After early reports of a six-episode conclusion, the episode count for Yellowstone season 5, part 2 has been extended. The show tells the story of a single family struggling to maintain their hold on the largest ranching empire in Montana. It is led by Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, and Luke Grimes, among numerous other actors that fill its ensemble cast. The show will be coming to an end with the second half of season 5, though it will be followed by multiple spinoffs.

Ian Bohen, who plays Ryan, previously hinted that Yellowstone season 5, part 2 will be just six episodes, but the plans have changed significantly since his report. While being interviewed by Deadline, Josh Lucas (who plays young John Dutton) indicated that season 5, part 2 will be expanded. During the interview, Lucas said, “I think we’re going to do 10 or more so episodes.”

Why Are Yellowstone’s Final Episodes Being Extended?

The final episode of Yellowstone season 5, part 1 aired on January 1, 2023, but the development of part 2 has been slow. The ending has been continuously delayed, partly due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023 and Kevin Costner’s scheduling issues. Season 5 was not initially planned to be the show’s ending, but those scheduling issues eventually led to Paramount and Taylor Sheridan choosing to conclude the beloved Western.

An initial episode count of only six episodes would make sense for a typical season, though even that would be an extension of a normal season’s length. Season 1 had nine episodes overall, while seasons 2 and 3 had 10. Season 5 was already poised to be longer, as the first half had eight episodes, which would have meant a 14-episode season had it progressed as expected. However, with the season suddenly forced to conclude the show, the extended episode count was necessary.

Paramount announced that the show would end with season 5 in May 2023, after part 1 had premiered in its entirety, meaning that Sheridan likely needed to make last-minute changes. The future of the Yellowstone franchise will be in its spin-offs, but the original show will still need to fill several holes before it can move forward. The extra episodes will allow the show to progress without an abrupt ending. The final state of Yellowstone season 5, part 2 remains in flux, but its episode count is rising as Sheridan works to provide a compelling conclusion.