Yellowstone Season 5 (Image via Paramount Network, Peacock) — Yellowstone Season 5 (Image via YouTube/Yellowstone)

Yellowstone fans say Season 5 finale came across as ‘predictable,’ ‘That was perfect’

Modified Dec 16, 2024 14:57 GMT

The Yellowstone Season 5 finale has stirred up a mix of emotions among fans, with reactions pouring in across social media. From anger and disappointment to heartfelt praise, viewers haven’t held back in expressing their feelings about the series’ conclusion.

While some applauded Taylor Sheridan’s effort to tie up the Dutton saga, others slammed it as predictable, rushed, and lacking the spark that made the show popular in its earlier seasons.

One fan voiced frustration over Jamie Dutton’s storyline, tweeting: “Dear #TaylorSheridan, Jamie was never the supervillain you wanted us to believe he was. That was cheap. That was lazy. That was predictable. Wes Bentley and the character deserved better. You had 5 seasons to do something better, and you didn’t.”

Many echoed this sentiment, criticizing the resolution of Jamie’s character arc, calling it a wasted opportunity.

Others were more forgiving, with one fan tweeting: “That was perfect. Well done.” However, not everyone shared that enthusiasm.

Another tweet read: “5/10 Yellowstone finale. Whole final season kinda s***ed.” For some, the finale felt underwhelming after a slow buildup.

Longtime fans lamented the loss of momentum in recent seasons. One tweeted: “The second part of season 5 storylines have been disappointing. Killing off Colby was or nearly was the worst of it.”

Another added: “Taylor needs to stop. Spin-offs won't come close to this. LOVED the first 4 seasons, was uneasy as to where 5 was headed, then just peeved that his procrastination made us lose Kevin Costner AND had us waiting 2 whole yrs for a handful of episodes.”

Not all reactions were rooted in critique.

For one viewer, the finale struck a deeply personal chord: “This last episode of season 5 of Yellowstone was tough for me. I have to bury my father this week, and I was reminded my father loved our ranch and being around the animals.”

Even fans who had grown critical of the show’s later seasons found moments to appreciate.

A fan shared: “I look forward to watching Horizon. Yellowstone was going downhill. The first half of season 5 was boring and lame. The back half of season 4 was also a letdown.”

What happened in the Yellowstone Season 5 finale?

The Yellowstone Season 5 finale was titled Life is a Promise. Now with the title, the episode tied up many loose ends while delivering a few shocking moments. It began with John Dutton’s funeral, where Beth, Kayce, and other family members paid their respects. Beth was fueled by grief and rage and then promised to avenge her father’s death. She blamed Jamie for his indirect role in John’s demise and made it clear that she wasn’t going to let it slide.

After the funeral, Beth confronted Jamie at his home. Armed with a crowbar and bear spray, she attacked him, landing two brutal blows to his head before spraying him in the face. The fight turned violent, with Jamie managing to overpower Beth and pinning her to the ground.

He threatened to tear down the Dutton family name, but Beth hit back with a bombshell: the ranch was gone. She revealed that the family had sold Yellowstone to the Broken Rock Reservation for $1.1 million and preserved the land, but ending the Duttons' control over it.

Just as Jamie prepared to kill Beth, Rip showed up to save her. Together, they ended Jamie’s life—Beth stabbing him in the chest while Rip held him steady. Rip then disposed of Jamie’s body at the infamous “train station,” Wyoming’s dumping ground for all the Duttons’ enemies.

Meanwhile, Kayce finalized the deal to sell the ranch to Chief Thomas Rainwater. The sale allowed the land to be preserved as a protected reservation, honoring a promise made seven generations ago. Kayce secured the East Camp for his family, ensuring they had a permanent home.

A snap from Season 5 (Image via Paramount Network, Peacock)

The episode ended with Beth and Rip planning to start fresh on a smaller ranch outside Montana, while other characters like Jimmy and Teeter moved on to their futures.

All the episodes of Yellowstone Season 5 are available on Netflix.