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The character of Jamie Dutton in “Yellowstone”, portrayed by Wes Bentley, has a tragic backstory that extends into his everyday existence. He’s burdened with the guilt of killing his birth father, the loss of his adoptive parents, and the unfulfilled dream of becoming a rancher. But perhaps the most significant source of his sorrow is the relentless antagonism from his sister, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly). So, what’s the root of their animosity?
While some viewers perceive Beth as a sociopath who is excessively harsh toward her brother, others argue that her hostility has a basis. Most notably, a teenage incident involving Jamie greatly impacted Beth’s future happiness. Over time, Jamie’s behavior has only amplified Beth’s resentment, as her suspicions regarding his family loyalty turned out to be valid. Let’s delve into the root causes of their ongoing feud.
Jamie is the reason Beth can’t have children
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Beth’s animosity towards Jamie originates from an incident during their adolescence. Beth became pregnant and sought Jamie’s help to terminate the pregnancy. Jamie, however, took her to a free clinic and without her knowledge or consent, had her sterilized.
As the “Yellowstone” storyline unfolds, Beth’s anger towards Jamie escalates, especially when she chooses to settle down with Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser). She worries that her inability to bear children will leave her husband unfulfilled. Moreover, Beth carries the guilt of her abortion, as a young Rip was the unknowing father.
The revelation of Jamie’s son in “Yellowstone” Season 5 fuels Beth’s hostility. She tells Jamie that he doesn’t deserve fatherhood and threatens to take away everything he loves, leaving viewers wondering if she means adopting his child or committing a more heinous act.
Beth doesn’t trust Jamie throughout Yellowstone
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Jamie Dutton wasn’t always the black sheep of the family. As the family’s attorney, he served their best interests, even when they were on the wrong side of the law. However, their relationship fell apart when the family patriarch, John Dutton (Kevin Costner), thwarted Jamie’s political aspirations by running for the Montana governorship against him. This led to Jamie revealing damaging family secrets to a reporter, whom he later killed to prevent the story from leaking.
Beth’s mistrust of Jamie began with the sterilization incident and deepened when he betrayed their family. Furthermore, Jamie suggests selling parts of their land to maintain financial stability (and boost his political career), leading Beth to perceive him as a threat to their lifestyle, especially when he seeks John’s impeachment while secretly aligning with their enemies. Beth’s distrust of Jamie may not be unfounded, considering his role in John Dutton’s death — a fact well-known to all “Yellowstone” viewers, given Beth’s strong bond with her father.
Beth blames Jamie for her father’s death in Yellowstone season 5
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Jamie is implicated in John Dutton’s death in “Yellowstone” Season 5. His lover, Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), arranges for assassins to kill John, disguising it as a suicide. Jamie implicitly supports her decision after she confesses. Despite his initial mourning, it’s clear that Sarah acted independently, hinting at Jamie’s residual humanity.
Beth’s suspicion of Jamie’s involvement in their father’s murder is immediate. John’s death enraged many “Yellowstone” fans, but Beth’s fury towards Jamie is unparalleled. She threatens to kill him, but her brother, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), persuades her to wait for evidence.
Once they discover Jamie’s involvement, Beth confronts him, stabs him, and orders Rip to dispose of his body in the “train station” — a remote canyon that hides the Dutton family’s dark secrets. She also tells the police that Jamie attacked her and fled, tarnishing his public reputation as news outlets cover the story. Jamie’s loss of reputation would hurt him more than the stabbing, giving Beth the final victory.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
