Yellowstone Star Cole Hauser Explains Why Rip And Kayce 'Butt Heads'

Yellowstone Kayce Dutton Luke Grimes Rip Wheeler Cole Hauser Paramount Network

(Image credit: Paramount Network)

Viewers can attest that Rip and Kayce have had a tumultuous relationship during Yellowstone’s first two seasons. Rip is John Dutton’s right hand, while Kayce is John’s estranged-turned-reconciled son. It is a dynamic that endured new twists, as you can tell from Yellowstone Season 2’s three-disc set DVD/Blu-ray set, which is out now.

Among the extras in the three-disc set for Yellowstone Season 2 is some behind-the-scenes info on the drama’s fight choreography. Rip and Kayce were among those who duked it out in Yellowstone’s second season. A rite of passage clash for Kayce to take over as the ranch’s foreman. Is there more to the tension between Kayce and Rip, though?

Promoting the release of Yellowstone Season 2 on DVD and Blu-ray, Cole Hauser weighed in. Does the tension that exists between Rip and Kayce primarily come from a brotherly rivalry? Or are Yellowstone viewers going to learn there is something specific that Rip blames or holds against Kayce? Cole Hauser responded by telling me:

No, no, it's two alpha males who butt heads, and they beat the shit out of each other, and then they make up, and they move on. Those are two men who like I just said there’s brotherly love and there's competition to an extent and they fight it out like two bulls, and they move on. That's it. That's just the way of life on a ranch, especially the Dutton ranch.

There you have it! There is no secret grudge between Rip and Kayce like Beth and Jamie notoriously have. That's a good sign for Rip and Kayce’s relationship moving forward on Yellowstone. The two had grown closer by the end of the Western’s latest season. Hopefully, nothing will stop that bond from continuing to deepen.

On the Yellowstone Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray set, the cast goes in-depth about the characters’ differing relationships. As you can imagine, a lot is going on, both said and unspoken between them. Rip has spent most of his life trying to earn the love and acceptance of John Dutton. Meanwhile, Kayce has pretty much experienced both of those things from John, instinctively.

By the end of the season, John Dutton finally gave Rip the validation that he has been quietly working for over the years. In a “Behind the Story” featurette, you can watch on Yellowstone Season 2’s three-disc DVD/Blu-ray set, Cole Hauser discusses the “tear-jerking and heartbreaking” moment.

Suffice it to say, the fan-favorite seems to be heading into Season 3 with John Dutton’s backing as a son. Speaking of John’s sons, where Rip and Kayce have had an ongoing rivalry, Rip and John’s other son, Jamie, have not. In fact, the two are sort of friends. Cole Hauser has teased where Rip’s relationships with Beth and Jamie stand heading into Season 3.

Will Rip and Kayce end up being closer than Jamie and Rip currently are? The family drama will continue with more romance and new characters, so stay tuned!

You can relive Rip and Kayce’s epic fight on the Yellowstone Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray. It is out now! A premiere date for Yellowstone Season 3 has not gotten set yet by Paramount Network. While you wait to see what happens next with Rip and Kayce, you can check out this winter’s premieres.

Britt Lawrence

Like a contented Hallmark movie character, Britt happily lives in the same city she grew up in. Along with movies and television, she is passionate about competitive figure skating. She has been writing about entertainment for 5 years, and as you may suspect, still finds it as entertaining to do as when she began.