Yellowstone Season 5 Finale Recap: Episode 14, Explained

It’s possible that last week’s funeral made up for some of fans’ collective disappointment. The local vicar speaks of John Dutton as “a man who dedicated his life to preservation.” our Way of life.” He even calls ranchers the “keystone” of humanity’s survival. I’ve always looked at that Yellowstone Ranch as the dying last gasp of manifest destiny – and John Dutton as the last guardian standing at the gates. I can’t tell you for sure why he left or whose fault it was. It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s just a damn shame that, of all the people he could have fought with, Costner went toe-to-toe with the arbiter of his character’s fate: the writer.

Thomas Rainwater purchases the Dutton Ranch.

So, Yellowstone ends on a bittersweet note. As Beth says in the finale, “The first thing my father will do in his grave is turn over.” Thanks to Kayce’s (Luke Grimes) discovery of a tax loophole, the Dutton family realizes that the only way to save their ranch is is to give them away. Kayce meets with Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Mo (Mo Brings Plenty). He was our prime suspect in helping the Dutton family by purchasing their ranch. It’s a welcome revelation that Sheridan hasn’t caused any trouble for fans.

“When my ancestors came here, the land was sold for $1.25 an acre,” says Kayce Rainwater. It was not their land to sell or buy. They were indigenous areas. “That’s the same price I’m offering you,” he says. The Dutton family cannot afford the inheritance tax. Converting the land into a protected reserve is the only way to preserve it. It’s also what fans have always wanted. Kayce and his family farm their own land in the eastern part of the camp. It can never sell rainwater, Kayce tells him. That’s the deal. “We can’t sell our land,” Rainwater informs him. There are laws against this. He then tells Kayce that he once told his father that the land would eventually be his. “He perceived it as a threat,” Rainwater said. It was a prophecy.

The rest of the finale takes place during a ceremonial funeral for John Dutton. Beth tells his coffin that “we won,” even though “it breaks her heart” that she had to lose him because of it. She also jokingly adds “I will avenge you.” Beth runs home and throws her heels on the lawn. It’s murder time. She grabs a big old knife and bear spray. (Especially not a gun.) Rip isn’t there to stop them because he’s burying John. He promises to take care of his daughter, who is on the run to avenge him.

Yellowstone Fans finally see the long-awaited fight between Beth and Jamie.

When Jamie arrives back home, Beth hits him twice in the head with a crowbar before spraying him in the face with bear spray. Their fight is campy and crazy. As Beth lies on the ground covered in blood, he announces his plan to rip off her family name and turn it into an airport. She has a better secret for him. They sold the ranch to the reservation for $1.1 million. When Jamie strangles Beth, Rip arrives and helps her do the job. He holds Jamie while Beth stabs her in the chest. “How badly are you hurt?” Rip asks her. Really bad! Before they call 9-1-1, he goes to dump Jamie’s body at the train station. There’s a pile of bodies somewhere in Wyoming. Pray the police never find it.

So Beth smokes a cigarette and waits for the ambulance – happy that the rumored spin-off seems secured. She buys a smaller ranch to run next to Rip in Dillon, Montana. I guess that’s where they’ll go next. Meanwhile, Teeter (Jennifer Landon) arrives in Texas to join Jimmy (Jefferson White) and Travis (Sheridan) at the 6666 Ranch. Ryan (Ian Bohen) attends a Lainey Wilson concert. Then the series ends with a dozen trailers for 1923 Season 2. A voice-over monologue by 1883 even concludes one of the final scenes. Yellowstone will never die.

Cowboys love to pack up and move on. That’s kind of her thing. Still, I don’t know what else there is for Beth and Rip to explore – especially with the Dutton family saga wrapped up in a neat little bow tonight. In an interview with PeopleHouser teased that the plan is to “see what happens in the next year or so, and then we’ll see what comes next.” Until that day comes, let’s just celebrate that this evening doesn’t turn into anything more Anger will end.