Beth kills Jamie while Rainwater buys the ranch
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers from the “Yellowstone” Season 5 Episode 14 episode, “Life Is a Promise,” which premiered Sunday, December 15 on Paramount Network.
Even though Paramount Network isn’t calling it the series finale, Sunday’s episode “Yellowstone” certainly felt like the end of the show fans have known for five seasons.
In the wake of last week’s sale of almost everything on the ranch, the series’ wandering souls were left adrift.
Goodbyes were said early, as Jimmy (Jefferson White), Mia (Eden Brolin) and Travis (Taylor Sheridan) returned home to the 6666 in Texas, while Teeter (Jen Landon) promised to come down in a week looking for work. . Walker (Ryan Bingham) says he’s going to follow his rodeo champion girlfriend around the track. Beth (Kelly Reilly) announces that she has bought a farm outside of Dillion – far from tourists and airports – so she can live with Rip (Cole Hauser). Rip offers Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) a job at their new ranch, but he declines, saying he needs to find himself.
Meanwhile, Beth and Rip prepare for the funeral of her father, John Dutton (Kevin Costner). At the same time, Kayce (Luke Grimes) tells Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) about his plan from the end of the last episode, specifically to have the Broken Rock Reservation purchase the Yellowstone for $1.25 an acre, since it was sold to the Originally Duttons.
It’s a nice moment, as Chief Rainwater and John Dutton were always the men most concerned about keeping the land pristine. And considering that their past conflicts have always been mild, it’s a sensible partnership. Plus, Kayce makes a deal to keep his small farm with Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate (Brecken Merrill), which is a sweet gesture.
For everyone at the ranch preparing for John’s funeral – and the metaphorical funeral of the Yellowstone itself. Jamie (Wes Bentley) spends his time preparing for how he will investigate the murders of both John and Sarah (Dawn Olivieri), hoping to avoid the political repercussions discussed in the previous episode .
The funeral was stylish and small, with Beth promising retribution for John’s coffin, after which Rip buried him himself and said he would take care of Beth. Of course, Beth speeds off in her car immediately afterwards, armed with bear spray and a large knife.
After sneaking up on Jamie at his home, Beth and her estranged brother get into a bloody brawl. It looks like Jamie might choke Beth, but Rip would interrupt him, grab him and free Beth to inflict a fatal stab wound on Jamie. Goodbye, Jamie – your plans always kept things interesting!
Rip and Lloyd take another ride to the train station with Jamie’s body while Beth promises to work with the police to tie him to the murders of both John and Sarah.
With things wrapped up, cowboy Ryan (Ian Bohen) apologizes to country star Abby (Lainey Wilson) and heads off with her for a lifetime on the road. Rip walks through the empty ranch grounds and closes the bunkhouse door, while Beth and Kayce take another look at the large, empty main house.
At the end of the episode, the tribe takes over the land and begins removing the Dutton signage, while preserving the cemetery. The closing voiceover is from Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), their ancestor who appeared in prequel series “1883” and “1923,” as Kayce’s family begins farming on their own terms, much like Rip and Carter (Finn Little) on their land with Beth.
As for the future of the show? Just this week, Reilly and Hauser signed on for a new spinoff of the series, so it’s clear that “Yellowstone” will return — even if it’s in a different capacity.
Happy trails, “Yellowstone” fans!
