LAS VEGAS – "Marshals" Season 2 has all sorts of daddy issues for Luke Grimes' Kayce Dutton.
The "Marshals" star and sensitive dad is raising son Tate (Brecken Merrill), who turns 18, following the death of Kayce's beloved wife, Monica (Kelsey Asbille).
Solo fatherhood has Kayce seeing his own difficult relationship with his TV father John Dutton (Kevin Costner) in a different light – especially as he and headstrong Tate begin clashing."The last thing [Kayce] wants is to become is his father, but he's definitely noticing a pattern," Grimes tells USA TODAY at the Season 2 "Marshals" premiere celebration in Las Vegas. "Kayce and John butted heads a lot, and now Kayce and Tate are sort of butting heads. A lot of what happens this season is [Kayce] trying
to fix that and nip that in the bud before it becomes exactly like his relationship with his father."
Season 2 features contemplative shots at John Dutton's simple grave on the East Camp property, made necessary after the uber patriarch was killed off in the 2024 "Yellowstone" final season, after Costner butted heads and fell out with creator Taylor Sheridan.
Grimes says he hasn't spoken with Costner since their "Yellowstone" days ended. "Not for any other reason than, you know, we're both busy guys and life moves on," he shares.
As for a possible John Dutton appearance in flashback on "Marshals," he adds, "I think it would be cool. I doubt that will happen at this point. I just don't know."
If Kayce were going to revisit someone from his past, however, Grimes has another choice. "If there was a flashback, I'd probably rather it be with Monica than John," he says. "I think that'd be more poignant to the character. But we'll see."
What's up with Kayce and Cruz on 'Marshals'?
Kayce is still wearing his wedding ring on "Marshals," even as he cautiously, and disastrously dips a toe back into the dating world. His slight dalliance with Dolly Weaver (Ellyn Jameson) in Season 1 amounted to long horseback rides around East Camp and never even reached hand-holding, despite Dolly's earnest attempts.
That budding romance ended spectacularly badly. Dolly's father, Tom Weaver (Chris Mulkey), kidnapped Tate in a plot to force Kayce to give up East Camp. Kayce initially suspected Dolly was part of the scheme but learned she was innocent and used her as leverage to get his son back.
During the escape, Tom drove off a cliff with Dolly in the vehicle. Tom survived, Dolly did not. Kayce spared Tom, deciding that living with his daughter's death would be a harsher punishment.
Kayce didn't exactly seem broken up over losing his first post-Monica almost-girlfriend. And fellow U.S. Marshal Andrea "Dre" Cruz (Ash Santos) is waiting in the wings, with their friendship already showing signs it could become something more.
Cruz isn't leaving the Marshals team, however, despite it being a Season 1 cliffhanger tease. And the two will venture to Cruz's hometown of New York City later this season.
"They're definitely building a really great connection and friendship right now," Santos says.
In real life, Santos has her own football connection with boyfriend Jordan LaMotte Pendleton, a 6-foot-2 former BYU linebacker who looks like he could have stepped straight out of "Marshals" casting.
Pendleton accompanied Santos to the "Marshals" premiere and has been schooling her on the subtleties of football.
"He helps me understand the game more because he played it," Santos says. "Our favorite season is fall. It's just fun."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luke Grimes hasn't spoken to Kevin Costner since 'Yellowstone' | Exclusive
