Warning! Spoilers ahead for Yellowstone season 5, part 2.
This article discusses suicide.
Director Christina Voros breaks down the meaning of the divisive flashback sequences inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2. TV’s number 1 show is back following an extended hiatus, not to mentionKevin Costner’s complicated departure. Burdened by the absence of its lead star,Yellowstoneseason 5, episode 9 immediatelyaddressed John Dutton III’s fate, by revealing that he allegedly killed himself. While the rest of the show’s outings thus far revolve around the aftermath of the tragedy, the Neo-Western series' latest episodes also feature a time jump before John’s death, as Beth visits Rip in Texas.
The flashbacks have been divisive so far, with some pointing out that they disturb the flow of the storyline. However, Voros tellsThe Hollywood Reporterthat there is meaning to the said sequences, explaining that the Texas scenes are a reminder of what’s at stake in theupcoming fight between Beth and Jamie inYellowstoneseason 5. Another justification for them is the fact that it allowsYellowstoneto feature the landscape in Texas. Read her full quote below:
I think the flashbacks are continuing to do their job at reminding us all how much is at stake. Reminding us all how much there is to fight for, and reminding us all where our hearts lie as viewers: in these relationships with these characters embodied by these tremendous actors. So, it’s doing two things.
I’ve read that some people are really frustrated by the flashbacks because they just want to get to solving the mystery [around John’s death]. And I think that’s part of the point, right? You are being forced to really internalize how high the stakes are moving forward. Because at the end of the day, yes, John Dutton is the patriarch. But the show has always been about the land.
Even for us shooting it. We joke that the Landscape is No. 1 on the call sheet because if it rains or snows, or there’s smoke, we’re not shooting that day. It is the backdrop to every scene with every character and it’s what everyone is fighting for. So we know what happens to John, sort of. But we don’t know what happens to everything else, yet. And I think Taylor is going into these flashbacks to remind us how close we were to this idyllic version of the world. Yeah, they had to ship the cattle to Texas and Beth and Rip were apart from each other, separated by several states. But everything was OK. And it’s important to juxtapose that against this approach that we are making towards getting answers that help resolve the mystery of what happened to John.
What Rip & Beth’s Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 Flashbacks Means For Their Future
It Shows How Their Future Could Have Been If John Didn’t Die
Voros says that the main point of the flashback scenes is a reminder of what’s at stake inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, as the Duttons go up against each other for their own gain. For the longest time, the conflict was only between Beth and Jamie, with Kayce mostly cast to the sidelines. Even after John died and his sister told him that it was their adopted brother behind it, he wouldn’t believe it. That all changes, however, inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 10. Now, he is fully committed to exacting revenge against Jamie, like Beth.
Yellowstone Quietly Sets Up Season 6
Amid the chaos brought by John Dutton III’s shocking death, Yellowstone quietly sets up the reported season 6 of Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western.
Beyond the in-fighting of John’s kids, the flashbacks are also a reminder of how the tragedy changes the future of Beth and Rip. During their mini-vacation in Texas, it seemed like they were considering options for moving out of Montana. Rip had never left the state until then, and Beth was talking about building a new life. Now that John is gone,the responsibility to continue the Duttons' legacy is on Beth and Rip, since they are two of the most loyal allies of Costner’s character. Losing the Dutton patriarch pulls them back to the ranch.
Our Take On Rip & Beth’s Fate In Yellowstone
The Pair Can Continue The Legacy Of Yellowstone Past Season 5
As Jamie becomes the clear villain of these last remaining episodes ofYellowstone, Beth and Rip’s place are solidified as its new leads. Much like in the show, Cole Hauser and Beth Reilly are taking overYellowstonefrom Costner, as they continue his legacy on the show. Interestingly, despite reports that the next episodes will be the final ones in the show, there have been persistent rumors of aYellowstoneseason 6/sequelwith the couple.
Given how popularYellowstonecontinues to be, pulling the plug on its main series may just not be the right decision now.
While it will be a process of getting used to not having John around, I think Taylor Sheridan’s best bet at continuing his hit series is with the aforementioned characters, with Kayce and his family rounding up the ensemble. John’s death will have an impact on the show for a while, but Rip and Beth are perfectly poised to take over the series, with their compelling love story and equally interesting individual arcs. Given how popularYellowstonecontinues to be, pulling the plug on its main series may just not be the right decision now.
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 27, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
