Kevin Costner’s Best ‘Yellowstone’ Quote Still Defines Taylor Sheridan’s Western 7 Years Later
An article marks seven years since Yellowstone's second season delivered a quote from Kevin Costner's character John Dutton that has come to define creator Taylor Sheridan's approach to the show. The line, "There's only devils left," delivered in the episode "Only Devils Left," is presented as capturing the moral ambiguity at the heart of the series, in which the Dutton family repeatedly bends or breaks the law to protect their ranch. The piece argues this ethos underpins Yellowstone's appeal and Sheridan's broader body of work as one of television's most prominent creative voices.
The quote comes as Dutton, played by Costner, faces pressure from Malcolm and Teal Beck, who propose an alliance to block a casino development, prompting his son Jamie to liken the deal to a pact with the devil. The article draws on comments Sheridan gave to The Atlantic, in which he described wanting to explore whether morality can factor into defending a "kingdom" once someone is cast as its ruler. It also references the Duttons' subsequent violent clash with the Becks, including the kidnapping of Kayce's son Tate and the killing of the Beck brothers, as evidence of the show's recurring moral trade-offs.
- Yellowstone's "only devils left" line still defines the show, article argues
- Quote from Season 2 episode reflects Dutton family's moral compromises
- Taylor Sheridan explains the show explores morality and power to The Atlantic
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Yellowstone is Taylor Sheridan's neo-Western drama, which ran for five seasons and followed the Dutton family as they fought to hold on to their vast Montana cattle ranch against developers, rival landowners and their own internal rifts. Kevin Costner starred as patriarch John Dutton, a man willing to operate outside the law to defend his family's land and legacy.
The article looks back at a much-quoted line from the show's second season, in which Dutton declares "There's only devils left" during a conflict with the Beck brothers, rival businessmen trying to force him into a deal over a casino project. Sheridan has spoken about using this storyline to question whether someone protecting what they see as their own domain can still claim any moral high ground.
The quote matters because it is widely seen as summing up Yellowstone's central theme: characters justifying increasingly ruthless actions in the name of protecting home and family. Sheridan has gone on to become one of television's most influential writers and producers, and Yellowstone's blend of moral grey areas and family loyalty has shaped much of his subsequent work.