Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, “Life Is a Promise.”
WhileYellowstonetries 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 dramaTV show created by Taylor Sheridanand Jon Linson has (supposedly) come to an end following season 5, episode 14, “Life Is a Promise.“TheYellowstonefinale 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,Deadlinereported that Paramount and Taylor Sheridan are officially developing aYellowstonespinoff revolving around Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, with Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser confirmed to reprise their roles in the upcoming series.
Viewers learnthe fate of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch by the endof 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 theYellowstonefinale, Beth kills Jamie, and the Duttons bury John.
10Is Sarah Ever Implicated In John’s Death?
Beth Tells The Police About Sarah’s Actions During The Yellowstone Finale
Sarah dies inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11before 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,Yellowstonenever truly shows if John’s case gets solved.
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 upJamie’s death during theYellowstonefinale, 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.
9Is The Case Surrounding Jamie’s “Disappearance” Closed?
Beth Seemingly Gets Away With Murder
Yellowstoneseason 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,Yellowstoneends with Beth winning the Dutton family war. It appears as if she gets away with murder, buttheYellowstoneseason 5 finale still isn’t clear about how (or if) Jamie’s case gets closed.
8Does 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 bodyinYellowstoneseason 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 inYellowstoneseason 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.
YellowstoneSeason 5, Part 2 Episode #
9
10
“The Apocalypse of Change”
11
12
13
“Give the World Away”
14
“Life Is a Promise”
Taylor Sheridan
June 06, 2025
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 theYellowstoneseason 5, part 2finale 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.
7What Happens To Kayce & His Family After Starting A New Ranch?
Kayce Wants To Make A Name For Himself
Kayce, Monica, and Tate are the onlyYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 characterswho 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 theYellowstonefinale, 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 inYellowstoneseason 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.
6Will Beth & Rip Formally Adopt Carter?
Carter Moves With The Couple To Dillon
Carter joinedthe cast ofYellowstonein 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’sYellowstonespinoff series and solves this mystery.
Since Carter moves withBeth and Rip to their new ranch in Dillon inYellowstoneseason 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 inBeth and Rip’sYellowstonespinoff seriesand solves this mystery.
5What 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 theYellowstonefinale, 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 landand 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.
Landman Season 2 Update Is More Disappointing For The Taylor Sheridan Show Given What’s Going On With Yellowstone Season 6
Given the status of Taylor Sheridan’s popular TV show Yellowstone, the future of his new Paramount+ series, Landman, is more important than ever.
Chief Rainwater has many enemies outside and inside the Broken Rock Reservation(which now includes the Yellowstone). DuringYellowstoneseason 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.TheYellowstonefinale could have easily set up a spinoffcontinuing this story and answering this question.
4Is The Pipeline Ever Built?
Mo & Other Tribe Members Try To Sabotage The Pipeline
At the beginning ofthe series finale of Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstone, 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 anddump the pipes into the water,where Mo claims they will never be able to be recovered.
1923season 2
2025
UntitledYellowstonesequel series with Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler
In development
6666
1944
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 inYellowstoneseason 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,theYellowstonefinale never reveals the outcome of this conflict.
3What 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 timeYellowstonecomes 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 thatif 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 BethYellowstonespinoff series.
Forrie J. Smith’sYellowstonecharacteralso mentions “pulling that loose string out of West Yellowstone” to “talk some sense into these city folks.” This answer is somewhat ambiguous, meaningLloyd’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 BethYellowstonespinoff series.
2Who Really Ordered The Hit On Sarah?
Yellowstone Never Confirms Who Killed Sarah
Thebest episode of the season was undoubtedlyYellowstoneseason 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, andYellowstonenever directly says who was responsible for her death.
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 outwhen John’s cause of death was changed from suicide to undetermined.Yellowstonesubtly 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 tokill Sarah inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11, the series certainly never confirms this theory, leaving it a mystery.
1Is Yellowstone Season 5 Truly The End?
Paramount Previously Announced Season 5 Would Be Yellowstone’s Last Season
Shortly afterKevin Costner leftYellowstone, 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 ifYellowstoneseason 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 thatYellowstonemight still return, even after the Duttons sold the ranch.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 10, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
