We are down to just three remaining episodes of Yellowstone. In finding ourselves on this precipice of the end, we have come dangerously close to returning to the emotional intensity of the early seasons of the modern western drama — arguably, one of the most influential episodic shows in recent television history.
Since its debut in 2018, Yellowstone, has captivated audiences with its rich ensemble of compelling characters and their often high-stakes political and personal conflicts, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the rugged American west. Following the multifaceted, somewhat morally ambiguous, Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner), we have been immersed into their collective stories, as they navigate the complex and tumultuous world of ranching, land ownership, power struggles, and family loyalty in Montana.
In these last episodes of the fifth and final season, all those connected to the Dutton Family have been left to pick up the pieces following the unexpected death of Father Dutton. In the latest episode, released December 1, we are back at the Yellowstone Ranch, just days after the supposed suicide of the former rancher-turned-governor, as Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and the ranch hands who did not make the trek to Texas begin preparing all viable horses for sale to cover the ranch’s mounting financial woes.
As the ranch hands question the long-term existence of the Yellowstone ranch, itself, Rip reaches out to long-time friend, Travis, at the Four Sixes Ranch to help with selling the Yellowstone horses to raise funds to pay the ranch’s taxes — of course, as the only alternative to having to give up the land. Travis, played by show creator Taylor Sheridan, himself, promises Rip to help sell the show horses that were brought down to Texas while also agreeing to tell ranch hand-on-loan, Jimmy (in a reprised role by Jefferson White), about the patriarch’s death. While Jimmy takes the news hard, he digs deep to continue his horse training with Travis’ crew to honor John Dutton’s belief in him to become a cowboy. It is a full circle moment for the wanna be rancher, who has come a long way from his early days stumbling and fumbling his way around a corral.
In Helena, Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) is questioned about the death of his partner, Sarah Atwood, as a result of another potential hit job we all witnessed in brutal technicolor at the end of episode 11. Played with remarkable depth by Bentley, Jamie’s antsy, and somewhat combative, behavior with the detectives draws attention to him possibly being a suspect, prompting the detectives to decide to come back with a warrant of his home. Weak, but certainly not a fool, Jamie makes quick work of eliminating any potential evidence tying him to the young attorney’s death.
Kayce (Luke Grimes), too, learns of Sarah Atwood’s demise while reading news alerts from his new position of power at the Yellowstone Lodge as the youngest Dutton adult heir continues to put his own plans in motion to uncover who, specifically, was behind the hit on his own father’s life. When Kayce informs his sister of Sarah’s death, and that the police are circling Jamie, Beth tells Kayce to leave their estranged brother to her. Unfortunately, for those who know, Duttons never do as they are told.
As the episode flips back and forth between Montana and Texas — there is a sense that we are coming to a desperate end of
our time spent watching the cowboys of Yellowstone Ranch work their magic out on the open range. In the episode’s filler scenes, complete with a somber chorus of symphonic strings, we watch the time-worn ranchers corral the last of their cattle onto their respective trucks, destined for another life in another town. It is a poignant reminder of how these intricate cinematic details of the cattle-ranching life and culture have remained the common thread woven into every episode for the past five years of the popular series.
Nevertheless, it would not be a complete episode, if our time at Yellowstone was not met with some measure of tragedy. It comes this time in the accidental horse death of one of the OG Yellowstone ranch hands. Emotions run high on this particular personal loss for all those involved, even more so for those thousands of miles away. When the unexpected takes place, it becomes real, real quick that the days are growing darker for the Duttons and crew, even as the sun continues to shine brilliantly over the venerable ranch. The end of life as we know it at the Yellowstone is near.
In a role that may be a surprise to even herself, it is Beth who must step in to help those left behind grapple with their own guilt for “their part” in the death of a friend and colleague. Kelly Reilly, as expected, does another masterful job tapping into that more tender side of Beth, when she finds herself as both mother and therapist to the men with whom she shares a common space, to bring them back to both the reality and the inevitability of their work, in the wake of this latest Yellowstone tragedy.
In a scene that could go down as the series’ most touching, to date, we get to see Beth become the mom she never thought she could be, when she counsels young Carter on the choice that was made to save his life. Spoken from the behind the most piercing, yet calming, blue eyes, she reminded the young orphan, he could either honor the sacrifice that was made for him, or squander it. The great lesson of the moment is that the soft and quiet conversation comes in the very tack room that held all the secrets to defining the hard and brash Beth we know today.
In roles that have somehow reversed — with Beth now the calm that comes before, Kayce has morphed into the proverbial storm that comes to wreak the havoc. To wrap the episode, Grimes takes a turn with his character and molds Kayce in way that we have never seen before, but has, in some ways, been hinted at since the start of the series. When a not-so-veiled threat is made to the alleged mercenary mastermind Sarah Atwood contracted with for the hit against his father, Kayce’s wolf in sheep’s clothing has undoubtedly emerged. In doing so, the throwaway words Rip so casually emotes to a ranch hand earlier in the episode become more prophetic with each moment — nothing is okay (at Yellowstone) and it never will be again.
Since 1883, many a life has been lost in the Dutton family lineage to preserve the land on which the Yellowstone ranch stands. To find out who will be the last Dutton standing when the dust settles on who will hold onto its future, tune in for the final two episodes of Yellowstone the series, beginning next Sunday, Dec 8, on Paramount.
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