find an answer, given Jamie's many crimes and mistakes, he eventually settled on one surprising choice. Check out his quote below:
“The worst thing [Jamie] did was killing the reporter. I got sick doing that. That was sickening. So in action, that was the worst thing. In the root cause, though, it’s letting his father tell him who to be.”
Wes Bentley Is Right - Jamie's Murder Is The Worst
Michaela Conlin's Sarah Nguyen appears on the show as an investigative reporter interested in the affairs of the Dutton family. After Jamie reveals the extent of their crimes, he intends for the report never to be published, terms by which Nguyen refuses to comply. To ensure that the Dutton ranch survives, Jamie kills the reporter and covers up her death. Nguyen did nothing to deserve being killed, as Jamie never had to reveal the extent of the family's crimes. Had he remained silent, she would not have been able to uncover anything, making it entirely his fault.
Other mistakes that Jamie committed can at least be explained away with justification. He chooses to keep the secret of John's shooter safe to protect his biological father from Dutton reprisal, then later is forced to kill his father after being blackmailed by Beth. In that light, his rivalry with Beth is understandable, given she is willing to go so far to act against him. Every faction in Yellowstone is morally flawed, but at least most of their actions tend to be justified by the narrative or in their own minds. There is no way to justify leaking information to a reporter only to murder her moments later.
Will Jamie Actually Kill His Family In Yellowstone Season 5
The death of Monica and Kayce's baby has been a shock for the entirety of the Yellowstone cast, and it has even led John to consider a conservation easement for the Dutton ranch. With so much changing in Yellowstone, it would not be much of a surprise if Jamie finally snaps and kills his family in cold blood. After Beth forces him to kill his father, Jamie has already crossed the threshold of killing family, meaning he never needs to hold back. Bentley has already teased Jamie's revenge, so it seems likely that his next Yellowstone mistake will be taking out his fury on Beth, John, and everyone else who gets in his way.
Source: TV Insider