Luke Grimes ready to ride into ‘Yellowstone’ sunset: ‘That doesn’t mean the door isn’t open for some things’

The end is near – and for Luke Grimes, after seven years playing volatile Kayce Dutton, bidding farewell to “Yellowstone” is OK.

Sunday launches the final half of the final season, dubbed Season 5B. A conclusion missing the participation of its sturdy patriarch, Kevin Costner, who epitomized American independence as multi-millionaire Montana rancher John Dutton III.

Costner reportedly exercised his independence with an early exit amid reports he clashed with series’ creator and writer Taylor Sheridan.

Grimes, 40, plays Dutton’s youngest son, the current Montana Livestock Commissioner. He’s ex-military, knows how to shoot and kill and has had difficulties with his father. His marriage to Monica (Kelsey Asbille) is complicated. She is from the nearby reservation and hates his family. Their young son Tate was memorably kidnapped and violently rescued.

As to how Kayce’s changed, “Less than he would like,” Grimes said in a Zoom interview. “He wants to find direction. A purpose or a path. Have something that he’s after, find his place in the world.

“It’s just been so hard for him through the seasons. What’s great about this final season is that he finally does pick a path. That was nice to finally have something to really play, sink our teeth into.”

Can the “Yellowstone” world we know really be over?

“It is in the sense there’s definitely a finality to how everything ties up in the last episode,” Grimes said. “That doesn’t mean the door isn’t open for some things in other worlds that relate to the characters.”

Looking back to 2017 when he began, what made this soapy Western an immediate hit?

“It’s hard to say. I’m not some cultural psychologist but it came along at a really good moment. When people were stuck inside with COVID, you were watching a show with these beautiful vistas that’s all about the outdoors.

“Maybe that was an escape for people, people that might not normally watch a Western show.

“They watched something that was different for them, and realized that there is something in the show for everyone. That’s due to Taylor Sheridan’s amazing writing talent. Just a lot of elements came together at the right time, right place.”

As a cultural phenomenon, “Yellowstone” has generated a huge online community.  Does he pay attention?

“The only time I hear rumblings of anything is through my mother, she likes to get on the forums and things. She always brings the rumor mill to me, unfortunately. So I try not to give her any spoilers. Every once in a while, she’ll get something out of me.

“You know, it’s amazing that people care that much to get on and write their own theories. It just means they love it as much as we do, which is great.”