'Marshals' Season 1 – breaking down the finale, those major cliffhangers

Warning: This story contains spoilers from the "Marshals" Season 1 finale, now streaming on Paramount+.

The "Marshals" Season 1 finale, which aired on CBS on Sunday, May 24, had plot twists, explosions and major cliffhangers that won't be resolved until Season 2.

However, nothing is more important than highlighting Mo, played by Taylor Sheridan-universe regular Mo Brings Plenty, jumping into full action-hero mode. It's like nothing we've ever seen from the loyal right-hand man and enforcer to Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) over 45 episodes of "Yellowstone" and Season 1 of "Marshals."

"It's about time. It was a great opportunity to show another side of Mo," Native American actor and cultural consultant Brings Plenty, 56, tells USA TODAY. "Being a protector, sometimes you have to take action, and Mo had to take some drastic action."

Here's what happened with Mo, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and the rest of the finale.

Mo gets pressed into protector mode for Tate, Rainwater

Mo was pressed into hero mode after more assassin attempts on Rainwater, the latest one coming at Kayce's East Camp residence with young Tate Dutton (Brecken Merrill). As the killers approach, Mo sends Rainwater and Tate upstairs for safety and tucks his long braids away.

"That's my tradition," says the soft-spoken Brings Plenty. "I don't want my opponents grabbing my braids. If that happens, that's a sure sign that something is going to go down."

And it did, with one assailant getting into the house and brawling with Mo in a one-on-one death battle. The scene relied on significant help from Native American stunt double Danny Edmo, but Brings Plenty brought it, too.

"I used to wrestle in school and once bucked horses and bulls for a living, so being tossed around was nothing new for me," says Brings Plenty. "It was a great, choreographed stunt. To be in the beginning and the end of it was fun. Mo was always going to fight tooth and nail, no matter what. I had to make sure I did my part."

Mo goes from brawling to shooting

The end of the fight comes with a battle over a knife blade, which a straining Mo almost reluctantly pushes into his foe's chest, killing him dead.

"Mo being a traditionalist, he's a lover of life and will always try not to take life," says Brings Plenty. "In that moment, he's almost asking for forgiveness in doing so."

Mo then pops up and gets into the battle, shooting firearms with his U.S. Marshals cohorts in an explosive, over-the-top gun battle with the assassins.

"It was exciting, I love all the action stuff," says Brings Plenty. "It was awesome to be side-by-side with the marshals. Hopefully, we get to see more action with Mo."

Belle and Cal get shot. Did they die?

One shocking cliffhanger involves Belle Skinner (Arielle Kebbel) and team leader Pete "Cal" Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green), who team up to check out a trailer home in their ongoing investigation. After looking inside to see a dead man, the two realize they are in the heat.

A pickup truck pulls up, and the driver locks eyes with Cal before smirking and driving away. The moving vehicle reveals two gunmen aiming at the marshals, who fire on Belle and Cal. The scene cuts after the gunfire before we find their fate. It would be tough to imagine losing these central characters like this, but we'll see next fall with Season 2.

May 26 add: The day after the season finale, both Kebel and Marshall-Green confirmed that their characters survived the ambush, are alive and will return for Season 2. So any lingering suspense there is now gone.

"I can confirm he is alive, but not necessarily unscathed," Marshall-Green told "The Hollywood Reporter" of Cal.

"I am a part of Season 2, yes," said Kebel. "We start filming with a pick up of that (finale) moment. My head is so deep into Season 2 already.

Is Tate kidnapped?

Tate is thrilled to be heading off on a private plane fishing trip with family friend, rich rancher Tom Weaver (the always-great Chris Mulkey). However, after the hit on Belle and Cal, the mysterious pickup driver pulls up to Tom's departing private plane.

"It's handled, sir," the driver tells Weaver, who is suddenly very clearly the force behind all the violence and mayhem.

So where does that leave Tate, who is unaware and still in Weaver's possession? Kidnapped? You don't mess with Dutton kin! The Liam St. John & Houndmouth song "Devil in Disguise" plays, signaling Weaver and his henchman stepping out as major villains in Season 2.

Does Luke have a 'Marshals' girlfriend?

Things are getting hot in Kayce's love life, even after the widower mournfully visits the East Camp memorial to his beloved wife, Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille).

Yes, Kayce and Dolly Weaver (Ellyn Jameson) are getting closer and closer. The pair end the episode romantically riding together with a mournful song playing, which is akin to Dutton-family love-making. And yet Dolly is the daughter of newly-revealed dastardly dude Tom Weaver. So is Kayce ever going to trust Dolly? Is kidnapping by your potential girlfriend's dad a dealbreaker for the relationship?

Once again. We'll have to see next season.