Fans Call 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Finale the 'Worst' – Major Death and Ending Explained

The "Yellowstone" Season 5 finale was anything but predictable. Bonds shattered, old feuds reignited, and the Dutton family's iron grip on the Yellowstone ranch ended. By the time it was over, the fate of beloved characters had shifted, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

The much-anticipated finale of "Yellowstone" Season 5 finally aired, bringing the Dutton family's epic saga to an end. The two-hour episode brought closure to some long-running storylines while sparking new ones. Key characters faced life-changing moments, while the ranch underwent a dramatic transformation.

While some billed it as an epic conclusion, it didn't land that way for everyone. Many fans took to social media to voice their frustrations and dissatisfaction. With the fate of key characters still uncertain and a spin-off already on the horizon, viewers wonder if the next chapter will live up to the legacy of "Yellowstone."

A Symbolic Shift in Control

The finale opens with a symbolic victory for the Indigenous activists opposing the Yellowstone ranch's controversial pipeline project. Under cover of night, they dismantle the massive pipes and drag them to a nearby lake, rendering them useless. This act signals the end of the battle over land control — one the Dutton family ultimately loses.

Meanwhile, Beth Dutton makes a life-changing decision. She reveals to Rip that she's purchased a new 27,000-acre ranch, signifying their intention to leave Yellowstone behind. Rip is surprised but not opposed, agreeing they could "make a living" off the land.

The sense of finality is further emphasized with the departure of trusted cowboy Travis, who bids farewell before leaving for Texas. These moments set the tone for a finale filled with personal and collective endings.

John Dutton's Death and the Family Funeral

The emotional core of the finale is centered around John Dutton's funeral, which confirms the patriarch's death after seasons of teasing his possible demise. The call comes early in the episode, with Beth answering the phone to hear that John's body is ready for burial.

From that moment on, the weight of his absence looms over every scene. True to the Dutton family's rugged roots, the cowboys dig John's grave by hand, reflecting the old-world values that John, played by Kevin Costner, lived by. His burial is a small, private affair attended only by family and the ranch hands.

As John's casket is lowered into the ground, Beth stands at the gravesite, visibly shaken. Fighting back tears, she touches the casket and reflects on the promise she made to him.

"You made me promise not to sell an inch," she says, her voice breaking with emotion. "There may not be cows on it, but there won't be condos either. We won." Her words serve as both a tribute to her father and a signal to the audience that while the ranch may be gone, the family's resolve remains.

Kayce also has a moment of reflection with his son Tate. As they watch John's casket being lowered, Kayce tells Tate that he forgave him — a moment of personal closure for a character whose relationship with his father had always been strained.

Beth vs. Jamie: The Family Feud Reaches Its Peak

Following John's funeral, Beth heads straight to Jamie's house, filled with rage. No storyline in "Yellowstone" has been more intense or unpredictable than the feud between Beth and Jamie Dutton, and in the Season 5 finale, it reaches its violent conclusion.

Her suspicions of Jamie's involvement in their father's death had been brewing for weeks, and now, she's ready to confront him. Their confrontation escalates rapidly. Beth attacks Jamie with bear spray and a tire iron, catching him off guard.

But Jamie fights back, choking Beth and pushing her to the ground. The fight is raw, brutal, and unlike anything seen in their previous encounters. Beth's refusal to give up is symbolic of her character's unyielding nature.

Just as Jamie appears to gain the upper hand, Rip arrives. He pulls Jamie off Beth and pins him to the ground. At this moment, Beth seizes the opportunity, driving a knife into Jamie's chest.

The weight of her revenge is captured in one final, cold-blooded line: "I'm gonna be the last thing you ever see." Jamie collapses, and he clearly won't be getting back up. With Jamie gone, Beth and Rip turn their attention to the body.

Following Dutton family tradition, Rip and Lloyd drive Jamie's body to the "train station," the spot where the Dutton family has disposed of their enemies for years. The site, located in a legal gray area on the border of Montana and Wyoming, has been a staple of the show's darker subplots.

The scene closes as Jamie's body is discarded, signaling not just the end of a character but the conclusion of a storyline that spanned multiple seasons.

Kayce's Deal to Sell the Yellowstone Ranch

The most significant decision of the episode — and arguably the entire series — comes when Kayce makes an offer to Thomas Rainwater, leader of the Broken Rock Indian Tribe.

John had fought to keep the ranch out of Rainwater's control for years, but his son made a move that his father never would have.

Kayce proposes selling the Yellowstone ranch to the Broken Rock Indian Tribe at $1.25 per acre, a symbolic callback to the value of the land in 1883 when it was first settled.

As part of the deal, Kayce secures a portion of the land known as East Camp for his family, giving him, Monica, and their son Tate a chance to stay connected to the land.

The official sale of the ranch is marked by one of the most symbolic moments in the episode — removing the "Y" brand from the barn. This act represents the end of the Dutton family's claim to the land.

As the brand is taken down, viewers are shown scenes of the barn being emptied, cowboys leaving, and the land itself being prepared for its new owners. The new era of Broken Rock control begins, marking a dramatic power shift that had been building for five seasons.

New Beginnings for Beth, Rip, and Kayce

As the Yellowstone ranch fades into history, the show's key characters prepare to forge new paths. Beth and Rip settle into the new 27,000-acre ranch. Unlike Yellowstone, this new ranch isn't marked by legacy or family history.

Beth, too, seems more at peace, suggesting that their story will continue — but this time, on their terms. Meanwhile, Kayce, Monica, and Tate move to East Camp.

Unlike Beth and Rip, their goal isn't to start fresh but to find peace. The episode closes with Kayce and Monica working on their land as they prepare for a simpler life. The final montage of scenes is filled with symbolic visuals.

The "Yellowstone" Season 5 finale sparked widespread reactions, with many fans expressing disappointment over unresolved storylines and perceived writing flaws.

Fan Reactions to the Finale

The creative choices made by series creator Taylor Sheridan were also a frequent target, with fans accusing him of inserting himself into too many scenes and prioritizing spectacle over substance.

One frustrated viewer wrote, "The '#Yellowstone' season finale was absolute rubbish. How long did you spend writing this one #TaylorSheridan? Fifteen minutes? You can blame Kevin Costner all you want, but YOU ruined the show."

Another viewer echoed the sentiment, calling it "one of the worst series finales I've ever seen. Just incredibly lazy hack writing." Others were upset with John's fate and what his departure symbolized for the show.

One viewer remarked, "Yellowstone finale was a big let down for me. Too predictable and Taylor Sheridan put himself in too many scenes when he was not an integral part of the family. Kevin Costner was 'Yellowstone' and the day he left the show, it died with him."

A frustrated viewer shared, "The #YellowstoneTV finale was a letdown that never should've happened. Sheridan ruined the best series on TV. Worse, he inserted himself and his wooden, blowhard character in the finale."

The storyline involving Beth and Jamie also drew criticism. Fans took issue with how their long-standing sibling rivalry was resolved, with some feeling the confrontation was rushed and anticlimactic.

Some fans, however, appreciated the emotional depth of the finale. A viewer acknowledged the show's efforts to tie up loose ends, "I surprisingly enjoyed that finale. Shows should end leaving the audience wanting more. I actually thought it was time to end it. How long are we going to watch them fight over land? It ended before jumping the shark."

Another summed it up with a scathing review, stating, "#Yellowstone finale tonight~season thus far has been a Taylor Sheridan ego trip not worth watching. Lots of 'cowboy b-roll,' little to no new plot twists, killin' off lots of actors too. My review: 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼."

Questions surrounding key character fates and the next steps for Beth, Rip, and Kayce remain at the heart of fan discussions. As the dust settles, a spin-off series centered on Beth and Rip promises to continue the story — but will it deliver where the finale did not?