![‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Episode 14 – A Bittersweet Series Finale [Reveiw]](https://thathashtagshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/YS_514_081224_sc64_EM_00150_R-1-1000x640.jpg)
After a long and winding journey, Yellowstone has come to an end. Not the franchise, still thriving with multiple spin-offs, but the original series that started it all has officially written its final chapter. Since its debut in 2018, Yellowstone has captivated audiences, becoming one of the most popular shows on television. It also helped contribute to the revitalization of neo-Westerns. With series such as Outer Range and Territory owing credit, at least partially to Yellowstone. The series also became a merchandising powerhouse, with everything from officially licensed chili to cologne, its impact has been far-reaching.
For fans, saying goodbye to Yellowstone was always going to be bittersweet. The challenge was made even greater by the series’ condensed six-episode conclusion, a result of behind-the-scenes circumstances. Despite the truncated timeline, Taylor Sheridan still managed to deliver a finale that tied up most of the series’ key storylines, albeit in a more hurried fashion than viewers might have hoped.
Warning: The following review and recap contains spoilers from Yellowstone Season 5 and Series Finale, Episode 14 “Life Is A Promise”
What Happened To The Ranch In The Yellowstone Finale?
The 90-minute finale begins with a dramatic nighttime raid by members of the Broken Rock Reservation. They sabotage the pipeline under construction, tossing much of the piping into the lake. Interestingly, after the build-up of the pipeline and its impact, the aftermath of the raid is largely glossed over. It is mentioned only briefly in a quick exchange between Rainwater and Mo as to what the reaction would be. In a regular season, it would have been great to see how that “war” would have played out. Unfortunately, it is another thread we’ll never get to see realized due to the unusual circumstances of the show’s end.
Early in the episode, it’s revealed that Kayce is selling the ranch to Rainwater for $1.25 an acre. The same rate the land was valued at when the Duttons first settled there. The total amounts to just over $1 million, a deal Rainwater calls “the worst land deal since Manhattan was sold”. The only stipulations Kayce made were his family gets to keep the part of the land they are living on now, and that the land can never be sold. Rainwater quickly agrees, stating there are laws that prevent them from ever selling their land. This move ensures the legacy of the land remains undeveloped by outsiders. Which ultimately was one thing Rainwater and John Dutton agreed on.
For fans of the franchise, it wasn’t surprising to see the Tribe take ownership of the land. This outcome had been foreshadowed in earlier seasons and again in 1883. Resolving the fate of the ranch early on was a smart narrative choice. It ensured that it didn’t overshadow the rest of the episode and allowed the remainder of the episode to focus on closing the Yellowstone chapter for the series’ characters.
Fate Of The Cowboys
Teeter (Jen Landon) heads to Texas to work alongside Travis and Jimmy, starting a new chapter in her cowboy journey. Walker (Ryan Bingham) hits the road to travel the rodeo circuit with his barrel-racer girlfriend Laramie (played by his real-life partner, Hassie Harrison). Ryan (Ian Bohen), sets out to find Abby (Lainey Wilson), the one who got away and successfully reconciles with her.
Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), however, is the only cowboy whose story doesn’t end on a fully happy note. When offered the chance to join Rip and Beth at their new ranch, he declines, stating that if he can’t cowboy at the Yellowstone, he doesn’t want to do it at all. After over 40 years on the ranch, Lloyd’s future is left uncertain, and if nothing else, a little sad.
Overall, it was satisfying to see the cowboys’ arcs resolved, giving most of them a future to pursue the things they love. Thankfully, there were no more shocking deaths like Colby’s, allowing the remaining cowboys to exit the series unscathed. For a show that has seen its share of violent endings, this was a fitting sendoff as their Yellowstone chapter closed. With everyone still out there, fans can hold out hope for potential future appearances in the spin-off series’ that are in development.
Jamie Vs Beth Showdown
The moment audiences have anticipated since the series began, Beth and Jamie’s final confrontation, delivered the explosive drama many expected. Their showdown unfolded violently, with Beth ultimately driving a knife into Jamie’s chest. Fulfilling her promise to be the last thing he ever saw. Jamie’s final resting place, courtesy of Rip, was at the infamous “Train Station,” a long-expected ending for the black-sheep Dutton.
While this ultimate conclusion was inevitable for their bitter rivalry, my only complaint lies in the lack of Jamie’s presence in the final episodes. I expected to see more of his political maneuvering and Beth’s calculated counterattacks before his ultimate demise. Instead, this dynamic was left unexplored, possibly another casualty of the series’ forced conclusion. Even the attack by Beth offered little planning or scheming to pull off. She just showed up and waited in hiding for Jamie to arrive home. Of course, we do see she had a plan at the end to get away with it. Although one would think the disappearance of the Attorney General, who might also be involved in the murder of the Governor, would spur a bit more digging byfederal law enforcement. Rather than a somewhat flimsy statement to the local police.
For two characters whose identities were rooted in behind-the-scenes machinations, it would have been satisfying to see their strategic battle play out on screen instead of only a violent kitchen showdown.
The Big What If
With the series now concluded, it’s hard not to speculate how things might have unfolded if Kevin Costner had been able to continue. While it seems likely that the plan was always for the ranch to be sold or given to Rainwater, the journey leading up to that resolution would almost certainly have been different. John Dutton’s off-screen death, while necessary under the circumstances, deprived audiences of what could have been one of television’s most emotionally powerful moments. It’s safe to say no one wanted to see John Dutton go out in his pajamas.
It’s doubtful we’ll ever know what Taylor Sheridan may originally envisioned for the series had Costner remained. Regardless, it’s impossible not to wonder what might have been. Between the actor and screenwriters’ strike and Costner’s Horizon filming schedule, fans were denied the opportunity to witness something truly memorable, a poignant and fitting conclusion to John Dutton’s story.
What’s Next For Yellowstone?
As previously reported, the Yellowstone franchise will continue to grow with a spin-off centered on Beth and Rip. The series finale sets this up by showing their move to a remote ranch in Dillon, Montana. Which is a departure from earlier speculation about a possible relocation to Texas. It’s unclear whether this ending was specifically designed to set up the spin-off or if it was filmed before those plans were ultimately finalized.
This remote locale of their new home raises questions about how the spin-off will capture the high-stakes drama Yellowstone is known for. Being hours away from the nearest city and seemingly removed from major threats doesn’t align with the conflict-driven storytelling Sheridan usually delivers. A series focused on harsh winters and the challenges of standard cattle ranching feels more akin to Little House on the Prairie than the gritty world of Yellowstone. It will be interesting to see how Sheridan will inject the tension and intrigue that defined the original series into this quieter, more isolated setting. Of course, it is always possible that something will change for the location of the new series.
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Sound off and tell us what you think. What are your thoughts on the finale of Yellowstone? Also, what are your thoughts on the spin-off?
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