In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past five-ish years, you’re probably asking yourself, “What the heck is this Yellowstone show everyone’s been so obsessed with?” Well, your timing could not be more perfect. The second part of the fifth and last season will start airing this November, and you got all the time in the world to catch up.
But let’s start at the beginning. “Yellowstone” is an insanely popular drama series that premiered on the Paramount Network in June 2018. The series was created by two talented showrunners, Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, and follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner), who owns the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, located in Yellowstone National Park. In a nutshell, the show explores the conflicts and power struggles between the Duttons and various neighboring parties, including land developers, Native American reservation officials, and other ranchers.
Yellowstone features a huge cast of well-developed characters with complex personalities and motivations, and, of course, viewers become instantly invested in the lives and struggles of the Dutton family and the supporting characters, making it easier for them to connect emotionally with the story. Not to mention gorgeous cinematography, beautiful landscapes, exploration of complex themes, and Kevin Costner’s stellar performance.
If any of this sounds like it would be your jam, you better click away because we’re about to discuss the final season, and there might be some spoilers. You have been warned.
So, season 5, part 2, huh? Here’s what we know so far. Firstly, the show will return in November 2023 and will be the end of the series. The cast will be there for the grand finale, including Costner, but after that, the show is over. All because Kevin decided to work on his personal projects after the season 5 finale.
The final part of the season will most likely focus on the feud between Beth and Jamie, John’s inevitable impeachment, and an unknown disease spreading through the region and killing the cattle. One of the fan theories even says that John might be killed off. But even aside from all this, there are more plot threads that need to be tied up before the series ends.
And what will happen after the series finale? The Yellowstone franchise is already developing spin-offs and prequels, so there will be plenty of content for the fans.
A yet untitled sequel series is in the works and expected to feature Matthew McConaughey. And in 2021, a prequel limited series titled “1883” aired on Paramount+, telling the Dutton family’s origin story in Montana, starring Isabel May and Tim McGraw. In December 2022, another prequel, “1923,” debuted, set 40 years after “1883” (quick maths), with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as the next generation of Duttons dealing with the aftermath of World War I and Prohibition. Many secrets about the Dutton family tree were revealed in the premiere.
The series creator Taylor Sheridan is writing a spin-off, titled “6666,” set at the historic Four Sixes Ranch in Texas. Another Sheridan-produced limited series, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” initially planned as a prequel to “1883,” will now be a standalone series and kick off a new anthology.
More unannounced Yellowstone prequels are in the works, offering “big spectacles” set in the evolving world of Yellowstone and Montana. Sheridan’s vision hints at multiple future prequels if the genre remains popular. Such an ambitious expansion showcases Paramount’s confidence in the franchise and Sheridan’s creative storytelling.
Whatever the future of this fantastic franchise may bring, we’ll be there to witness it!
