How ‘Yellowstone’ Ended for All the Main Characters

As a longtime fan of the gripping saga that is Yellowstone, I must say that the season 5B finale left me with a mix of emotions. The lives of these hardy Montana ranchers have been intertwined for so long, it’s difficult to imagine their world without the guiding hand of John Dutton (Kevin Costner). His demise was a shocking and poignant moment that brought all of us viewers closer together in our shared grief.

[This story contains major spoilers from the Yellowstone season 5B finale, “Life Is a Promise.”]

The central storyline of “Yellowstone” concluded with the season 5B finale. Although Taylor Sheridan and Paramount Network haven’t officially confirmed if this large-scale episode marks the end of the popular original series, there have been reports suggesting that two main cast members, Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, have agreed on a spinoff deal.

Without a doubt, the final episode of “Yellowstone” had an air of finality about it. Directed by Taylor Sheridan, the event named “Life Is a Promise,” while leaving some possibilities, also brought things full circle. It harkened back to the origins of the storyline, even closing down the Yellowstone ranch permanently – a move reminiscent of the prequel series “1883.” To keep the struggling ranch, the offspring of the late John Dutton (Kevin Costner), sold it back to the Broken Rock Reservation. This deal not only alleviated their financial woes but also fulfilled a 141-year-old commitment made by the Dutton ancestors who settled Yellowstone in 1883 to the Native American inhabitants of the land. After seven generations, the land has finally been restored.

Prior to Beth Dutton (Reilly) and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) leaving behind their family’s heritage for new beginnings with their respective families, there was an outstanding matter between Beth and her brother Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley). Over the years, a deep-seated animosity had grown between them, stemming from an incident in their teenage years when Jamie forced his sister to undergo sterilization without her consent. This longstanding hatred reached its peak in season 5B, resulting in another Dutton family member’s death following the assassination of patriarch John Dutton. This event was designed to facilitate Kevin Costner’s departure from the series and ignite the gripping narrative that unfolded over the past six episodes.

In a brutally violent altercation between Beth and Jamie, she ended up fatally stabbing him, plunging a knife into his chest. Remarkably, she escaped punishment for this murder, as her husband Rip Wheeler (Hauser) assisted in covering it up. What’s more, by manipulating circumstances, she arranged for Jamie to be declared missing and ultimately blamed for orchestrating the assassination of their father.

In the following piece, The Hollywood Reporter explains that each primary character has reached an apparent end – for the time being.

Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), with Carter (Finn Little)

At the conclusion, Beth took part in bidding farewell to her father, John, during his funeral service. This private ceremony for the Dutton family patriarch was attended by everyone, as they all paid tribute to the cowboy who owned Yellowstone ranch. Beth vowed a final promise to her father’s casket that she would seek justice for his murder. True to her word, she took action when she ambushed brother Jamie, resulting in his demise. However, Beth fulfilled an even greater promise when she and brother Kayce decided to sell the ranch back to the original Native American inhabitants, led by Chief Rainwater. In a deal worth $1.1 million, they sold the land for $1.25 per acre, which Rainwater called “the worst land deal since my people sold Manhattan.” This transaction was made to avoid an inheritance tax that neither party could afford on the property’s true value.

Beth expresses, “I’m fulfilling the pledge you asked of me, Dad, since your resting place is on Yellowstone land with our ancestors and the tribal members. You can see that it’s not going to be grazed by cows or developed into condos. We’ve triumphed.

In the narrative, Beth conceals her involvement in Jamie’s death by disguising evidence. Rip disposes of Jamie’s body, leading it to a train station, while she guides a detective on the John’s murder case towards incriminating evidence that links Jamie to his deceased girlfriend Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), who orchestrated the hit on John. The episode concludes with a tranquil moment shared between Beth and Rip in their recently acquired ranch, which is located 40 miles west of Dillon, Montana, away from tourists and bars. Their newly adopted ranch hand, Carter (Finn Little), accompanies them, and their future appears promising.

Kayce (Luke Grimes), Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate Dutton (Brecken Merrill)

This is exactly what I’ve imagined all along, in my dreams,” Monica says to Kayce, with Tate joining them, as John’s youngest son, Kayce, finally achieves his own long-held dream. At last free from his father and the burden of Yellowstone, Kayce rides away toward the setting sun, accompanied by his family, marking the start of him forging his own path after acquiring 300 cattle for their East Camp ranch. The house he’s been constructing during season 5B will be theirs as part of the agreement with Rainwater, ensuring a new chapter for them all.

Throughout the series, Kayce grapples with his life and future, frequently seeking wisdom from his Native American vision quest. He interprets these visions as a sign that he must eventually decide between his birth family and the family he’s created. However, in the end, he understands that he doesn’t have to be the one to save both. Instead, they could sell the ranch to the reservation for a minimal price, avoiding crippling sales tax, allowing the land to be reclaimed by its original Native American owners – the people who were there before the Duttons.

Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley)

In this harrowing turn of events, not every member of the Dutton family survived unscathed. It’s unfortunate but perhaps not unexpected that it was Jamie who met his demise. His complex past, marked by estrangement and adoption (a truth revealed during the course of the series), led him into a precarious situation from which even the wit of Montana’s Attorney General couldn’t extricate him. In the final confrontation, it was Beth who sought him out, catching him off guard in a brutal home assault. The ensuing battle between the feuding siblings was fierce, culminating in Jamie leaving Beth gravely injured by its end.

However, Rip manages to arrive at the crucial moment to support his wife during their decisive action. She fatally wounds Jamie by stabbing him in the chest and demands that he gaze into her eyes as his life ebbs away. Subsequently, Rip takes care of disposing of Jamie’s remains, following Beth’s meticulous plan – setting fire to the body inside a car on the roadside – resulting in Jamie being classified as missing. Tragically, he leaves behind an offspring, Jamie Jr., who is his child with Christina (Katherine Cunningham), whom he had reconnected with during the penultimate episode.

Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Mo (Mo Brings Plenty)

I vowed to your father long ago that I’d claim this very ground and restore it to its primal state, erasing any trace of human presence. I imagine he saw it as a warning back then. But our ancestors lie beneath that soil, and so do mine. It is hallowed ground. And that’s how we will honor it.

At last, one of my rival landowners ends up teaming up with the Dutton family in what’s being called the deal of the century. This pact was solidified through a blood oath between Kayce and Rainwater, whose spouse, Monica, hails from the Broken Rock tribe. “Now we are brothers,” says Rainwater, “not just to each other, but to this land as well.

This promise is realized in the final moments of Yellowstone, when the reservation moves into the land and begins to dismantle Yellowstone as we know it. But when some begin turning over the headstones of the Dutton elders buried there, they are stopped by Mo (played by Brings Plenty, who is also the show’s American Indian coordinator consultant). “They protected this land. They died for this land. And this land is where they’ll stay,” he calls out.

He rights the headstones of Elsa Dutton, followed by that of John Dutton, before Elsa’s voice again rises from the grave, and Isabel May (who also narrates Yellowstone prequel series 1923) explains as franchise narrator how this ending circles back to 1883 and the land promise made between her father, James Dutton (Tim McGraw), and then-Chief of the Crow Tribe: After seven generations of Duttons, they would come back for the land. Rainwater is chief of the fictional Broken Rock tribe, whose bloodline has been traced back in 1923 with his ancestor Teonna Rainwater (played by Aminah Nieves).

The Yellowstone Cowboys

Since the unfortunate demise of one of their colleagues, Colby Mayfield (Denim Richards), it’s become clear that the ranch hands at Yellowstone are facing uncertain times. With the Dutton family planning to sell the land, the bunkhouse cowboys have started seeking new employment opportunities.

In the aftermath of Colby’s departure, Teeter (Jennifer Landon), his grieving girlfriend, found the strength to approach Travis Wheatley (portrayed by the boss of Yellowstone, Sheridan) about a job opportunity at his Bosque Ranch. Meanwhile, cowboys Ethan (Ethan Lee) and Jake (Jake Ream) are making their way to N Bar ranch in New Mexico. The musician Walker (Ryan Bingham), whose song “A Song for the Stone” was played during the finale, intends to accompany his on-screen girlfriend (played by Hassie Harrison) on her travels. In a surprising turn of events, Ryan (Ian Bohen) initially expresses a desire to travel alone down dusty trails, but ultimately reunites with the woman he lost (portrayed by country star Lainey Wilson), and plans similar travels as Walker. The fate of Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) remains uncertain, as he declined Rip’s invitation to join him at his and Beth’s ranch.

Previously, cowboy Jimmy (Jefferson White), a recurring character in Season 5B alongside the Sheridans, was initially slated to feature prominently at the Four Sixes ranch and headline the anticipated spinoff series titled “6666“. However, the production of this series has been temporarily halted since Sheridan acquired both the Four Sixes and Bosque ranches in Texas. (Sheridan manages and owns these two Texas ranches.)

John Dutton (Kevin Costner)

After Kevin Costner left the series during seasons 5A and 5B, the fate of his character remained a mystery until the premiere of season 5B. In a surprising turn of events, it was revealed that John had taken his own life. However, as the season progressed, it became clear that an assassination plot against him had been set in motion, which eventually led back to Jamie and his girlfriend. Both of them are now deceased. The season 5B finale saw a poignant and ceremonial funeral for John, with each member of the main cast digging his grave by hand. A white rose was placed on his casket by each member before they bid their personal farewells. In the end, it was Rip who lowered John’s casket into the ground.

He expresses his gratitude to the man who saved his life, his future father-in-law. “I want to assure you,” he says, “that I will cherish your daughter just as she was cherished by you. I’ll do my best to love her deeply. See you soon.

For now, it’s uncertain whether we’ll catch up with Rip (and Beth) in the Yellowstone universe again. In the interim, season 1923 of the series will air on February 23, and the contemporary spinoff titled The Madison is being actively produced at present.

***

Here’s where you can watch Yellowstone, and don’t forget to come back here tomorrow for more about the finale. Meanwhile, delve into THR’s detailed analysis of the Season 5B ending.

2024-12-17 00:55