‘Yellowstone’ Star Kelsey Asbille Is Rooting For Monica and Kayce

After waiting three episodes, we finally get to see Kayce (Luke Grimes), Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate (Brecken Merrill) reunited in an emotional and powerful scene in their bedroom at the Yellowstone ranch. After shooting and killing the man who attacked his mother in the Yellowstone Season 4 premiere, Tate is still having difficulty processing the trauma months later. As Tate hides under his bed, refusing to come to the dinner table, Monica sits close by, feeling powerless to help her son and furious at her husband for bringing them to live to live in this “evil place.”

As Kayce and Monica fight, he yells “this place isn’t evil, the people who tried to take it from us are evil and we’re not evil for defending it.” Stunned and angry at his outburst, Monica says quietly, “I hate you.” After that scene, it’s hard to imagine a future for the couple. Decider’s conversation with Asbille, however, left us feeling rather hopeful that Kayce and Monica will rekindle their love.

Decider: It’s a powerful moment when Kayce and Monica are discussing Tate’s episode under the bed and Kayce tells her, “he’s not scared. It’s you who’s making him scared.” How have the events of the Season 3 finale changed Monica as a mother?

Kelsey Asbille: I think that is one of my favorite scenes that we’ve done in Yellowstone. Kayce and Monica are such fierce protectors of their family, but sometimes they really just need to have it out. They have to fight with each other and *for* each other. It’s a really powerful scene and pays off in big ways throughout the season. The fight leads them into the next chapter of their relationship.

That scene between Tate, Monica and Kayce in Episode 3 would be tough for a seasoned actor, but even more difficult for a 13-year-old like Brecken Merrill. Can you talk about working with him and preparing for that scene?

Oh my God, have you seen Brecken? He looks like he’s 25! They might have to do a time jump for next season [laughs]. Brecken’s special. He’s an incredible talent. Sometimes people tend to overlook child actors, but they shouldn’t! Brecken has been thrown into these really big scenes with Kevin [Costner], Kelly [Reilly] and all these people, and he holds his own. I feel really proud of him as a TV mom. Plus, his character is starting to deal with some really tough subjects, especially this season, and Brecken handles it all so gracefully and well beyond his years.

The relationship between Monica and Kayce is even more fraught in Season 4. Is their marriage doomed or is there a future for them?

[Co-creator/writer] Taylor Sheridan has so much love for these two. Don’t let Taylor fool you, he’s a romantic, okay? I really do believe he sees them together in the end and so I root for them as well. I think they do have a future, but then again, what do I know?

While the Duttons do live by a certain code, their notion of justice is, to put it mildly, questionable at times. As an outsider living at the ranch, Monica is a witness to their actions and believes them to be evil. Where does Monica stand with the Duttons?

Oh my God. I know I’m going to get rinsed for that. [laughs] I obviously have to defend her. In no world is it easy being married to a Dutton. Monica has gone up against some really crazy odds over the course of the show. I do think last season Monica found some common ground with John Dutton [Costner] where she was like, “okay, maybe we’re both fighting for the same thing.” The Duttons don’t make it easy [laughs], but I personally don’t think they are evil.

Monica is one of my favorite characters on the show because she is a conduit of sorts for the audience, a way into the Dutton’s world. At times, she feels like the only person keeping the Duttons accountable for the actions they take in order to keep their land intact.

100% Monica is a conduit for the audience. She also almost serves as a conscience for the Duttons and I think that’s really beautiful.

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