As a long-time fan of Yellowstone, I must say that this final season has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. From the shocking departure of Kevin Costner to the anticipation surrounding Beth and Rip’s fate, Taylor Sheridan has masterfully kept us on our toes.
[This story contains major spoilers from the season 5B finale of Yellowstone, “Life Is a Promise.”]
Yellowstone circled back to the beginning in order to deliver its ending.
Approaching the Season 5B finale on Sunday, there was no definite confirmation from Taylor Sheridan’s blockbuster series if this supersized episode would be the final one. However, for those who watched what Paramount Network referred to as a special season finale event, the conclusion seemed conclusive. Yet, it also hinted at possible directions for the Yellowstone universe in the future.
[Major spoilers ahead…]
In Sheridan’s masterful storytelling, the gripping one-hour-and-26-minute “Life Is A Promise” episode unfolded. As a devoted fan, I found myself deeply engrossed as the Yellowstone ranch, under the Dutton family’s stewardship, was returned to the Broken Rock Reservation. This monumental event signified the liberation of Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) from his father’s lasting legacy, and at the same time, paved a new path for his own family.
As I stand over my father’s casket, buried on the very land he fought so hard for, I vow, “I never broke my word, Dad. Not a single inch will be sold for high-rise buildings or condos. The Yellowstone remains untouched, just as you wanted it.
She later whispers, “I will avenge you.”
Beth utilized her father’s last words as a guide to meticulously plan a seemingly flawless assassination of Jamie, a man suspected of killing his own father, the late Governor of Montana, whose disappearance serves as the concluding plot twist in the series.
The final words I spoke to my dad were a vow – I’ll honor it,” Beth confided in Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), moments before asking him to escort her brother to the Dutton’s ‘disappearance point’. This is where people we don’t want around anymore, our adversaries, go and are never seen or heard from again.
Beth walks away from the attack on her brother bruised, battered and concussed. But she soon heals, and the episode begins to look ahead at what’s next for the ensemble and possibly the Yellowstone-verse at large by perfectly teeing up the reported Beth and Rip spinoff (more on that, below). Beth buys the pair a new ranch 40 miles west of Dillon, Texas, just far enough away from the airport, tourists or any land developer’s dreams. The ending also kickstarts a new legacy for Kayce, who says he wants to start his own brand and is seen purchasing horses with son Tate (Brecken Merrill).
After cowboy Colby’s (Denim Richards) unfortunate demise and the sale of Yellowstone, the original ranch workers relocated. For instance, Teeter (Jennifer Landon) secured a position at the Four Sixes ranch. This event brought Sheridan back on screen in the final episode, portraying Travis Wheatley, the horse trainer. Furthermore, Ryan (Ian Bohen) reconnected with his past love (played by country artist Lainey Wilson), who had previously eluded him.
The finale sees the imaginary Broken Rock Tribe settling in Yellowstone and demolishing the ranch. However, when they start removing grave markers of the Dutton family ancestors buried on that property, their actions are halted by Mo (portrayed by Mo Brings Plenty, who additionally serves as the American Indian consultant for the franchise).
In the heart of “1883,” it’s I, Elsa Dutton, who rise from the ashes, speaking through a whispering wind in a voiceover that binds the entire series and saga. Here’s my tale, woven into the fabric of this extraordinary journey.
Approximately 140 years ago, this valley was first mentioned to my ancestors, and we have lived here for seven generations. My forefather was informed that others would seek this land, and he vowed to regain it. This pledge, unwritten, persisted even after his passing, resonating within the very essence of this location. Land cannot be truly possessed by man; it must be encased in concrete, adorned with structures. It must be exploited for profit and developed so densely that neighbors can catch whiffs of each other’s meals. Wild land, untouched land, free land can never be owned. However, some individuals pay a heavy price to serve as its caretakers. They endure hardships and make sacrifices to survive on it and coexist with it, and they hope to instill these values in the next generation. If they falter, they seek another who will honor the vow.
In the concluding scenes, the camera focuses on the picturesque waterfalls of Montana, showcasing the landscape as both Kayce and Beth embark on new beginnings. Kayce resides at the old Yellowstone’s East Camp, while Beth shares a new life with Rip on their recently acquired ranch in Texas.
To understand this full-circle ending, you need context about how 1883 ended.
The initial Yellowstone prequel series that was broadcast as a limited series in 2021-2022 showcased a significant dialogue between an older Dutton character, James Dutton (portrayed by Tim McGraw), and the then-leader of the Crow Tribe, Spotted Eagle (acted by Graham Greene).
The 1883 prequel tells the story of how the Dutton family established their Yellowstone ranch, with Elsa Dutton (May), the daughter of James and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill), serving as the main character and narrator. As the series progresses, Elsa becomes gravely ill after being wounded by a poisoned arrow, ultimately leading to her death within a week. Due to his daughter’s impending demise, James alters their plans and leads Elsa on horseback along the Bozeman trail towards Montana’s Paradise Valley. He informs Spotted Eagle that he intends to settle the family near where Elsa is buried, so she can remain with them forever.
As I gaze upon the barren winter landscape, I can’t help but feel its harshness. Yet, come summer, this same land blooms with abundance. A man who prepares for both seasons can prosper here, and from what I see, you seem to be such a man, James – a man of foresight and planning, much like the one who would eventually establish the Yellowstone ranch, at the heart of the captivating saga that is now known as Yellowstone series.
He goes on to say, ‘Just remember, after seven generations, my people will reclaim what is currently yours.’
James responds, “It will be yours in the span of seven generations.” He further guarantees that the Crow Tribe will enjoy the liberty to hunt in Paradise Valley, thus establishing the bond between the Duttons and the Native Americans who originally inhabited the land they now reside on.
In the thrilling finale of Yellowstone, I found myself stepping into Kayce Grimes’ boots as he honored a promise dating back over a century. His actions mirrored the plan hinted at in the previous episode, when he confided in his sister Beth Reilly that our only hope for the ranch was to relinquish it.
At the conclusion of the season, and potentially the main show, Kayce decides to part with his family’s ranch, transferring it to Chief Thomas Rainwater (played by Gil Burningham), a member of the Broken Rock tribe whose lineage can be traced as far back as the year 1923. This is significant because 1923 is the second prequel series to Yellowstone, focusing on the early Duttons, and his ancestor Teonna Rainwater (played by Aminah Nieves) is a character in this show. May also serves as the narrator for 1923.
Kayce agrees to sell the ranch to Rainwater for a dollar and a quarter per acre, a price reflecting what his ancestors paid for the land initially. This affordable deal helps the Dutton family overcome their financial difficulties since they wouldn’t be able to handle an inheritance tax on the property if it were sold at its true value.
I can’t help but express my disbelief over the recent $1.1 million acquisition of the largest ranch in Montana. Frankly, it seems to me that this transaction might just rival the infamous sale of Manhattan by my ancestors!
Kayce’s proposal has two stipulations: First, Rainwater must transfer ownership of the East Camp back to Kayce so that he, Monica (Kelsey Asbille), and their son Tate (Merrill) can have a permanent home. Second, Kayce is forbidden from ever developing or selling the Yellowstone. Rainwater consents, and the agreement is sealed in a symbolic ceremony where they shake hands, symbolizing a blood oath. In this scene, Mo (Brings Plenty) sings a Native song, and Rainwater vows to safeguard the land for Kayce’s family and all their kin: “I will preserve this for you and for everyone connected.
As a devoted fan, I can relate to Grimes’ emotional struggle at the start of the season when he admitted feeling like a “mess” upon reading the final script for Season 5B. Just like him, I too had been holding off on reading it, prolonging my anticipation since Taylor had warned me not to know how it ended until we reached this moment. He shared that he did this because it might influence my performance differently, quoting Sheridan: “Probably best that you don’t know; I know how it ends.” I could feel the weight of the wait, and in a way, empathize with his desire to delay reading it further.
Meanwhile, Reilly hinted to THR that the finale would feature a key scene that would tie up the whole series, a scene not centered around Beth and Rip. “The final scene that concludes the series for me,” she said, “is one that doesn’t involve us and it’s in the last episode. I believe this scene is why the entire series was created.
The focus has been on Sheridan as people eagerly wait to find out what direction he will take his popular Western series, Yellowstone, following the departure of star Kevin Costner and the confirmation that season 5B would be its final season. However, rumors arose during the summer that fan-favorites Reilly and Hauser might negotiate for another potential season 6 of Yellowstone. This news emerged in May 2023 when the final season was initially announced.
Earlier this week on Wednesday, mere days before the finale, fresh rumors suggested that the duo had wrapped up agreements for their own spinoff show. However, Paramount Network has yet to verify these reports, as such confirmation might inadvertently reveal that Beth and Rip are still alive when season 5B ends this Sunday evening.
In various conversations with The Hollywood Reporter during this season, Yellowstone’s director and executive producer Christina Voros hinted that the Season 5B finale could serve as a satisfying conclusion, yet still retain potential for further storytelling. Voros commented, “The level of secrecy surrounding it gave off a strong sense that we were guarding an ending.” She added, “Any show wrapping up carries a certain weight. We want viewers to appreciate it as much as we do… The intrigue of the season finale lies in the way Taylor has subtly guided the story towards a conclusion, leaving room for speculation about what might happen next.
Following the second-to-last episode, when I inquired about a potential reference to “1883“, Voros playfully hinted that “Taylor has developed Yellowstone into a multi-generational narrative. The intricacies that arise from this approach add layers of depth and complexity to the Dutton story, making it more captivating and engaging. … The setting of Yellowstone, within the historical tale Taylor has been weaving, serves as the core. However, the plotlines are branching off in numerous directions.
Regardless of whether the finale is the ultimate end for the series, those storylines will carry on within the “Yellowstone” universe. Meanwhile, the second prequel series titled “1923” is scheduled to resume on February 23rd, and a contemporary spinoff called “The Madison” is being actively produced as well.
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Here’s how to stream Yellowstone and check back in with THR tomorrow for more on the finale.
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2024-12-16 06:25