10 Biggest Unanswered Questions After Yellowstone's Ending

Dec. 18, 2024, 7:30 p.m.

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10 Biggest Unanswered Questions After Yellowstone's Ending

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Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, "Life Is a Promise."

While Yellowstone tries to close almost every chapter of its story during its finale, the audience is still left with many questions unanswered, mostly about what the future holds for the characters. The neo-Western drama TV show created by Taylor Sheridan and Jon Linson has (supposedly) come to an end following season 5, episode 14, "Life Is a Promise." The Yellowstone finale is undoubtedly structured to serve as a series ender, as many storylines and character arcs are settled. However, not every mystery is solved by the time the credits roll.

A few days ahead of the premiere of the season 5 finale, Deadline reported that Paramount and Taylor Sheridan are officially developing a Yellowstone spinoff revolving around Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, with Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser confirmed to reprise their roles in the upcoming series.

Viewers learn the fate of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch by the end of season 5, episode 14. Kayce's plan to save the ranch is to sell it to Chief Thomas Rainwater for much less than it's worth, even though this means the Dutton family loses it. Consequently, the reservation doesn't have to pay the outrageous inheritance tax, and the Duttons are reassured that the land will be taken care of. Unfortunately, this also means that almost everyone must leave and start the next chapter of their life. Elsewhere in the Yellowstone finale, Beth kills Jamie, and the Duttons bury John.

10 Is Sarah Ever Implicated In John's Death?

Beth Tells The Police About Sarah's Actions During The Yellowstone Finale

Sarah dies in Yellowstone season 5, episode 11 before anyone can suspect her of ordering John's execution (aside from Beth, of course). However, that doesn't mean that she can't be implicated in his death. Kayce's actions at the medical examiner's office in episode 11 result in his father's cause of death being changed from suicide to undetermined, meaning the investigation into who murdered John opens back up. Unfortunately, Yellowstone never truly shows if John's case gets solved.

Related Yellowstone Finale Argues The Importance Of Taylor Sheridan's Forgotten Prequel The Yellowstone season 5 finale weaves the Dutton family's future into their past, highlighting the importance of a forgotten Taylor Sheridan prequel.

After covering up Jamie's death during the Yellowstone finale, Beth tells the police that Sarah was involved in John's murder. She informs Detective Dillard to look into LLCs in Sarah's name. Beth instructs him to search for large wire transfers into numbered offshore accounts, which should lead him to the assassins Sarah hired to kill John. After Beth leaves for the hospital, it's unclear whether the detective's search is successful or if he exposes Grant (the man Sarah talked to about the hit). It's assumed Dillard does and gets justice for John's murder, but viewers might never know for certain.

9 Is The Case Surrounding Jamie's "Disappearance" Closed?

Beth Seemingly Gets Away With Murder

Yellowstone season 5, episode 14 doesn't show John's murder case being officially closed, and it never reveals the outcome of the investigation into Jamie's "disappearance," either. Detective Dillard seemingly takes Beth's words at face value, and it's assumed that Jamie's car (which Rip sets on fire and abandons) in Idaho backs up her claims. However, this is a bit unrealistic.

One would believe that the police would search more for Jamie or the truth behind the fight between the two Dutton siblings at Jamie's house. They wouldn't just say, "Case closed," after Beth's statement and discovering the car. Instead, Yellowstone ends with Beth winning the Dutton family war. It appears as if she gets away with murder, but the Yellowstone season 5 finale still isn't clear about how (or if) Jamie's case gets closed.

8 Does Kayce Know That Beth Killed Jamie?

The Yellowstone Finale Doesn't Show Kayce's Reaction To His Brother's Fate

After Beth kills Jamie and Rip and Lloyd dispose of his body in Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, the neo-Western drama never shows Kayce's reaction to what happened to Jamie. It's unclear if those involved ever formally tell Kayce the truth, or if they let him infer how Jamie went missing. Based on Beth and Kayce's conversations in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, Kayce knows his sister wanted Jamie's head on a stick. He's smart enough to realize what happened without anyone telling him.

Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 Episode # Episode Title Director Writer Release Date 9 "Desire Is All You Need" Christina Alexandra Voros Taylor Sheridan November 10, 2024 10 "The Apocalypse of Change" Christina Alexandra Voros Taylor Sheridan November 17, 2024 11 "Three Fifty-Three" Christina Alexandra Voros Taylor Sheridan November 24, 2024 12 "Counting Coup" Christina Alexandra Voros Taylor Sheridan December 1, 2024 13 "Give the World Away" Michael Friedman Taylor Sheridan December 8, 2024 14 "Life Is a Promise" Taylor Sheridan Taylor Sheridan December 15, 2024

Even if neither Beth nor Rip informs Kayce of the truth, Yellowstone's ending still doesn't feature Kayce's reaction to his brother's "disappearance." Earlier in the season, Kayce was hesitant to believe Jamie was involved in their father's death. Some part of him cared deeply about Jamie. So, it's strange that the Yellowstone season 5, part 2 finale never addresses Kayce's reaction to Jamie's fate. Perhaps knowing for certain that Jamie had a hand in John's murder (whether he was willing or not) resulted in Kayce not caring too much about what happened to his brother.

7 What Happens To Kayce & His Family After Starting A New Ranch?

Kayce Wants To Make A Name For Himself

Kayce, Monica, and Tate are the only Yellowstone season 5, part 2 characters who end up where they started at the beginning of the season. As a part of his deal with Chief Rainwater, Kayce and his family get to keep their home at East Camp. There, they decide to start a new ranch. At the end of the Yellowstone finale, Kayce and Tate buy cattle at an auction and take them back to East Camp, where they and Monica start the next chapter of their life.

Kayce says he's finally free after selling the ranch in Yellowstone season 5, episode 14. He has always felt like he was tied down to the ranch and never would be able to escape his life or his family's legacy. Now, Kayce gets to create his own. However, it's unknown whether Kayce and his family's new ranch is successful, or if he works in harmony with the members of the Broken Rock Reservation seeing as East Camp is technically on their property.

6 Will Beth & Rip Formally Adopt Carter?

Carter Moves With The Couple To Dillon

Carter joined the cast of Yellowstone in season 4 when he meets Beth at the hospital, where his father dies from a drug overdose. Afterward, the Duttons take in the troubled young boy and put him to work. Beth and Carter form a special bond, and the neo-Western drama makes it seem as if Beth and Rip will formally adopt Carter one day. However, that never happens by the time the finale rolls around.

Hopefully, Finn Little reprises his role as Carter in Beth and Rip's Yellowstone spinoff series and solves this mystery.

Since Carter moves with Beth and Rip to their new ranch in Dillon in Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, he appears to be their son. Carter is much more than a hired ranch hand to the couple, especially to Beth. Nevertheless, the finale never reveals if Beth and Rip make it official and adopt Carter, or if they continue to simply look after him without needing to make it legal. Hopefully, Finn Little reprises his role as Carter in Beth and Rip's Yellowstone spinoff series and solves this mystery.

5 What Happens To The Ranch After Chief Rainwater & Broken Rock Buy It?

Kayce Sells The Yellowstone Dutton Ranch To Save It During The Finale

In a similar vein to Kayce's next venture following the Yellowstone finale, it's uncertain what becomes of the ranch after Chief Rainwater buys it. Of course, his tribe moves in and takes over, but what comes next? The people of the Broken Rock Reservation will take good care of the land and protect it with their lives, which is why Kayce sold it to them in the first place. However, as some may remember, not all is peaceful within the tribe.

Chief Rainwater has many enemies outside and inside the Broken Rock Reservation (which now includes the Yellowstone). During Yellowstone season 5, part 1, Angela Blue Thunder attempted to boot Chief Rainwater from his position in the tribe. Angela doesn't appear in season 5, part 2, though, and she is never mentioned again. She may still be working to gain the people's trust and steal their loyalty towards Chief Rainwater, causing tension within the reservation even after they finally take back their ancestors' land. The Yellowstone finale could have easily set up a spinoff continuing this story and answering this question.

4 Is The Pipeline Ever Built?

Mo & Other Tribe Members Try To Sabotage The Pipeline

At the beginning of the series finale of Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone, Mo and members of the Broken Rock Reservation sabotage the pipeline's construction. The pipeline is meant to run through their land, destroying it. After trying various other methods to stop it, the tribe resorts to taking matters into their own hands. Mo and others ride in on horses in the middle of the night and dump the pipes into the water, where Mo claims they will never be able to be recovered.

Taylor Sheridan's Upcoming Yellowstone TV Shows Status Release Date 1923 season 2 Post-production February 23, 2025 The Madison Filming 2025 Untitled Yellowstone sequel series with Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler In development TBA 6666 In development TBA 1944 In development TBA

The members of the Broken Rock Reservation seemingly never get caught for their crimes. However, their actions won't be enough to stop the pipeline's construction altogether, as Chief Rainwater points out in Yellowstone season 5, episode 14. Getting rid of the pipes will get people's attention, though. As a result, the tribe might be able to make enough noise to convince the government to stop the project. Unfortunately, the Yellowstone finale never reveals the outcome of this conflict.

3 What Happens To Lloyd?

Rip Invites Lloyd To Join Him, Beth, & Carter In Dillon

Lloyd is the only ranch hand whose fate is a bit confusing by the time Yellowstone comes to an end. Rip offers the older man a job at his and Beth's new ranch in Dillon, Montana, but Lloyd turns him down. Before selling the land to Chief Rainwater and the Broken Rock Reservation, Lloyd was open to staying and working for Rip despite the ranch's monetary issues. In the finale, though, Lloyd claims that if he can't be a cowboy at the Yellowstone, he doesn't want to be one anywhere else.

Perhaps Lloyd will take Rip up on his offer later, and Smith will reprise his role in the Rip and Beth Yellowstone spinoff series.

Forrie J. Smith's Yellowstone character also mentions "pulling that loose string out of West Yellowstone" to "talk some sense into these city folks." This answer is somewhat ambiguous, meaning Lloyd's fate is still up in the air. Perhaps Lloyd will take Rip up on his offer later, and Smith will reprise his role in the Rip and Beth Yellowstone spinoff series.

2 Who Really Ordered The Hit On Sarah?

Yellowstone Never Confirms Who Killed Sarah

The best episode of the season was undoubtedly Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, mostly because of Sarah's staggering death at the hour's end. It was the only development to genuinely shock viewers (in a good way). Unfortunately, the neo-Western drama did little to continue that momentum, but that's beside the point. Someone hired hitmen to take out Sarah, and Yellowstone never directly says who was responsible for her death.

Related Who Is Elsa Dutton & Why Her Narration Is The Perfect Ending For Yellowstone Elsa Dutton's narration is the perfect ending for Yellowstone because of how Isabel May's 1883 character profoundly connects to the ranch's origins.

The assassins that Sarah hired to execute John are likely the same ones who took her out when John's cause of death was changed from suicide to undetermined. Yellowstone subtly indicates that this is the case. However, the show isn't completely forthcoming with this information, which is why Sarah's death is still a bit confusing. If Grant sent hitmen to kill Sarah in Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, the series certainly never confirms this theory, leaving it a mystery.

1 Is Yellowstone Season 5 Truly The End?

Paramount Previously Announced Season 5 Would Be Yellowstone's Last Season

Shortly after Kevin Costner left Yellowstone, Paramount announced that the show would end after season 5. In the months leading up to part 2's premiere, everyone assumed this was the case. Even during season 5, part 2's airing, many viewers accepted the fact that the series was ending. However, when episode 14 came around, the Paramount Network started promoting it as a "season finale" instead of a "series finale."

As of the writing of this article, it's still unclear if Yellowstone season 6 is happening. Given the events of the season 5 finale and the announcement of Beth and Rip's spinoff, it appears as if the neo-Western drama is truly over. Paramount hasn't addressed the season 6 rumors, though, leading many to believe that Yellowstone might still return, even after the Duttons sold the ranch.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite TV Shows My Watchlist Success! 7/10 193 8.9/10 Yellowstone Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner and centers on his character John Dutton. Dutton and his family live on a cattle ranch just a few hours away from Yellowstone National Park. The series chronicles the family’s struggle to defend their home from an Indian reservation and land developers. As if their life wasn’t complicated enough, the Duttons also have medical issues, political aspirations, and family secrets stacked against them. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date June 20, 2018 Network Paramount Cast Kevin Costner , Finn Little , Brecken Merrill , Gil Birmingham , Denim Richards , Ian Bohen , Danny Huston , Kelly Reilly , Forrie J. Smith , Cole Hauser , Kelsey Asbille , Wes Bentley , Jefferson White , Luke Grimes , Ryan Bingham Creator(s) Taylor Sheridan , John Linson Seasons 5 Showrunner Taylor Sheridan Expand

Source: Deadline