‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Ending Explained – A Death Is Avenged and a Fresh Start Begins

Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton standing on the front porch of the ranch in Yellowstone Season 5 Credit: Image via Paramount Network

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for the Yellowstone Season 5 finale.

Kayce Sells the Dutton Ranch to Rainwater and Broken Rock

Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) makes a pact with Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) on 'Yellowstone' Credit: Image via Paramount Network

Most of Yellowstone Season 5 has been dedicated to the bitter rivalry between Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley), which escalates to another level when Beth learns that Jamie is responsible for John’s death. Their brother, Kayce (Luke Grimes), is often caught between them and wants nothing more than to build his own legacy, free of his family and the shadows of his actions as a former Navy SEAL. Kayce eventually gets his wish when he suggests that Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), who often clashed with John over the rights to the land the Dutton ranch laid on, buy the ranchthat way, the Broken Rock tribe — who the land originally belonged to — could settle there while Kayce built his new house.

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Beth and Jamie’s Rivalry Comes to a Bloody End

Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) kills her adoptive brother Jamie (Wes Bentley) on 'Yellowstone' Credit: Image via Paramount Network

Now that the Dutton ranch is sold and John’s death has been avenged, what’s next for Beth and Rip? Early in the episode, Beth tells Rip she bought a plot of land for them to live on outside of Dillon, Montana so that they can have a fresh start. A spin-off series focused on the two is in the works, though Hauser and Reilly say that Rip and Beth’s next chapter lies in Sheridan’s hands. “It’s up to him. We trust him. He’s a master storyteller, and we help him tell these characters’ stories, and it’s been such a ride and so electrifying to play and so invigorating. I trust him with wherever he takes her; whether we’re leaving her where we’ve left her, or we’re going to find her somewhere else, I trust him,” Reilly told The Hollywood Reporter following the Yellowstone finale.

Is This the End of ‘Yellowstone’?

Beth and Rip wearing cowboy hats and talking Credit: Image via Paramount Network

“There is clearly an appetite for it to continue. Any great TV series that has a following that touches so many different people from so many different walks of life and so many different geographical locations… this story has had a profound effect on TV viewers. The dream is that there is more of the story to tell, and I think Taylor has left the door open for that to be true. What story he decides to tell? I don’t know.”

Whatever the future holds for Yellowstonethe series ended as it began: with people fighting for their family and forging a future for themselves, in the same vein as their ancestors. It’s also safe to say that the upcoming series will continue to feature bloody betrayals and characters desperate to defend what’s theirs.

Yellowstone is currently available to stream on Peacock.

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