The popular Western drama Yellowstone has a lot of questions to answer and stories to conclude before the show ends with the second half of season 5.
Yellowstone will come to a close at the end of season 5, but before it concludes it has a lot of questions to answer and stories to wrap up. It seems likely that had it not been for Kevin Costner’s abrupt exit from Yellowstone the show would have continued for at least one more season, given how many storylines were still ramping up in the first half of season 5. As it stands, Costner is longer under contract with the show, and the back half of Sseason 5 will carry on without him.
Even if the story of Kevin Costner’s patriarch John Dutton doesn’t end as satisfyingly as most viewers would like, there are many other characters who deserve to have their arcs completed. While the story centered around John Dutton, many of the most interesting plot lines from the series focused on his children and their friends, allies, and enemies. These are ten questions that the second part of Yellowstone season 5 needs to answer before the show comes to an end.
10
Will Jamie and Beth’s Conflict End in Bloodshed?
For four and a half seasons viewers have learned the backstory behind the long-standing animosity between Beth and Jamie Dutton and watched the hatred escalate until it finally came to a head in the season 5 mid-season finale. With the devious Sarah Atwood whispering in his ear, Jamie was finally exploring a permanent end to his sister’s scheming after she made a threat against his son’s life and Beth seems equally ready to end the conflict once and for all. Yellowstone season 5 needs to show a resolution to the conflict, whether that be through reconciliation or violence.
9
Will Jamie Go Back to His Family?
One path to resolution could be for Jamie to come to his family’s aid. As acting Attorney General, he still wields enough power (and intelligence) to bend the law to his will in an effort to save the Yellowstone Ranch. Jamie would need to cast aside Sarah Atwood to do so, which could put him in her crosshairs and further complicate things. He could also come to his family’s rescue outside the law, which could be enough to convince Beth that his intentions are pure after holding the “Train Station” over the Duttons’ collective head. A satisfying conclusion to Jamie’s inner conflict needs to happen before Yellowstone ends.
8
Will John Be Impeached As Governor?
When season 5 of Yellowstone left off, Jamie had recommended to the state’s general assembly that John be impeached as governor for using his position to manipulate how his land is used. John’s maneuver cost the state potentially millions of dollars, and he did it all in an effort to protect his ranch. So far during his tenure as governor John has shown little interest in actually governing the state, so there is plenty of reason to think the impeachment will pass. If it does, there is a clear path for Jamie to become governor himself.
7
Will Senator Perry Step In With the Broken Rock Pipeline?
Lynelle Perry was often an advocate for John Dutton and his interests during her time as governor in Yellowstone, but as senator, she has a new slew of battles to fight on behalf of the state of Montana and her constituents. Some of those constituents live on the Broken Rock Reservation, and they are currently staring down the barrel of a pipeline that is on track to run right through the Reservation – specifically its reservoir. Senator Perry already got involved by giving Thomas Rainwater a heads-up about the pipeline, and it looks like she may need to take the battle to Washington herself if the pipeline is to be stopped.
6
Will Thomas Rainwater Get Ousted As the Broken Rock Reservation Chairman?
Thomas Rainwater may soon find himself with far less power with which to fight the pipeline. At the Yellowstone season 5 break, Rainwater was on the receiving end of the wrath of Angela Blue Thunder, the intelligent business consultant who he brought in to fight the Market Equities push into the Reservation. Blue Thunder was seeking to supplant Rainwater as Chairman of the Broken Rock Reservation due to his perceived inability to either protect or expand the Reservation’s territory. Battling the pipeline may bring the two adversaries together or be the final straw in removing Rainwater from his position.
5
Will Kayce and Monica Take Over the Ranch Permanently?
Despite several attempts to escape the ranch once and for all, Yellowstone season 5 saw Kayce and Monica Dutton agree to look after the ranch while John acted as governor and Rip took the herd to Texas to escape a brucellosis outbreak. Kayce did previously receive an offer to be a Special Investigator on the Broken Rock Reservation, so there is a clear path to him, Monica, and Tate leaving the ranch permanently. The second half of season 5 will need to show which path Kayce and Monica end up taking, especially as Kayce works to avoid “the end of us” that he saw in his season 4 finale vision.
4
Does Rip Survive Season 5, Part 2?
Speaking of premonitions, Rip has already stated that he would die on the ranch, and that has felt like foreshadowing on many occasions. The main enforcer of John Dutton’s will and leader of his branded men, Rip’s unwavering loyalty could be the thing that gets him killed. As one of the most beloved characters on the show, Rip’s death would have significant weight to it, and it would be perfectly in line with his character arc to die protecting the ranch or the Dutton family. While his popularity also makes him a natural fit for the Yellowstone sequel series, his season 5 death makes an unfortunate amount of sense.
3
Will Any of the Ranchers Get a Happy Ending?
Some of the best moments in Yellowstone have come from the supporting cast, particularly the group of cowboys who work on the Yellowstone ranch. Over the course of the series several romances have sparked, although they don’t always end well. Poor Lloyd already had his heart broken once, the season 5 mid-season finale saw Teeter and Colby’s blossoming relationship tested by separation, and Ryan broke things off with Abby (played by country music’s Lainey Wilson) to pursue his dream of ranching in Texas. Season 5 had better allow some of those cowboys to ride off into the sunset happily.
2
Does John Survive Season 5, Part 2?
With Kevin Costner decidedly not returning to Yellowstone for the back half of season 5, perhaps the largest question looming is how John Dutton’s story ends. A violent end makes the most sense given the nature of the show, but John’s death has not been confirmed in any way. In fact, with a sequel series on the way, it might behoove the writers to find a way to remove John from the main narrative while keeping him alive for a return. Having him actually fulfill his duties as governor or perhaps seeking medical treatment for his cancer would both make some narrative sense and allow for a dramatic return.
1
Will Tate Fulfill 1883’s Prophecy?
Many Yellowstone fans believe the end of the show was spoiled to some degree by the finale of its prequel, 1883. In the finale James Dutton, the original settler of the Yellowstone ranch, makes an agreement with the Crow Native Americans of the Paradise Valley, who allow him to establish his homestead there, but with the caveat that their people will reclaim the land in seven generations.
The seventh generation of the Dutton family would be represented by Kayce’s son Tate. Interestingly, that opens a door for the Crow chief’s prophecy to come true while the Duttons hold the ranch. Tate is half-Native American, and his mother is a lifelong resident of the Broken Rock Reservation. In theory, if the ranch were to pass to Tate, the prophecy could be fulfilled–the land will have returned to the people who originally lived on it. Even if that’s not how it plays out, the prophecy needs to be addressed in season 5 in some way.