Spencer Dutton’s Heroic Moment Reveals His Connection to a Key Yellowstone Character

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The genealogy of the Dutton family can get quite intricate, however, regarding Spencer Dutton, there’s undeniably one character from Yellowstone with whom he shares a familial bond.

Investigating the Dutton family tree is akin to untying a complicated knot. You might believe you’ve solved it, but then you discover another knot further down the lineage.

Everyone wants to know who John Dutton III’s grandparents were and how each era of the Dutton family connects. But when it comes to our favorite characters, it’s almost impossible not to spot the similarities between these ancestors and descendants. 

For one, the determined Spencer Dutton in 1923 definitely has ties to one of the most morally upright members of the family in the modern age. And no scene proves that as much as one in Season 2 Episode 4.

Spencer Dutton is a good man

During the new episode, Spencer is tracked down by police after he narrowly escapes a blockade that killed Luca. They know he was involved with the bootlegging operation somehow, but he insists he’s just a man trying to get home to his family.

In exchange for his freedom (maybe), they tell him to deliver the whiskey to Fort Worth anyway so they can track down the buyer. When they arrive, Spencer is suddenly caught in a shootout as the police and bootleggers go to war in the middle of the town.

Spencer manages to break free, discarding his handcuffs, then leaps from the truck. He sprints down the city streets, encountering a disturbing sight reminiscent of an earlier one – a woman, covered in tar and feathers, being publicly humiliated by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union as they march her through the streets.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel the tension as Spencer charges through the throng, aware that this is his last chance to reach the ranch. He approaches the humiliated woman, her hands bound, and swiftly cuts through the ropes binding her. With newfound freedom, she flees from the jeering crowd, and Spencer continues onward with renewed determination.

It’s a brief moment, but gives a glimpse into why Spencer is vastly different from some of the other Duttons. Typically, members of the family will rarely get involved in business outside of their own, and while they’d do anything for those loyal to them, they’re very much bystanders outside of their cattle-based world.

In that particular scene (and throughout the opening episode of Season 2), Spencer demonstrates his unwavering commitment to protecting others, especially his loved ones. He doesn’t hesitate to intervene when he sees injustice, making it clear that right always triumphs over wrong.

And frankly, doesn’t this all sound a little familiar? 

The Spencer to Kayce Dutton pipeline 

There’s one other Yellowstone character who feels like they’re spiritually connected to Spencer, and that’s Kayce. The youngest member of the modern-day Dutton family, Kayce is a man of few words and big actions.

To put it simply, as we delve deeper into Spencer’s personality, it’s becoming increasingly clear that he shares many traits with Kayce. Notably, they both have a military background, a shared experience that has significantly shaped their perspectives on life and left them both dealing with profound emotional wounds.

Secondly, both men ended up temporarily abandoning their families – Spencer ran away to Africa post-war, and Kayce distanced himself after his father disagreed with him and Monica having a baby.

They both decide to go back home and join the family ranch, understanding that their role is crucial in defending their past and shaping their future.

But even deeper than their shared life experiences, both have a similar heart. Much like Spencer shows in his Fort Worth scene, Kayce has often stepped into the line of fire to defend and protect innocent people.

In one instance, he steps in to tend to a man who gets blown up in a meth lab fire, making the decision to end his life to bring his horrific pain to an end. In another, he pursues two kidnappers after finding a young woman kidnapped and tied up in the back of a van in the wilderness.

Spencer and Kayce exhibit a unique blend of determination, focus, courage, and humility towards strangers. This quality distinguishes them from their families as they stand out in their respective circles.

They’re both quiet, thoughtful, and less outrageous versions of the big personalities they’re often surrounded by. And in that regard, they’re two Yellowstone characters who we love a little more than the rest. 

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2025-03-17 20:02