Marshals Season 2 Episode 4 Ending Explained: Young Kayce Recast, New Actor

“Marshals” got Halloween started early on Sunday, bringing back a ghost from Cal’s past who’s been haunting him for years. Unfortunately, the episode was all tricks and no treats, ending on an explosive cliffhanger that leaves several of Cal’s teammates in danger.

Here’s everything to know: Kayce and Andrea have been avoiding their respective problems by chasing fugitives after-hours. As Belle points out, it’s very Bonnie and Clyde, but we’re more focused on the “You up?” text Kayce sends Andrea before meeting up for a late-night mission. Come on, we all know what that really means.

Anyway, one of Kayce and Andrea’s arrests leads to some intel about a “top 15” fugitive named Rudy Carpenter (played by Braxton Hale). If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the character first appeared in Season 1, Episode 4. Looking back on their decision to let Carpenter go, Kayce tells Cal, “Choosing to save Tom Weaver’s life was our only sin that day.” (Fun fact: In addition to playing Carpenter on “Marshals,” Braxton also played a different unnamed character on an episode of “Yellowstone.”)

Because Andrea got the original tip, Gifford puts her in charge of leading the hunt for Carpenter, which he also considers to be training for when she eventually fills in for Cal during his medical leave. Cal doesn’t love the extreme measures Kayce and Andrea are willing to take to pump Carpenter’s associates for information, making him wonder if Andrea has what it takes to lead the team — but like she points out, it worked, didn’t it?

With an Oklahoma City Boming-level threat on their hands, the Marshals discover Carpenter hiding out at a nearby farm, where he appears to be injured during a shoot-out. Down but not out, he manages to detonate a bomb in the episode’s final moments, blowing up the barn with Kayce, Andrea, and himself inside. “To be continued,” indeed!

The scares start early this week, as the episode opens on a flashback — more specifically a nightmare — to Kayce’s younger days. We see Young Kayce open his shirt in the mirror, revealing a fresh “Y” brand, to which he’s applying burn cream for some much-needed relief. As “Yellowstone” viewers will recall, Kayce’s father John Dutton forced the brand on him as a teenager; he and Monica refused to get an abortion when she became pregnant with Tate.

In this episode of “Marshals,” the actor playing Young Kayce is Berlin Enrique Nelson, whose work also includes the upcoming Netflix series “Poser.” Younger versions of Kayce on “Yellowstone” were played at various times by two different actors, Rhys Alterman and Kai Castor.

When the team is gathering intel about Carpenter, Belle and Kayce are sent to “interview” the fugitive’s ex-wife about his potential whereabouts. That whole scene is gloriously over the top (is it really necessary for Kayce to beat that security guard with a golf club?), but it also features a little nod to “Yellowstone.”

As Kayce is surveying the country club’s clientele, Belle asks, “Didn’t your family belong here?” In the most Kayce way possible, he replies, “My brother and sister did. … I was born for the barn, not the country club.” 

(References to Beth and other family members are always appreciated, but we’re starting to wonder if we’ll ever get a crossover between “Marshals” and “Dutton Ranch.”)

• Andrea’s attempts to combat her PTSD by throwing herself into other cases is not working out for her. Not only is she still carrying the emotional weight of her kidnapping, but she actually hallucinates one of Randall Clegg’s cronies in the mirror this week. (See, we told you “Marshals” was getting a jump on Halloween!)
• Speaking of Andrea, there’s no denying what’s happening between her and Kayce at this point. We clocked their chemistry back in Season 1, but now it’s on full display. Even without that little “You up?” text, it’s clear that their bond is beginning to extend beyond the boundaries of mere teammates.
• In other relationship news, Miles is still upset about having to keep Cal’s diagnosis from Maddie, but as Kayce reminds him, they have to respect Cal’s wishes. We’re just hoping that Maddie doesn’t hold it against Miles when she eventually does find out. We like them together.

How are you feeling after that explosive ending? Did you appreciate Kayce’s reluctant walk down Dutton memory lane? And are you feeling the sparks between him and Andrea? Drop a comment with your thoughts on this week’s episode of “Marshals” below.