The debut season of Luke Grimes’ Yellowstone spin-off, Marshals, has officially wrapped. But when the end credits roll on Season 1’s finale, fans will still be lacking closure on major storylines and craving more addicting Dutton drama.
When we last left Kayce (Grimes) & Co. in Season 1’s penultimate episode, he was seriously considering selling East Camp to Tom Weaver (Chris Mulkey) while growing closer to Weaver’s daughter Dolly (Ellyn Jameson). Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Mo (Moses Brings Plenty) were fighting to protect Broken Rock. Cal (Logan Marshall-Green) was navigating his cancer diagnosis with help from Belle (Arielle Kebbel). Miles (Tatanka Means) was suspended from he team. And Cruz (Ash Santos) was considering leaving Montana behind to take a job in the D.C. office. So what happens next?
Marshals Episode 13, “Wolves at the Door” — written by Spencer Hudnut and created by Chris Chulack — sees another assassination attempt against Rainwater. Though he and Kayce still aren’t sure who’s behind the attacks when Season 1 ends, viewers get a good idea thanks to several last-minute jaw-dropping twists. So how does Marshals Season 1 end? Does Kayce sell East Camp? Who tried to kill Rainwater? And are two core characters dead?!
Looking for a Marshals Season 1 finale recap? Decider breaks down the major moments in Marshals Episode 13 below. Just be warned, massive spoilers lie ahead.
Marshals Ending Explained: Marshals Episode 13 Recap, “Wolves at the Door”
The final installment in Marshals Season 1 kicks off with an emotional Kayce walking outside, staring at his land, contemplating the big decision before him. He visits the horses, rides around taking in the beauty and serenity, and visits Monica’s grave in hopes of gaining the clarity he needs. As he kneels down, he hears a wolf howling in the distance, which feels like a sign. To sell or not to sell? That’s Kayce’s question. The answer?
Does Kayce Sell East Camp To Tom Weaver?
After Kayce returns home, he and Tate (Brecken Merrill) are working to clear the rubble from the fire that killed Garrett (Riley Green) when the Weaver truck rolls up. A confident Tom hops out and gifts Tate a fishing rod to sweeten the forthcoming deal. As Tom tells Kayce about his “More land, more cows, more profit” motto and presents his “generous” offer, his ranch foreman Jeb (Kevin McNamara) walks around the property to take it all in. Before Kayce even looks at the paperwork, he launches into the monologue we’ve been waiting for: “My family’s had this land for almost 150 years. A lot of blood, pain, and heartache came with it. Lord knows I’ve had my share. Clearing out ashes of fire that killed my friend, standing in the shadow of a house where my wife died. There’s definitely been a dark cloud over East Camp. But come spring, grass will grow, calves will start hitting the ground, this ranch will be full of life again. My life’s been defined by losing the things I love. And East Camp’s one thing I can hold onto.” And the Yellowstone fans go wild!
Tom takes the news surprisingly well, and Dolly makes it clear that she was never as interested in East Camp as she was in its owner. (Standing in the shadow of a house where his wife died? OKAY, girl!) With Kayce’s mind finally at ease, he decides to honor Garrett’s memory by turning part of the ranch into an equine therapy center for vets.
Does Cruz Take The Job In D.C. And Leave Montana? Is Ash Santos Leaving Marshals?
While Kayce decides to stay put, Cruz decides to leave Montana behind. With one day left as a Montana Marshal, she sets out to help Kayce and the gang find Rudy Carpenter (Braxton Hale), the bomber who evaded capture back in “The Gathering Storm.” As the finale progresses, Cruz shares heartfelt moments with her teammates. Cal urges her to “make sure you’re running towards something you want and not away from something you don’t. Belle and Cruz hug it out and share their respect for one another. And Kayce tells Cruz he wishes she’d reconsider, leaving Garrett’s cowboy hat in her locker as a parting present. While we can’t imagine Marshals without Cruz, she seemingly heads off to the airport before the finale’s end. We’ll have to wait and see what Season 2 has in store, but as far as we know, Santos isn’t leaving Marshals.
Who Tried To Assassinate Rainwater?
Now it’s time for the main event! The majority of Marshals full-circle finale focuses on Rainwater’s latest assassination attempt. With the Broken Rock chairman’s Senate committee speech approaching, he, Mo, and Miles are ambushed on the road by a black SUV that smashes into them and opens fire. In Mo’s words, “The wolves have returned,” so the three seek shelter at East Camp with Kasey and Tate while attempting to figure out who’s behind the hit. Rainwater’s political opponent, Councilman Nathan Irons (Gary Nohealii), comes to mind, but Rainwater thinks he’s all bark and no bite. Before the case is cracked, East Camp is attacked by a whole team of experienced gunmen. Kayce prepares for battle, Mo guards the door, and Rainwater and Tate arm themselves upstairs.
Kayce tries and fails to take down the gunmen himself. And though Mo takes out a man in the house, someone still makes it up to Rainwater’s room. Just when it seems like he’s a goner, Tate shoots and his attacker. And Kayce’s team abandons their stakeout to offer backup. (Even suspended Miles comes to fight!) An investigation reveals that the men were international mercenaries, which suggests someone more powerful — likely the same person behind the mine bombing — hired them. When the Marshals find Irons, he appears to have died by suicide, suggesting he was behind the plan to take down Rainwater. When the autopsy contests the cause of death, however, the team realizes they haven’t cracked the case yet. To be continued!
The Return Of The Weavers
Before the finale winds down, Tate assures Kayce that although he was driven to kill again, he’s emotionally sound and happy to stay on East Camp with their found family. Cal reinstates Miles to desk duty, which inspires Maddie (Morgan Lindholm) to give them each a second chance. We learn that Belle owes a gambling debt of $20,000 to a casino, and when she turns to her husband for help isn’t supporting, she decides to cross personal/professional boundaries with Cal and accompany him to his oncology appointment in Salt Lake. Thankfully, Rainwater’s big speech inspires a 60-day suspension of work on the mine and a full review of alternate sites. But the fight isn’t over…
With minutes left in the finale, the Weavers return to East Camp to check on the Duttons post-attack. Tom takes Tate on a bass fishing trip to Texas, while a flirty Dolly hangs back to keep Kayce company. The final lead of the season points to an East Camp ranch hand, but when Belle and Cal go to investigate, they find him dead. And that’s not all! They see Jeb, the Weaver’s ranch foreman, speed away from the crime scene. And when he moves his SUV, two gunmen shoot at Cal and Belle!
Are Belle And Cal Dead? Is Tate In Danger? And Are Dolly’s Intentions Pure?!
While we don’t expect Marshals to take out two core characters, the series does leave fans on a massive cliffhanger with Belle and Cal’s fates in the balance. Were they shot?! We’ll have to wait and see, but right before Tom and Tate get on the Weaver private plane to Texas, Jeb arrives and tells his boss, “It’s handled, sir.” *SCREAMS* Marshals still has a lot of loose ends to tie up, but heading into hiatus all signs point to the Marshals and Rainwater still in danger, Kayce unknowingly growing closer to the enemy (how much does Dolly know?), Tate in danger, and Tom willing to acquire East Camp at any cost. The closing song’s lyrics are, “Am I a good man, or am I a devil in disguise?” so it’s not sounding great!
What happens next? We’ll have to wait for Marshals Season 2. But in a dream Sheridan-verse world, Marshals and Dutton Ranch would find a way to crossover in Texas!
Marshals Season 1 is now streaming on Paramount+.