*Warning – This article contains spoilers for season 5b of Yellowstone.*
Yellowstone fans have been speculating about the show’s conclusion following Kevin Costner’s unexpected departure.
The Paramount Network series, created by Taylor Sheridan, has sparked intense debate among viewers, who have proposed various theories on how the story will unfold after the shocking death of family patriarch John Dutton (Costner) in the first episode of season 5b.
In a surprising twist, it is revealed that John’s death was staged to appear as a suicide, but was actually orchestrated by a hitman hired by Jamie’s (Wes Bentley) girlfriend, Sarah (Dawn Olivieri). This raises questions about the fate of the Dutton land and which of John’s children will inherit it at the end of Yellowstone.
The remaining Dutton siblings, including Jamie, Kayce (Luke Grimes), and Beth (Kelly Reilly), are at the center of the speculation, reports the Express.
Beth is married to Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), her father’s trusted right-hand man, while Kayce is married to Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille), a Native American from the nearby Broken Rock Reservation.
On Reddit, a fan with the handle @Bee_Brittany shared an intriguing theory about the show’s conclusion, stating: “Predictions on how it will end.. Since John is out of the show, my husband and I have been trying to guess how the series will end. Not saying it’ll end with season 5 but as a whole.
“My prediction is the ranch will go to Kayce, and he will end up giving it some if not all back to the Native Americans.”
They continued: “That’s what Monica has always been pushing for and he lived on the reservation with them for years. Idk, just a thought. What does everyone else think?” (sic)
Meanwhile, another fan pondered the fate of a major character, writing: “If John is really dead: Jamie will take down the syndicate behind John’s murder and redeem himself.
“Beth will get pregnant by miracle. If John is not dead: he will give the ranch to the natives and retire in a small hut.”
The speculation didn’t stop there, as someone else weighed in: “Tate inherits the ranch after Kacey is dead. He then becomes the new chief of the reservation and runs both.” (sic)
Yet another commentator argued the storyline might be too clear-cut, saying: “It will likely end that way but it also seems too predictable. Hoping there is more to the end than that. Or that idea with a major twist.”
Adding to the mix of conjectures, a Reddit user under the handle @TheFrederalGovt posted their conviction about the shows conclusion, asserting: “I like Yellowstone but isn’t it pretty clear that Beth will live and Jamie will die?
“There is never any nuance with this show – it props up Beth as the hero who always wins every fight she’s in and always has the last laugh, while Jamie as the loser who craves power but is weak and easily manipulated.” (sic)
Yellowstone airs Sunday nights on Paramount Network, with UK audiences able to stream it the following day on Paramount Plus.
