Introduction: Who Was Summer Higgins?
When Summer Higgins (played by Piper Perabo) first appeared on Yellowstone, she seemed poised to shake up the world of the Duttons. A passionate environmental activist, Summer brought a new dynamic to the ranching drama. The series, known for its tough, morally complex characters, immediately made her a character to watch. However, as time went on, it became clear that Yellowstone had no clear plan for her arc. The result? A character with a compelling premise that was ultimately left to wither without a satisfying narrative.
In this article, we’ll explore why Yellowstone never fully understood how to utilize Summer Higgins, and how the show missed a chance to develop her into one of its most interesting characters.
1. Summer Higgins: A Fierce Activist with a Promise
The Bold Introduction of Summer
When we first meet Summer, she’s not just another face in the crowd. She’s a firebrand, a fierce environmental activist who stands in stark contrast to the Dutton family’s way of life. Her protests against the Duttons’ cattle ranching operations and land development set up a clear ideological battle between the new world and the old one, between nature preservation and industrial expansion. Summer’s role seemed perfect for a series like Yellowstone, which thrives on complex family dynamics and moral ambiguity.
The Conflict Was Real, But What Happened Next?
As an activist, Summer had the potential to challenge the Duttons on a level that hadn’t been explored before. The show has a history of addressing themes like land ownership, power struggles, and conservation. Summer could have easily been woven into this thematic fabric, creating opportunities for deep conversations on the preservation of the land versus the exploitation of it. Instead, her arc quickly lost direction.
2. From Activist to Love Interest: A Missed Opportunity
The Shift That Left Fans Confused
The most glaring issue with Summer Higgins is how quickly her character’s primary focus shifted. Initially introduced as a passionate voice for environmentalism, Summer was soon relegated to a romantic subplot involving John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner). While this wasn’t necessarily a bad direction, it felt like a missed opportunity to explore the core conflict of her character.
Instead of delving into the tension between Summer’s activism and the Dutton family’s values, the show began to place more emphasis on her growing relationship with John. This romantic focus diluted the power of her original story. What could have been a battle of ideologies turned into a typical love story, leaving fans to wonder if Yellowstone ever truly understood what made her character interesting.
Why Did This Shift Happen?
While romance is often a compelling subplot, Yellowstone relied too heavily on it in this case. Summer’s role as an environmental activist didn’t need to fade into the background just because she and John shared chemistry. By transforming her into a love interest, the writers missed a chance to explore her internal struggle and to deepen her character beyond surface-level interactions.
3. A One-Dimensional Character: Summer’s Lack of Depth
Underutilized Potential
One of the most frustrating aspects of Summer’s character is how little we get to learn about her beyond her activism and relationship with John. Like many secondary characters on Yellowstone, Summer lacked the kind of backstory and development that makes viewers care about what happens to her.
Unlike characters like Beth Dutton or Rip Wheeler, who have rich histories that shape their actions and decisions, Summer feels flat. We’re introduced to her as an activist, but we never see her evolve in a meaningful way. The show doesn’t allow us to dive deeper into her motivations or explore the emotional toll of being an activist in a world so opposed to her values.
Why It Matters
For a show as complex and layered as Yellowstone, character depth is crucial. Summer could have been the perfect catalyst for exploring complex social issues like climate change, land rights, and corporate greed. But instead of fleshing her out as a fully realized character, Yellowstone relegated her to a secondary role, leaving much of her potential untapped.
4. The Duttons’ Complex World: Summer’s Missed Impact
A Perfect Character to Challenge the Duttons
At its core, Yellowstone is about family, power, and land. The Duttons’ sprawling Montana ranch is the heart of the show, and their control over it is fiercely defended. Enter Summer, whose environmental activism could have served as a perfect foil to the Duttons’ way of life.
Imagine the depth that could have been added by exploring her influence on John Dutton, who has always valued his land above all else. Summer’s role could have been more than just a protestor; she could have represented a shift in values, challenging the Duttons to rethink their relationship with the land they own. Instead, her impact on the Dutton family was barely felt.
Why This Lost Potential Hurts
Yellowstone thrives on creating moral ambiguity, where no character is entirely good or bad. Summer, with her environmental stance, could have added a new layer to the series. But the writers never let her fully engage with the family or with the larger themes of land and power. This lack of interaction left her character feeling isolated from the rest of the show.
5. Summer’s Romance with John: A Love Story or a Plot Device?
Romantic Drama at the Forefront
While Summer’s romance with John Dutton provided some tension and intrigue, it often felt more like a plot device than a genuine love story. The show’s decision to focus on their relationship drew attention away from the central issues at play—land rights, power struggles, and environmental activism.
Instead of allowing their romance to evolve naturally, it often seemed forced and disconnected from the main plot. This left viewers questioning the significance of Summer’s character in the grander narrative.
What Could Have Made It Work?
If Yellowstone had chosen to focus more on the ideological conflict between Summer and the Duttons, her relationship with John could have been an emotionally charged subplot. Instead, it often felt like an afterthought. A more nuanced approach could have elevated both the romance and the show’s larger themes.
6. The Absence of Summer in Later Seasons
Where Did She Go?
By the end of season 4 and into season 5, Summer Higgins slowly faded from the spotlight. What started as an intriguing character with clear potential became a mere footnote in the grand scheme of Yellowstone’s sprawling narrative.
Her absence left a noticeable gap, especially when considering how much screen time other characters were given. While Beth, Rip, and Jamie had their arcs develop in intriguing ways, Summer’s story seemed to stall completely.
The Bigger Question: Was Her Departure Justified?
The decision to minimize Summer’s role, or potentially even write her out of the story, left many viewers scratching their heads. Given the show’s knack for creating dynamic, multifaceted characters, why was Summer left behind? The lack of closure on her arc left a sense of dissatisfaction for fans who wanted more from her character.
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity for ‘Yellowstone’
In the world of Yellowstone, where land, power, and family dynamics take center stage, Summer Higgins had the potential to be a character who pushed the boundaries of the show’s narrative. As an environmental activist, she could have created an ideological clash that would have deepened the show’s exploration of complex themes. Instead, she became an underdeveloped character, reduced to a love interest with little impact on the larger story.
Yellowstone missed an opportunity to explore Summer’s true potential and to give her the arc she deserved. By sidelining her, the show lost out on a chance to offer a fresh perspective on the Dutton family’s actions and the moral struggles at the heart of their empire. Summer Higgins was a character full of promise, but Yellowstone never quite knew how to fully unlock it.
FAQs
1. Why was Summer Higgins not a more prominent character on Yellowstone?
Summer’s character was underdeveloped, and the show shifted focus from her activism to a romantic subplot, sidelining her potential as a central figure.
2. Did Summer ever challenge the Dutton family’s beliefs?
While Summer was introduced as an environmental activist, the show never fully explored her potential to challenge the Duttons on a deeper ideological level.
3. What happened to Summer Higgins in later seasons?
Summer’s role diminished significantly, and by the end of season 4, she was largely absent from the storyline, leaving fans wondering about her future.
4. Could Summer Higgins have been a better character on Yellowstone?
Yes, if given more depth and development, Summer could have added a unique perspective on the show’s core themes, such as land rights and environmentalism.
5. Was Summer’s romance with John Dutton essential to the story?
The romance felt like a forced subplot, detracting from the core issues Summer represented, and it ultimately didn’t contribute much to her character’s development.
