Ahead of Yellowstone’s long-awaited return with the back half of its fifth season, the stars of Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount Network smash sound as excited as

fans are. Cole Hauser, who plays Rip, tells TVLine that the episodes that start to air Sunday at 8/7c are “intense, full-on… ” Leading lady Kelly Reilly, aka Beth,

adds that they are also “emotional” and “raw.”

Without specifically mentioning the absence of Kevin Costner as Dutton family patriarch John, the actress acknowledges that “the show has had a big shift, and within that, it’s been sort of reenergized. There are things we get to explore and play this season that we never touched on before, and that was exhilarating.”

Laughing that, obviously, Season 5B is “the best one,” Kelsey Asbille lets Luke Grimes — Kayce to her Monica — elaborate. What’s coming our way, he says, “is everything that Yellowstone is, all wrapped into one. I think everyone will be satisfied with it.”

Rainwater’s portrayer Gil Birmingham admits that he’s not altogether sure what lies ahead. “We’ve received redacted scripts for the first time, so we don’t really know the storyline outside of what our characters are doing. But knowing Taylor the way I do, I’m sure there will be amazing twists and turns, some level of violence and some people, you know, not being alive.”

Perhaps likeliest to meet his maker is Dutton family black sheep Jamie. (Remember why?) Wes Bentley, who brings to life the politician, says that while Season 5B will give the audience what it wants, it may not be in the way that we expect. “There’s a striking difference in tone. But that’s similar to Yellowstone in general, because every season has had a change of tone and amps up [the drama]. That carries on through this season.

“I’m excited for the audience to see it,” he adds. “Taylor always delivers.”