Kelly Reilly and Kevin Costner | Source: youtube.com/@BrainPilot
The much-anticipated finale of “Yellowstone” Season 5 finally aired, bringing the Dutton family’s epic saga to an end. The two-hour episode brought closure to some long-running storylines while sparking new ones. Key characters faced life-changing moments, while the ranch underwent a dramatic transformation.
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While some billed it as an epic conclusion, it didn’t land that way for everyone. Many fans took to social media to voice their frustrations and dissatisfaction. With the fate of key characters still uncertain and a spin-off already on the horizon, viewers wonder if the next chapter will live up to the legacy of “Yellowstone.”
A Symbolic Shift in Control
The finale opens with a striking visual that sets the tone for the rest of the episode. Under the cover of night, a group of Indigenous activists dismantles the controversial pipeline that had been a central point of conflict throughout the season.
The large metal pipes are dragged away by horses and rolled into a nearby lake, ensuring they will be useless for future construction. As the pipes sink beneath the water, it becomes clear that the long-standing battle over land control is nearing its end — but not in the Dutton family’s favor.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
Meanwhile, at the ranch, Beth makes a quiet but monumental revelation. She shows Rip a listing for a new 27,000-acre ranch and casually reveals that she’s already bought it. Rip is surprised but not opposed, agreeing that they could “make a living” off the land.
This moment signals a shift in Beth and Rip’s priorities as they prepare to leave the Yellowstone ranch behind. The sense of finality is further emphasized as Travis, one of the Yellowstone ranch’s trusted cowboys, says his goodbyes before heading back to Texas.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
John Dutton’s Death and the Family Funeral
The emotional core of the finale is centered around John Dutton’s funeral, which confirms the patriarch’s death after seasons of teasing his possible demise. The call comes early in the episode, with Beth answering the phone to hear that John’s body is ready for burial.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
From that moment on, the weight of his absence looms over every scene. True to the Dutton family’s rugged roots, the cowboys dig John’s grave by hand, reflecting the old-world values that John, played by Kevin Costner, lived by. His burial is a small, private affair attended only by family and the ranch hands.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
As John’s casket is lowered into the ground, Beth stands at the gravesite, visibly shaken. Fighting back tears, she touches the casket and reflects on the promise she made to him.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
“You made me promise not to sell an inch,” she says, her voice breaking with emotion. “There may not be cows on it, but there won’t be condos either. We won.” Her words serve as both a tribute to her father and a signal to the audience that while the ranch may be gone, the family’s resolve remains.
Kayce also has a moment of reflection with his son Tate. As they watch John’s casket being lowered, Kayce tells Tate that he forgave him — a moment of personal closure for a character whose relationship with his father had always been strained.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
Beth vs. Jamie — The Family Feud Reaches Its Peak
Following John’s funeral, Beth heads straight to Jamie’s house, filled with rage. No storyline in “Yellowstone” has been more intense or unpredictable than the feud between Beth and Jamie Dutton, and in the Season 5 finale, it reaches its violent conclusion.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
Her suspicions of Jamie’s involvement in their father’s death had been brewing for weeks, and now, she’s ready to confront him. Their confrontation escalates rapidly. Beth attacks Jamie with bear spray and a tire iron, catching him off guard.
But Jamie fights back, choking Beth and pushing her to the ground. The fight is raw, brutal, and unlike anything seen in their previous encounters. Beth’s refusal to give up is symbolic of her character’s unyielding nature.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
Just as Jamie appears to gain the upper hand, Rip arrives. He pulls Jamie off Beth and pins him to the ground. At this moment, Beth seizes the opportunity, driving a knife into Jamie’s chest.
The weight of her revenge is captured in one final, cold-blooded line: “I’m gonna be the last thing you ever see.” Jamie collapses, and it’s clear that he won’t be getting back up. With Jamie gone, Beth and Rip turn their attention to the body.
From a video dated December 13, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@TasteofCountryMusic
Following Dutton family tradition, Rip and Lloyd drive Jamie’s body to the “train station,” the spot where the Dutton family has disposed of their enemies for years. The site, located in a legal gray area on the border of Montana and Wyoming, has been a staple of the show’s darker subplots.
The scene closes as Jamie’s body is discarded, signaling not just the end of a character but the conclusion of a storyline that spanned multiple seasons.
Kayce’s Deal to Sell the Yellowstone Ranch
The most significant decision of the episode — and arguably the entire series — comes when Kayce makes an offer to Thomas Rainwater, leader of the Broken Rock Indian Tribe.
For years, John had fought to keep the ranch out of Rainwater’s control, but in this moment, his son makes a move that his father never would have.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
Kayce proposes selling the Yellowstone ranch to the Broken Rock Indian Tribe at a price of $1.25 per acre, a symbolic callback to the value of the land in 1883 when it was first settled.
As part of the deal, Kayce secures a portion of the land known as East Camp for his family, giving him, Monica, and their son Tate a chance to stay connected to the land.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
The official sale of the ranch is marked by one of the most symbolic moments in the episode — the removal of the “Y” brand from the barn. This single act represents the end of the Dutton family’s claim to the land.
As the brand is taken down, viewers are shown scenes of the barn being emptied, cowboys leaving, and the land itself being prepared for its new owners. The new era of Broken Rock control begins, marking a dramatic shift in power that had been building for five seasons.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
New Beginnings for Beth, Rip, and Kayce
As the final pieces of the Yellowstone ranch are packed away, key characters prepare to start fresh. Beth and Rip are shown settling into the new 27,000-acre ranch that Beth purchased earlier in the episode. Unlike Yellowstone, this new ranch isn’t marked by legacy or family history.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
It’s a chance for Beth and Rip to build something entirely their own. Rip takes one last walk through the empty Yellowstone barn, reflecting on everything they’re leaving behind. Later, he’s seen working on the new ranch, already settling into his role on the new land.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
Beth, too, seems more at peace, suggesting that their story will continue — but this time, on their terms. Meanwhile, Kayce, Monica, and Tate move to East Camp, the small plot of land that Kayce retained as part of his deal with Thomas Rainwater.
Unlike Beth and Rip, their goal isn’t to start fresh but to find peace. The episode closes with Kayce and Monica working on their land as they prepare for a simpler life. The final montage of scenes is filled with symbolic visuals.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
Indigenous activists reclaim the land, tearing down structures and reclaiming sacred ground. John’s headstone is erected, signaling that his journey is finally over.
And perhaps most striking of all, the “Y” emblem, which had been a symbol of the Dutton family’s power, is removed from the barn, ending the family’s connection to the land they spent generations fighting to protect.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
The Season 5 finale of “Yellowstone” sparked a flood of reactions from fans, many of whom were disappointed with how the story ended.
Fan Reactions to the Finale
The creative choices made by series creator Sheridan were also a frequent target, with fans accusing him of inserting himself into too many scenes and prioritizing spectacle over substance.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
One viewer voiced their frustration with the writing, saying, “The ‘#Yellowstone’ season finale was absolute rubbish. How long did you spend writing this one #TaylorSheridan? Fifteen minutes? You can blame Kevin Costner all you want, but YOU ruined the show.”
Another viewer echoed the sentiment, calling it “one of the worst series finales I’ve ever seen. Just incredibly lazy hack writing.” Others were upset with the fate of John and what his departure symbolized for the show as a whole.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
One viewer remarked, “Yellowstone finale was a big let down for me. Too predictable and Taylor Sheridan put himself in too many scenes when he was not an integral part of the family. Kevin Costner was ‘Yellowstone’ and the day he left the show, it died with him.”
The storyline involving Beth and Jamie also drew criticism. Fans took issue with how their long-standing sibling rivalry was resolved, with some feeling the confrontation was rushed and anticlimactic.
From a video dated December 9, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@BrainPilot
A frustrated viewer shared, “The #YellowstoneTV finale was a letdown that never should’ve happened. Sheridan ruined the best series on TV. Worse, he inserted himself and his wooden, blowhard character in the finale.”
Some fans, however, appreciated the emotional depth of the finale. A viewer acknowledged the show’s efforts to tie up loose ends, “I surprisingly enjoyed that finale. Shows should end leaving the audience wanting more. I actually thought it was time to end it. How long are we going to watch them fight over land? It ended before jumping the shark.”
Another summed it up with a scathing review, stating, “#Yellowstone finale tonight~season thus far has been a Taylor Sheridan ego trip not worth watching. Lots of ‘cowboy b-roll,’ little to no new plot twists, killin’ off lots of actors too. My review: 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼.”
Questions surrounding key character fates and the next steps for Beth, Rip, and Kayce remain at the heart of fan discussions. As the dust settles, a spin-off series centered on Beth and Rip promises to continue the story — but will it deliver where the finale did not?
