‘Terrible Ending!’: Fans React to the Season 5 Finale of ‘Yellowstone’
A snippet of the finale, shared on Facebook by the show’s official account, displayed an emotional Beth Dutton (played by Kelly Reilly) laying a final white rose on her dad’s coffin before leaning closer to the casket to let him know that she plans to avenge him.
Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, and Wes Bentley at the “Yellowstone” Season 5 Part 2 premiere in New York City on November 7, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
The end of the sibling debacle concludes with Rip allowing Beth to attack Jamie with one final blow, which sees her fatally stab the brother she held a deep disdain for.
With the help of Lloyd Pierce (aka Forrie J. Smith), Rip takes Jamie’s body to the train station, while Beth informs the police about her late brother’s involvement in their father’s demise.
On the matter of the family’s land, Kayce Dutton (played by Luke Grimes) reveals his intention to retain the East Camp for his family and their 300 cows.
He sold the rest to Thomas Rainwater (aka Gil Birmingham) for $1.25 per acre, which — according to Entertainment Weekly’s episode synopsis — comes to a total of $1.1 million. Kayce’s terms for the deal include a stipulation that Thomas cannot make developments on the land or sell it. Thomas agrees to these terms.
The cast and crew of “Yellowstone” at the Season 5 Part 2 premiere of the show, posted on November 11, 2024 | Source: Instagram/yellowstone
Another echoed, “Season finale was lackluster. Deserved a much better ending,” while someone else opined, “Trash season. What a waste of such a great saga.”
“This season felt extremely rushed, too much fluff added and the parts that needed time didn’t get time. The longer the series went on, the worst [sic] it got! A disappointing ending to a series that started out so hot!” penned a viewer.
On the other hand, however, some people praised how “Yellowstone” ended. “Great finale! Was hoping they didn’t blow it. Everyone went on their separate ways and the natives got their land 💜,” commended a fan.
A fan gushed, “Kelly Reilly was amazing in tonight’s episode. This was the most fitting end for Beth or should I say the end of Jaime. ❤️🔪 I love how happy they all were in the end.”
“Great episode. I laughed, I cried, I cheered. Very satisfying that Jamie got taken to the train station. Loved that Ryan found Abby and loved seeing Rip and Beth at their new place,” highlighted an admirer. Adding to the discussion, someone else mentioned, “Tonight’s episode had me in tears 😭.”
The post includes an eye-catching photo of Reilly, Hauser, Grimes, Bentley, and Kelsey Asbille (who plays Grimes’ on-screen wife) posing as their characters. “Don’t miss a single second of tonight’s extended Yellowstone finale,” reads the post’s caption.
“TONIGHT! Don’t miss the epic finale of ‘Yellowstone,’ only on @paramountnetwork. #YellowstoneTV,” captioned Paramount and “Yellowstone.”
After disclosing the fact that she is currently working on a different project in the U.K., the actress divulged, “Whatever the future holds this is the ending of the show we have been making for the past 7 years. Words cannot convey how I feel about the people I got to work and create with over the seasons.”
Kelly Reilly | Source: Getty Images
Reilly went on to express, “I have made true life long friends. The support from the crew and the trust and dedication of the cast. The words I got to say and the woman I got to inhabit. It changed me. It lit me up. It challenged me in every way possible and I will forever be grateful for it.”
She then addressed “Yellowstone’s” creator Taylor Sheridan, whom Reilly said took a chance on her and constructed her character in a way that made her feel alive as an actress.
Taylor Sheridan and Kelly Reilly onstage during the Paramount Network portion of the 2018 Winter TCA in Pasadena, California on January 15, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Joining Reilly in bidding farewell to the show, Grimes shared a photo of himself sitting shirtless with his head bowed by a raging fire pit. “End of an era. Goodbye Kayce. You are a better man than I. To my ‘yellowstone’ family, thank you for the experience of a lifetime,” wrote the “True Blood” actor.
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser. | Source: Getty Images
While Hauser and Reilly are expected to lead the spinoff, which will adopt a present-day time frame, reports stipulate that they will be joined by other cast members from “Yellowstone.”
Buzz concerning the potential spinoff began when it became public knowledge that the show’s producers, MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, had been negotiating with Reilly and Hauser for months, which Deadline spoke about in August.
Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly as their characters from “Yellowstone,” posted on November 19, 2024 | Source: Instagram/yellowstone
It was then suggested that the duo would carry the series on as the lead stars of “Yellowstone’s” sixth season after Costner’s character’s death.
This was further bolstered by how Paramount Network promoted the finale of Season 5. Instead of referring to the recent episode as the overall end to the series, they called it the season’s finale.
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. | Source: Instagram/yellowstone
“Nothing is set in stone. But if Taylor wants to write it, I would want to do it. That’s it. Because he’s the one that’s written every single line I’ve ever said. She came from his imagination,” revealed Reilly in September.
Taylor Sheridan and Kelly Reilly. | Source: Getty Images
According to Entertainment Weekly, talks about continuing “Yellowstone” began after Paramount Network announced the upcoming arrival of a new show called “2024,” following previous reports that “Yellowstone” would end with Season 5.
Michelle Pfeiffer at the 49th Annual AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Nicole Kidman in Hollywood, California on April 27, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Aside from “The Madison,” and the potential project starring Reilly and Hauser, “Yellowstone” has had other spinoffs. “1883,” which stars Sam Elliot, is one such spinoff that began in 2021 and ended in 2022.
According to its IMDb description, the mini series follows the story of “the post-Civil war generation of the Dutton family” who travel to Texas and join “a wagon train undertaking the arduous journey west to Oregon, before settling in Montana to establish what would eventually become the Yellowstone Ranch.”
Sam Elliot during the SAG FYC “1923” & “1883” event in Los Angeles, California on December 3, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
After “1883,” Sheridan created a series called “1923,” which tells the origin story of “Yellowstone.” In “1923,” the Dutton family confronts early 20th century challenges such as the Great Depression, the Prohibition, and the rise of the Western Expansion. Notable stars featured in this ongoing series include Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.
After watching the episode before the finale (Episode 13), netizens were left disappointed by the unexpected cameo supermodel Bella Hadid made.
In the episode titled “Give The World Away,” which aired on December 8, 2024, Reilly’s character travels to Texas to meet with Travis Wheatley, portrayed by Sheridan.
Upon arriving at his home, she is introduced to his girlfriend, Sadie, played by supermodel Hadid. The episode also features a brief cameo from Hadid’s real-life boyfriend, Adan Banuelos.
Bella Hadid riding a horse , posted on September 17, 2024 | Source: Instagram/bellahadid
Others focused on the unexpected nature of the supermodel’s unexpected appearance, with one person noting, “This is the most random cameo on tv 😂,” and another individual wondering, “What is Bella Hadid doing here?”
“This was unnecessary, no point to ‘Yellowstone’! Just someone showing how much money they have and wanted to show it off! Very disappointed, when your [sic] the writer, you can do what ya want!” lamented an Instagrammer.
Bella Hadid | Source: Instagram/bellahadid
Similarly, another viewer voiced, “Ugh was this necessary? We want to see the OGs, not some random model posted in the 2nd to last episode.”
Meanwhile, a conflicted person expressed, “I really love Bella but this was unnecessary from my point of view. Now you’re going to think I’m watching ‘Yellowstone’ just because she appears.”
Some took their criticism a step further wondering if the plot and casting choices were the reason Kevin Costner, a former main character, departed. One viewer remarked, “I see why Kevin had enough and left. These episodes are stupid.”
Finally, a viewer summed up the overall sentiment by stating, “‘Yellowstone’ has gotten so random 🤷🏽♀️Bella Hadid! The gross scene with the women in their undies. The writers are phoning it in for the last season.”
Still, a series reviewer criticized the penultimate episode for wasting valuable time with unnecessary filler, rather than advancing the season’s key storylines. They expressed disappointment with the episode, noting that it failed to deliver exciting moments, leaving viewers with a forgettable experience.