Luke Grimes Explains Kayce Duttons Father Son Conflict in Marshals

CBS's Marshals follows Kayce Dutton as he confronts his father John Dutton's legacy and his fears for son Tate in Season 2 Episode 2, which aired Sunday, October 11, as the U.S. Marshals team handles a rogue officer case and family tensions in Montana.

The episode "End of Watch" centers on a former police officer targeting people he blames for ruining his career, according to NJ.com. The Marshals team also faces risks involving one of its own members.

Kayce's personal conflict grows after John and Jamie Dutton's deaths, the ranch sale, and Monica's death in Season 1, leaving him without the family support system he once relied on.

"Just because he dragged you through hell doesn't mean you have to become the devil," said Kayce Dutton to a young man during the episode's storyline.

Luke Grimes told TV Insider that Season 2 explores Kayce's struggle with fatherhood and his relationship with Tate, who remembers John Dutton with affection while Kayce struggles with the family's past.

"A big part of Kayce's arc in Season 2 is this father-son relationship dynamic with his own father and dealing with that," said Luke Grimes.

Grimes continued discussing how Tate's approaching adulthood affects Kayce's choices and fears about repeating past patterns.

"dealing with the fact that Tate's about to turn 18, and who he's gonna become, and what he's gonna wanna do, which we find out through the season. There's a lot of butting heads with those two, kind of how you saw with Kayce and John," said Luke Grimes.

The actor described the season's central theme as a struggle over what kind of father Kayce wants to become compared with the father he had.

"wrestling with the father-son dynamic," said Luke Grimes.

Grimes also addressed Kayce's unresolved feelings about John's murder and his belief that he failed to fully respond to his father's death.

"And at a certain point," said Luke Grimes.

The actor said Kayce's military history and trauma shape how he views himself and his actions while protecting his family.

"Kayce's pretty hard on himself," said Luke Grimes.

Grimes linked Kayce's self-criticism to his experiences in war and his desire to be a better person despite his family history.

"That's just part of who he is. With the massive PTSD that he deals with, and a lot of the regret for the things he had to do overseas and at war, I think he's a guy who, because he wants to be a good person and feels like he's been born into a family where that might be impossible, he's always been hard on himself," said Luke Grimes.

The actor said he hopes Kayce can find greater peace, though that conflict remains part of Marshals' ongoing drama.

"I would love to see him find some sort of peace, or find a way for a little bit more self-love," said Luke Grimes.