Carter (Finn Little) is a recurring character in Yellowstone and his unanticipated growth spurt after season 4 changed his season 5 storyline. Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) is one of the best characters in the Yellowstone universe, including prequel series 1883 and 1923. At first, Beth comes off as a cold, prickly, and sometimes downright mean character who has a massive chip on her shoulder. Her protective nature can be destructive, and there are points in the show where it’s unclear if Beth wants to save the ranch or burn it down.
One of the best quotes in Yellowstone is Beth describing herself as a tornado and everyone else as the trailer park. This tough exterior is formed by past trauma; the loss of her mother at a young age and the death of her older brother Lee (Dave Annable), who dies in Yellowstone‘s first episode. Another painful aspect of Beth’s life is her inability to have children, caused by an abortion that she was not privy to the full consequences of. Since then, she has put aside the idea of ever being a mother — that is until Carter shows up.
Carter first appears in season 4, episode 1, “Half the Money”. Beth finds him hanging out outside the hospital, where his neglectful father is dying. The two strike up a friendship and after Carter’s father passes and with his mother not in the picture, the police come to take him away. Instead, Carter claims Beth is his guardian. Surprised at first, Beth goes along with the ruse, takes the young boy under her wing, and brings him to Yellowstone Ranch.
Rip (Cole Hauser) wants nothing to do with Carter at first, and for a time, he manages to keep Beth grounded, reminding her, “He’s not our son. No matter who he becomes, he never will be. Nobody will.” It’s not that Rip doesn’t want Beth to have a child; he just doesn’t want to see his wife hurt again if Carter leaves.
Carter’s acceptance of Beth and Rip’s tough love and willingness to stick around the ranch can’t help but impress them. Through Carter, Beth becomes the mother she always secretly wanted to be. Meanwhile, Carter is able to confront his past and forge a new identity for himself at Yellowstone.
Yellowstone season 5, however, does not follow up on the relationship between Beth, Rip, and Carter. The character is pushed into the background save for episode 6, “Cigarettes, Whiskey, a Meadow and You” when, in a side story, he develops a mutual attraction with a girl named Halie (Orli Gottesman). One of the reasons for this reduced screen time could be because of the growth spurt Little had between seasons 4 and 5.
Little was a small kid in season 4, but he has since shot up to 6′ 1″, looking far older than he did a year ago (via Esquire). Fans were quick to notice, some commenting on Little’s Instagram (via ET),
And another commenting,
Hauser even said that he was surprised to see how tall his cast mate had grown,
Carter’s diminished role in the show is most likely because he no longer looks the part of an impressionable young boy Beth could see herself nurturing. Yellowstone season 5 part 2 is still on its way though, and it could be the time for Carter to reenter the story in a significant way. His relationship with Beth and Rip could provide an emotional and complex story for the end of the series.