After five seasons and 53 episodes, Yellowstone was supposed to come to an end in December 2024, but that technically isn’t the case anymore. Taylor Sheridan’s popular TV show premiered in 2018 and took the country by storm. Many fell in love with Yellowstone’s complex characters (and grew to hate others), portrayal of cowboy culture and its real-world problems, and thrilling storylines and twists. However, a few months following the finale of Yellowstone season 5, part 1 in 2023, the Paramount Network announced that the second part of the series’ fifth season would serve as its last outing.
In the months leading up to the premiere of Yellowstone season 5, part 2, rumors about a potential sixth season started swirling. Neither Paramount nor Sheridan confirmed or denied these reports. Consequently, one had to assume that season 5 was the end of the neo-Western drama. As of the writing of this article, Yellowstone season 5, part 2 has featured John Dutton III’s death, the sibling war between Beth and Jamie brewing, and the threat of the family losing the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. All these stories will seemingly come to a head in the season 5 finale on December 15, 2024.
Yellowstone Season 5 Finale Is Supposed To Be The End
Paramount Previously Announced Yellowstone’s Fifth Season Would Be The Show’s Last
As mentioned above, the Paramount Network broke the news that Yellowstone season 5, part 2 would contain the show’s last set of episodes. The announcement came in May 2023, five months after part 1’s finale and a few days following Kevin Costner’s exit from Yellowstone. Once Costner, who played the Dutton family’s patriarch, John, left the show, Yellowstone was essentially doomed.
Costner was the face of the neo-Western drama — Yellowstone just doesn’t feel the same without the actor or his character. Paramount knew this, which is likely why they decided Yellowstone season 5, part 2 would be the show’s end. However, despite Paramount’s announcement, the future of Yellowstone has become more muddled than ever, more than one year after Costner’s departure.
Why Yellowstone Season 5 Finale Doesn’t Feel Like The Show’s Ending
Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 13 Does Little To Set Up The Series’ End
The future of Yellowstone is even more confusing considering the events of season 5, part 2. While the premiere began with a bang (literally), the following episodes have contained little to no development concerning the season’s story, the show’s overarching plot, or the characters’ arcs. Sarah’s death in Yellowstone season 5, episode 11 seemed like it could be the catalyst for the show’s final episodes. Instead, nothing has happened (aside from Colby’s unnecessary death). The penultimate hour (episode 13) was boring and did little to advance the story, meaning the finale has a lot of work to do to conclude countless stories.
The fact that the Paramount Network is marketing Yellowstone season 5, episode 14 as a “season finale” has also been a cause for confusion. When a show ends, its network or streaming service typically labels its last episode as a “series finale.” So, eyebrows were raised when Paramount released episode 14’s preview and called it a “season finale.”
Yellowstone Will Essentially Continue With Beth & Rip’s Spinoff
Kelly Reilly & Cole Hauser Are Confirmed To Return
The good news is that Yellowstone, or its story at the very least, won’t end after the season 5 finale. According to Deadline, a spinoff starring Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler is in the works at Paramount. The two actors have been negotiating a deal to return as their fan-favorite Yellowstone characters in a sequel series (or a sixth season, which was discussed at one point). Sheridan and Paramount have seemingly settled on bringing Beth and Rip back for a spinoff, though, which will have Yellowstone in its title.
As for other characters such as Kayce or Jamie, their fates or status in the spinoff series is unknown, and will likely remain that way until the original show’s finale premieres.
Based on this information, Beth and Rip will survive the Yellowstone season 5 finale. As for other characters such as Kayce or Jamie, their fates or status in the spinoff series is unknown, and will likely remain that way until the original show’s finale premieres. However, reports claim other familiar faces will return. Nevertheless, the project starring Beth and Rip will continue Yellowstone’s story and take place in the present day, which should ease some fans’ concerns about season 5’s last episode being able to feature a satisfying conclusion for every character.
