It’s a big ask for this series to handle diverse characters well. Of the various underrepresented groups, women and Native Americans are the most visible in Taylor Sheridan‘s storytelling. Hoping for thoughtful and forward-thinking portrayals can feel frustrating, like trying to rekindle a relationship with someone who’s hurt you before—but you still hold onto the hope that they’re capable of change and growth.
After several seasons of Yellowstone and its related shows, a concerning trend has emerged in how Taylor Sheridan portrays women. They’re often depicted as either incredibly strong and traditionally masculine, or as weak and dependent, with little agency of their own. This seems to suggest a limited view of femininity, presenting these as the only two options for women – a pattern that appears to appeal to certain conservative viewpoints. Monica Dutton in Marshals exemplifies this latter, weaker portrayal.
How Monica Dutton Dies in the Yellowstone Universe, Explained
Throughout the development of the new Yellowstone spin-off, Marshals, fans wondered if Kelsey Asbille would reprise her role as Kayce Dutton’s wife, Monica. The first episode, “Piya Wiconi,” reveals the reason for her absence: Monica died of cancer. This cancer was caused by toxic waste dumped on the Broken Rock reservation, and several others there also became sick and died.
The show’s storyline focuses on Kayce dealing with the loss of his wife and raising his teenage son, Tate, all while starting a new job as a U.S. Marshal. Interestingly, Kayce is now finding himself in a position similar to the one fans previously criticized Monica for. Many complained she was overly focused on her grief and trauma, and constantly voiced concerns about Kayce’s family’s criminal background, ultimately viewing her as a burden.
A possible positive outcome is that this situation might make viewers realize they have different expectations for male and female characters. They focus intensely on a character’s flaws, but praise Kayce for simply handling basic responsibilities after a loss and while dealing with family issues. However, genuine self-awareness is unlikely, largely because the writers didn’t give Monica a satisfying or respectful storyline.
Monica Becomes a Victim of Fridging on Marshals
Women characters in Taylor Sheridan’s shows consistently endure intense physical violence, far more often than their male counterparts. It often appears that Sheridan believes women can’t experience meaningful emotional hardship, leading him to depict extreme physical trauma in graphic detail. A particularly devastating example is Monica in the final season of Yellowstone, who experienced the heartbreaking loss of her baby due to a car accident.
She and her family eventually found healing. After generations of conflict, Kayce sold the ranch to the Broken Rock reservation, allowing her to live peacefully knowing justice had been served and she could raise her son with Kayce on their own land. However, the showrunner of Marshals, Spencer Hudnut, unexpectedly ended her story by killing her off-screen, seemingly just to create drama for Kayce. This was a classic example of ‘fridging’ – a trope where a female character is killed off to motivate a male character’s plotline.
The term ‘Women in Refrigerators,’ created by Gail Simone, describes the common comic book trope of harming or killing female characters primarily to further the storylines of male characters. This pattern isn’t unique to Sheridan’s work, but it’s particularly noticeable in the case of Monica. Her death, which happens off-screen, serves mainly to emotionally break Kayce, setting the stage for his eventual redemption with the help of the U.S. Marshals.
The show Marshals suggests that Kayce can only reach his full potential if she dies, which is deeply upsetting. This highlights a troubling trend in modern television: Marshals seems to be prioritizing pleasing its audience—even if it means embracing harmful ideas—in order to profit from a predictable and uninspired spin-off.
What’s most upsetting about Monica’s death isn’t the death itself, but the fact that the writers could have chosen a less dramatic path. A recent interview with the showrunner suggests the decision wasn’t initially planned – it seems the actress who played Monica wasn’t available to continue with the series. However, he argues that killing off the character was the most respectful way to write her out.
It feels wrong to portray an Indigenous female character at her absolute lowest point. Wouldn’t it have been believable if Monica simply chose to leave Kayce, considering all the pain he’s caused her over time?
As a longtime fan of Yellowstone, I’m honestly really disappointed with how they’ve handled one of the original characters. She was a huge part of the show from the beginning, but the way they’ve written her off feels so small and unimportant. Seriously, even the way Taylor Sheridan had to deal with Kevin Costner’s exit – while messy – gave John Dutton a proper ending with a death and a funeral. This just feels…worse. It doesn’t give this character the respect she deserves after being with the show for so long.
Monica’s lines are intentionally vague and confusing, leaving viewers to figure out what she really means. While the character might not warrant such complexity, it’s become a trademark of shows created by Sheridan, and audiences now anticipate it.
New episodes of Marshals premiere every Sunday at 8 PM ET on CBS and Paramount+.
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2026-03-05 08:10