Many “Yellowstone” fans aren’t happy about Sunday night’s season premiere.

Nearly two years after the show’s final episode aired, Taylor Sheridan’s beloved western series finally returned to television for the premiere of season 5B. 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 to death.

‘YELLOWSTONE’ STAR LUKE GRIMES ADMITS ‘NONE OF US SAW’ KEVIN COSTNER EXIT

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

The death appeared to be a suicide, but there appears to be some suspicion that he was actually murdered.

Judging by comments made on social media, long-time fans of the series were not impressed with the way the show was handled. Costner’s departure.

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

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

— “Yellowstone” fan

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

Kevin Costner played John Dutton for the show’s first five seasons. (Getty Images/Paramount Network)

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

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

One person wrote: “John Dutton deserved to go out as a gladiator, not a victim. He completely undoes the series. Not a fan at all of how #Yellowstone handled Costner’s departure.”

Kevin Costner turned his attention to 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 responded, “I hear you. I’m not sure, but I don’t like this version. It jumped so badly it reminded me of how they broke the show.” game of Thrones with the last season.”

One particularly upset fan wrote: “I waited 2 years to watch a new episode only to watch it for 3 minutes and change the channel. Screw you, Taylor Sheridan, and screw you (Kevin Costner) for not resolving your differences.”

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

“I was very angry at Kevin Costner for quitting,” that person theorized. “He just threw his show in the trash. He doesn’t even care. It’s shit 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 during the Fort Worth premiere of the fifth season of “Yellowstone” 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 see anything else he’s involved in if this is the way he treats his fans who have invested so much in Yellowstone and especially John Dutton.”

Meanwhile, some people blamed Costner for the way the story unfolds.

One fan clearly said: “I blame Kevin Costner for leaving the show and where the story is now. He can take your ‘horizon’ and push it! Will it make me stop looking? No. I’m a loyal fan. To the show. Not Kevin Costner.”

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Another 6 episodes. I love seeing (Sheridan’s) original treatment. I’m sure it was fantastic.”

Some fans believe Kevin Costner, center, will appear as 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 I have no idea what happened between him and Taylor, but it seems like Kevin just left when they were FINALLY starting to film the new season. I didn’t offer a day, a time, a scene for help bring closure to her 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 would span six episodes, was going to be the last of the series. However, recently, despite Costner’s departure as the show’s star, there has been talk of continuing the story.

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

Reported deadline Talks began in August to film a sixth season focusing 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 believes there is more to explore, saying Entertainment tonight“It’s been a wonderful part of my life, you know, making ‘Yellowstone’. And who knows, sometimes some things have a way of coming back. I haven’t seen that trail of dust coming towards me, but I’ve always been open to what that I started and the five seasons were a lot for us. I think, you know, that story is not over.”