Yellowstone is back! That’s it. That’s the headline — the only one that matters anyway. It has been nearly two years since the finale of Part 1 of the series-ending Season 5 of the modern-day western drama. The long-awaited final chapter of the hugely popular Taylor Sheridan juggernaut, starring Academy Award winner Kevin Costner, made its return to Paramount+ November 10.
There have been a cavalcade of questions surrounding the epic return of the series since it went on on extended hiatus in early 2023, but none more urgent than, would we even get to see how the story of the enigmatic Dutton Family ends, at all? It seems we now have our answer.
When we last saw our favorite dysfunctional ranching family — Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) had thrown down the gauntlet on her estranged brother, Jamie (Wes Bentley), igniting a war on which Dutton heir would prevail in the pride of their father, the future of the Dutton Ranch, and solidifying the family’s legacy. Patriarch John Dutton (Costner), now facing possible impeachment, was staring down the barrel of an uncertain future with his position as Montana’s 26th governor, an unexpected challenge brought about by his attorney general son, Jamie, at the end of Part 1; Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and his wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille) were coming to terms with their place in the family business, the world at large, and with each other; while Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), ever the stoic and always the cowboy, continued to make sacrifices and face difficult choices due to his fierce loyalty to the Dutton Family, this time being charged with moving the Dutton cattle to West Texas to preserve the herd.
Part 2 of Season 5 wastes no time thrusting you back into the complicated lives of the Duttons with a slap in the face, the sting of which you are still feeling through to the end of the final credits. There is a pivotal moment in the first few minutes of this lead-off episode that seals the fate of one character while having immediate implications for all the others, no doubt, setting the tone for the remaining five episodes.
Much of the remainder of the premiere quickly takes a quiet pause as it centers on the ranch hands’ trek to West Texas to work the cattle. Set in flashback detail, the crew, led by Rip as cattle boss, arrive at the not-so-fictional Four Sixes ranch, located in King County, Texas. The legit working cattle ranch, on and offscreen, is dedicated to the production of the finest American Quarter Horses and Angus cattle in the country.
Greeted by the Four Sixes crew of worn leather and weathered jeans, and the harsh reality of ranching Texas-style, Rip and company get to work on their imitation of life existence in the dusty, dirty, and windy South Plains.
What started out as a much anticipated continuation of the character-driven narrative about a complicated ranching family, quickly dissolves into a somewhat melancholy soliloquy on the future of the cowboy as Rip bemoans out loud no one doing his line work 30 years from now. The visual sequences that follow, with sweeping cinematography set to purposeful music, slows the pacing of the show considerably to be the first episode back after an extended break. Clearly, it represents the calm before the storm we know to be brewing up north for everyone connected to the Dutton Family.
Meanwhile, back at the (other) ranch — every pun intended, Beth Dutton returns in full form. Ever the warrior, with the literal battle scars to prove it, she remains one of the most compelling and complex characters on the series. Though, her presence onscreen for the episode serves as more of bookends to the central narrative this go-round, her presence looms large in every scene, nonetheless. Still reeling from the unexpected news delivered at the start of the episode, Beth, with smudged kohl liner and watery eyes, vacillates between her often volatile personality and the poignant vulnerabilities that have continued to emerge in her over time. Still, she takes the lead in preparing her and Kayce for what is sure to be a vicious showdown with their brother, Jamie, as the story continues to play out.
With the current events unfolding not has Jamie expected, himself, John Dutton’s adopted son has become even more of a sad and broken man. As the proverbial black sheep of the family, Jamie’s quest for power, which had put him at considerable odds with his father and siblings, has only deepened the chasm in regard to those relationships. The decisions he believed he was making in the best interest of his family’s legacy at the close of the early Season 5 storyline, have created a world where he is more isolated than ever. Wes Bentley, continues to do a masterful job expressing a range of emotions of the dejected Jamie, that play out as painful etchings across his face.
To round out the players this season, Chief Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and his right-hand Mo (Moses Brings Plenty) continue their own preparations for their ongoing fight to prevent the construction of an oil pipeline through Native American property, as Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), the poised and patient, yet calculating lawyer hired by Yellowstone Ranch rival Market Equities Group, continues to prove herself the poison thorn in every Dutton’s side. Be careful what you ask for with her.
Throughout its five-season run, Yellowstone, the series, has effectively captured the harsh realities of life in the American West while diving headlong into the emotional and moral dilemmas faced by the Dutton family - chief among them, how specifically to hold onto the majesty of the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
Each season, the series has thematically explored the core ideas of family loyalty, land ownership, power, and the struggle to hold onto legacy at the intersection of modernity and tradition, all set magnificently against the backdrop of Montana's stunning landscapes.
Created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, Yellowstone first premiered on June 20, 2018, to critical acclaim, and quickly solidified its place among the cinematic icons, as one of THE most popular shows on TV. To see how the Great American saga ends for yourself, look for new episodes to stream each Sunday on Paramount+.
###
On the KP Scale = 7 out 10
What did you think?
Loved it
Hated it
So/So
Comentários