Has it ever tickled your fancy that while the Dutton family harvests

the cream of the crop when it comes to spellbinding narratives,

some of Yellowstone’s most fascinating characters are left gathering

dust on the shelf? Certainly, with the series grafting its roots around the fractured family tree bearing the likes of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, it stands to reason that others would play second fiddle.

Yet, it’s hard to justify when a character like Thomas Rainwater, played masterfully by Gil Birmingham, is left on the cutting room floor, given short shrift while another chapter of the Beth and Jamie saga unfolds.

Fans, thus, are fluttering like a hive on a hot summer’s day, lamenting how Taylor Sheridan seems to be ‘wasting’ a talent like Birmingham—an actor of such caliber that he was poised to be John Dutton’s most formidable adversary.

Fans Speak Out: Thomas Rainwater’s Neglected Narrative in Yellowstone

John Dutton (the ever-magnetic Kevin Costner) & his misfit family seemingly get the lion’s share of the storyline in Yellowstone. From gripping monologues to dramatic Ranch fights, these folks are always hogging the camera. But what about the other characters simmering in the background? That’s right; we are talking about Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham).

Rainwater has all the makings of an enthralling character—ivy-league education, deep-rooted cultural goals, and an origin story worthy of its own spin-off. Instead, he’s often left out in the cold while we endure another Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Jamie (Wes Bentley) cage match. C’mon, Taylor Sheridan– give this character what he actually deserves!

Even the digital townsfolk are up in arms. Fans via Reddit are practically lighting pitchforks, arguing that Sheridan has wasted a key Yellowstone character. They emphatically state that Rainwater, Dutton’s greatest rival, is now little more than a wallflower. Every time Rainwater attempts to flex his muscles, it’s like he’s got John Dutton’s dialogue on repeat—getting chewed out.