Yellowstone: How does the Western series end? Explanations!

Please note that the following is a detailed plot of the latest episode of the Yellowstone series, now available on Paramount+. If you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want to know anything about its content, I suggest you stop reading this article now.

This time it’s the end. Either way, the end of Yellowstone as we knew it. The western series aired its final episode this week, ending an emotional 5th season. After a two-year wait, fans were finally able to learn the fate of John Dutton, following his actor Kevin Costner’s decision not to continue filming the show.

This departure led to an untimely end for Yellowstone. However, fans will get a chance to meet some iconic characters during the Beth and Rip spin-off. Other spin-off series, the 1923 (season 2) and 1944 prequels and the Madison sequel, will also see the light of day in the near future.

The heroes also said goodbye to Yellowstone

The finale of the series, the intertwined stories made it possible to conclude the main intrigues of this season 5. This episode opened with a hilarious discussion between the Yellowstone cowboys and Travis (played by series creator Taylor Sheridan). As the latter prepares to leave for Texas, Teeter decides to ask him for a job.

The death of his beloved Colby prompts him to change his environment. Travis agrees on two conditions: that he think his request through (Travis is not known for his sweet words) and that he tries to speak better English (his sharp accent hurts the cowboy’s ears). He understood the matter quickly.

In the last episode, Betty and Casey agreed to sell the ranch at a low price. Although it did not make them rich, the maneuver allowed them to pay taxes that the income from Yellowstone could not pay. The sale of the property also improves the plans of both.

A legacy too heavy to bear

Casey was never going to inherit Yellowstone. Long-term resentment led to a difficult relationship with his father. The latter has long felt trapped by the responsibilities imposed on him, as evidenced by the “Y” engraved on his chest with a hot iron. Because of his ties to the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, it made sense that he would enter into a contract of sale with Thomas Rainwater.

From the very first episode of the series, he dreamed of only one thing: to seize the land of Yellowstone. Casey then offers him a completely unexpected deal: a sale at the current prices at the time the land was transferred to his ancestor James Dutton (miniseries 1883). A deal is quickly struck between the two men and Yellowstone changes hands on the condition that it never be sold.

In turn, Betty gives Rip the ranch she wants to buy so they can live there with their adopted son, Carter. The Yellowstone leader seems to like the place, but worries that its location far from the city will be a problem for his wife. It would be a bad idea to get to know the latter, who finished buying the place before talking to her husband.

The Duttons settle the score

The episode then takes a more dramatic turn. The investigation into the circumstances of his death has been completed, which means that John Dutton will finally be able to be buried. His remains were returned to Yellowstone and only his immediate family and cowboys from the ranch were invited to the funeral.

Walking up to the coffin, Betty vows to avenge his death. After the funeral, the latter wastes no time in carrying out his threat. He drives his car at full speed without warning anyone. It will take some time for Rip to figure out where his wife is going.

Jamie didn’t attend his adoptive father’s funeral, but he paid tribute to him in a public speech. His career as Montana’s attorney general is already doomed because of his ties to Sarah Atwood. When he returns home, he is met by Betty, who seems determined to put an end to the brother she hates.

blood for blood

The fight is merciless and the blood begins to flow. Jamie gradually gains the upper hand over Beth, and after considering calling the police, finally decides to strangle her to put an end to it. The moment all fans have been waiting for comes when Rip shows up at the house ready to kill Jamie with his own hands.

But the cowboy is stopped by Betty, who wants to kill the traitor with her own hands. He punches her in the stomach and forces her to look into his eyes before taking her last breath. Rip quickly becomes concerned with the legal ramifications, but against all odds, it was all part of the plan Betty came up with.

Rip and Lloyd took Jamie’s body and his car with them. The remains are thrown from the top of the “station” where unsightly corpses are dumped. The car burned in a field in Idaho.

As for Beth, she goes to the police and reports the assault. Her testimony will help provide police with documents proving her brother’s involvement in John Dutton’s death.

The circle comes full circle in 1883

The new owners arrive in Yellowstone and begin taking over the place. Mo calls out to the youths who are trampling the headstones in the Dutton cemetery with their feet. The first grave he puts in place is Elsa Dutton, a character well known to fans of the Western franchise.

Then we hear the voice of the young heroine, a vocal cameo that really charmed fans of the 1883 mini-series prequel. This passage reminds us that when the lands were given to James Dutton, it was prophesied that they would one day return to their former owners.

Seven generations later, Yellowstone no longer belongs to the Duttons, but they remain their home for eternity, as many of them gave their lives to preserve the place. Therefore, the circle was officially closed with the plot of 1883.

The ending sees Casey start his own ranch with his wife Monica and son Tate. John Dutton’s funeral allowed his youngest son to find inner peace and forget past grudges. The dark days are now far behind the little family.

Betty and Rip also make a new home on their ranch with their adopted son Carter. The series is coming to a conclusion, and the trio’s adventures will continue in an upcoming spin-off (no official title yet). One thing is clear either way: the last episode of season 5 was definitely the last episode of Yellowstone.

All five seasons of Yellowstone can be seen in full on Paramount+, also available on Canal+.

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