A lot “Yellowstone” fans aren’t happy with Sunday night’s season premiere.

Nearly two years after the series’ final episode aired, Taylor Sheridan’s beloved western series finally returned to television for the Season 5B premiere. While it was widely known that the former star Kevin Costner would not appear, viewers were unsure how his absence would be handled.

The fate of Costner’s character, John Dutton, was quickly revealed – the episode began with Kelly Reilly and Luke Grimes’ characters, Beth and Kayce Dutton, discovering that he had been shot and killed.

‘YELLOWSTONE’ STAR LUKE GRIMES ADMITS ‘NONE OF US HAVE SEEN’ KEVIN COSTNER’S UPCOMING RELEASE

Kevin Costner’s “Yellowstone” character John Dutton died under mysterious circumstances during Sunday’s season premiere. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SCAD)

The death appears to be a suicide, but there appear to be suspicions that he was actually murdered.

Judging by comments made on social media, long-time fans of the series were not impressed with how the series turned out. Costner’s departure.

“Honestly the show creator missed the audience mark on this one by a million miles,” one person wrote on X.

“Can I sue the producers of Yellowstone for permanent emotional damage 30 seconds into this episode?”

– Fan of “Yellowstone”

Another person complained, “I don’t even want to finish the show anymore.” »

Kevin Costner played John Dutton for the first five seasons of the series. (Getty Images/Paramount Network)

“John Dutton was a fantastic character, and despite the Kevin Costner drama, he deserved a better goodbye than the one Yellowstone gave him,” someone posted, with another joke, “can I sue the producers of Yellowstone for permanent emotional damage 30 seconds into this episode?”

“Yellowstone has its first episode without Kevin Costner and they’ve already ruined it in the first 5 minutes,” one review read.

One person wrote: “John Dutton deserved to go out as a gladiator, not a victim. This completely defeats the show. I’m not a fan at all of the way #Yellowstone handled Costner’s departure.”

Kevin Costner focused on his “Horizon” film series after leaving “Yellowstone.” (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

When another person responded asking what other options the show had, the same person replied, “I hear you. I’m not sure, but I don’t like this version. It jumped the shark so much that ‘she reminded me how they undid it. Game of Thrones with the last season.”

One particularly upset fan wrote: “I waited 2 years for a new episode just to watch 3 minutes and change the channel. F— you Taylor Sheridan, and f— you (Kevin Costner) for not having settle your differences.”

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Some fans solely blamed Sheridan, with one person saying he “threw the baby out with the bathwater.”

“He was so mad at Kevin Costner for quitting,” this person theorized. “He just threw his show away. He doesn’t care. It’s crap and I don’t even see any reason to watch the rest of the season. We already know how it ends and we know who did it .”

Taylor Sheridan attends the black carpet at the “Yellowstone” Season 5 Fort Worth Premiere at the Drover Hotel on November 13, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

Another person said: “I’m not happy with Taylor Sheridan’s ego. I don’t watch anything else he’s involved in if this is how he treats his fans who have invested so much in Yellowstone and especially John Dutton.”

Meanwhile, some people have blamed Costner for the way the story plays out.

One fan clearly stated: “I blame Kevin Costner for leaving the show and knowing where the storyline is now. He can take his “Horizon” and push it! Will this make me stop watching? No, I’m a loyal fan. At the show. Not Kevin Costner. »

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Another X user also referenced Costner’s “Horizon” film series, writing, “It’s not like Costner gave them a choice.” He wanted to invest his fortune in his failed passion project. They couldn’t do much in a 6 episode arc. I love seeing (Sheridan’s) original treatment, I’m sure it was fantastic.”

Some fans believe Kevin Costner, center, will make an appearance because the new season includes flashbacks to the weeks leading up to his death. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Paramount Network)

One post read: “I love Kevin Costner and have no idea what happened between him and Taylor, but it looks like Kevin just left as they FINALLY started filming for the new season. I didn’t come up with one day, one hour, one scene to help close out his character. I’m not mad at Taylor at all.”

Representatives for Sheridan and Costner did not respond to Fox News Digital’s immediate request for comment.

Originally, the current season, which will span six episodes, was intended to be the series’ last. Recently however, despite Costner’s departure as the star of the series, there has been talk of continuing the story.

Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser could be the focus of additional seasons of “Yellowstone.” (Primordial)

Reported delay as of August, talks are underway to film a sixth season centered on Reilly and Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler, the husband of Reilly’s character.

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Costner himself said in September that he believed there was still more to explore, saying Entertainment tonight“It’s been a wonderful part of my life, you know, doing ‘Yellowstone.’ And who knows, sometimes certain things tend to go backwards. I didn’t see that trail of dust coming towards me. But I I’ve always been open to what I started and the five seasons have been a lot to do. I think that, you know, this story is not finished.