Season four of Paramount Network’s Yellowstone ended with Beth forcing Jamie’s hand and compelling him to murder his biological father. Of course, that means Beth now owns Jamie, which is incredibly good timing given John’s decision to run for governor – a position Jamie lusted after and assumed would be his for the taking. Kayce told Monica he saw “the end of us” after his vision quest and, in case you forgot, Monica is pregnant. Plus, Beth’s now a married woman with a bullseye painted on her back courtesy of Market Equities’ CEO.
And now for a recap of Yellowstone season five episode one, airing on November 13, 2022:
Episode one picks up the story on election day with John (Kevin Costner) winning the gubernatorial race. After calling John to congratulate him, Scott McMullen makes a concession speech that Jamie, Beth, outgoing Governor Lynelle Perry, and John’s supporters watch and savor from John’s campaign headquarters.
Jamie (Wes Bentley) has a quiet moment alone to take in the news.
As John’s about to deliver his first speech as governor-elect, Jamie requests the honor of introducing him as well as newly elected Montana Senator Lynell (Wendy Moniz) to their constituents. Beth (Kelly Reilly) knows Jamie’s only doing it to get on the stage. Whatever his motivations, Jamie does a fantastic job of selling his enthusiasm for both his dad and Lynelle’s victories.
John confirms they have a lot of work to do and a lot to undo. He’s determined not to allow Montana to become “the rich man’s plaything.” His goal as governor will be to preserve what sets Montana apart and be a faithful steward of the land and its people.
Jamie and Beth engage in a staring contest (a battle of wills) as the balloons fall and the crowd cheers.
Over at the casino, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) concedes John’s election will be good for the land. However, it will kill a potential income stream for the tribe.
Market Equities CEO Caroline Warner (Jacki Weaver) smashes a glass as John’s win is announced, certain it spells the death of the airport and resort. But her associate, Ellis Steele, points out how glum and depressed Jamie looks on stage as the celebration continues. He’s the weak link, and Caroline instructs Ellis to bring in Sarah Atwood. The gloves are off and Caroline’s done playing around.
We’re treated to a brief flashback of a teenage Beth taunting a hard-working Rip, who promises that someday he’ll be top hand. She’s about to leave for college and asks if he wants to go on a date on her last night in town.
Rip agrees, and the bunkhouse boys give him a hard time as he leaves for his date. Beth continues to tease him as they head to the bar in town, and when they get there, Rip admits he’s never been there before. (He adds that he’s never been anywhere before.)
Rip’s also never had a martini before and settles for water while Beth gives the bartender a peek down her shirt when he requests her ID. Beth and Rip’s discussion turns serious as Beth explains she can either be a victim of how men look at her or benefit from it. She chooses the latter, and she claims men are the weaker sex.
Rip’s not in the mood for this discussion and it’s obvious he’s incredibly uncomfortable. He suggests they leave but Beth wants to stay. Rip leaves, alone, since Beth’s clearly not changing her mind.
Outside, the guys from the ranch are just pulling up and offer him one of their trucks so he can make it safely back to the Yellowstone.
Hours later, Rip’s waiting outside the barn as Beth and the wranglers return from the bar. Beth kisses one of the men and then slips into the backseat for a quickie. Rip looks devastated.
It turns out this unpleasant stroll down memory lane leads the Beth we now know and love into apologizing to her husband. Rip (Cole Hauser) doesn’t understand why she’s sorry, and she explains it’s nothing recent that’s making her feel the need to atone.
“This is a sort of blanket apology to generally cover the past,” says Beth. “Everything before right now…that’s what I’m sorry for.”
Beth admits she was awful to him when they were younger, but she claims she was worse on herself. Rip believes her brain is almost as big as her heart. He also thinks he’s the only one who truly understands just how big her heart is.
Beth becomes emotional as she expresses how much she regrets robbing them of years they could have spent together. Rip assures her he’s incredibly happy and doesn’t need anything, including those lost years – or anything else that time took from them. (Rip’s such a decent man and exactly who Beth needs in her life.)
Rip suggests she find someone new to fight so that she stops fighting herself. With a smile, Rip finally agrees she did put him through hell. Now, he just wants her to let herself be happy. She promises she will.
The ranch is buzzing as preparations for John’s party celebrating his win get underway. Rip’s angry about all the hoopla (he calls it a sh*tshow) and orders the wranglers to concentrate on the work at hand. Today that means looking for calves.
Meanwhile, Lynelle and John have a quiet chat at the capitol before John meets with his staff. John points out that the breakfast buffet could feed the poor, and Lynelle explains his staff will eat it while trying to figure out what issues deserve his attention. She also assures him he doesn’t have any friends in this building.
John teases that he blames her for his election, and she reminds him she wanted Jamie as governor because she could have controlled him. That’s not the case with John. They share a joke about their sexual relationship and confirm it’s going to be an interesting four years.
John isn’t going to run for reelection and Lynelle suggests that he concentrates on that. He doesn’t need to compromise and can get things done without worrying about offending any potential 2026 backers.
We finally catch up with Kayce (Luke Grimes) half an hour into the season five premiere. He’s still Livestock Commissioner and has joined his men in pursuit of horse thieves. The thieves are attempting to drive the horses through the river and over to the Canadian side of the border, where Canadian police are waiting to arrest them. (Canada’s legal system doesn’t scare them as much as America’s does.)
Kayce manages to get the thieves back on American soil, but the horses have made it to Canada. Kayce touched Canadian soil while turning around the thieves and the Canadian police aren’t happy about that or that he’s snagged the thieves they were hoping to apprehend.
Kayce’s able to convince the Canadian cops to return the horses and to allow the thieves to be arrested in America since the U.S. justice system is much harsher. Kayce gets his way and also gets in a final jab at Canada by inferring the cops are sheep when they claim Canada’s more civilized.
Meanwhile at the capitol, a crowd of supporters and the media have gathered to watch John being sworn in as governor. John takes an extraordinarily long pause before stating his name as instructed while being sworn in. In fact, Beth has to prompt him to recite the oath of office.
Governor Dutton dons his cowboy hat and after a brief acknowledgement of applause, he delivers another speech. He reconfirms he didn’t want this job; he just wants to preserve what makes Montana special. He announces his first official action is to cancel the funding for the Paradise Valley Airport Project and the surrounding commercial developments.
John lists additional actions he’s going to take, all of which will financially impact non-residents. “We are not your playground. We are not your haven from the pollution and traffic and mismanagement of your home states,” declares John, as Jamie can barely contain his exasperation with his dad’s actions.
Jamie asks Beth if she knew about John’s plan. He’s certain it will set the state back 30 years. Beth assures him the plan is to actually set it back 100 years. Jamie’s concerned John’s proposals aren’t legal, and Beth doesn’t care. She’s going to work her brother like a “rented mule” and force him to ram John’s proposals through the courts.
It’s only John, Beth, Jamie, and the driver in the car as they leave the capitol, and Beth refuses to pour Jamie a whiskey – even when John tells her to. Jamie suggests John reconsider canceling the airport funding since it’ll bring in $5 million annually to the ranch. The ranch is currently losing $3 million a year as it is.
Jamie and Beth get into an argument over her use of campaign funds to pay for the party at the Yellowstone Ranch, and Jamie’s certain they’re all going to prison. John finally tells them to shut up but then starts the argument up again when he blames Jamie for the fact he’s now governor. John didn’t want the job and all parties agree Jamie could have won the election. But, John asks, what would happen then? He couldn’t depend on Jamie to do right by the land.
John blames himself for the mess he made of his family and thinks they’re an embarrassment to the family’s legacy. John orders Jamie to sacrifice his ambition and sacrifice his “weak, self-loathing heart” and become strong. Jamie’s also ordered to do everything John says exactly as he says to do it.
John warns them every decision will be made for the good of the ranch. That is first and foremost in his mind as they move forward.
John reminds his driver that everything said between the family stays within the family. The driver earns himself a permanent role with Governor Dutton by agreeing he’d do exactly what John’s doing if he owned the Yellowstone.
The bunkhouse boys play poker and drink while discussing what to wear for the party. There’s a lot of lighthearted ribbing about the possibility of Jake wearing a dress and Teeter shocks everyone by revealing she owns a couple of dresses.
Rip arrives to warn them not to get drunk before the party. When he asks what they’re laughing about and learns Jake wants to wear a dress, Rip orders him not to even think about it. Rip’s serious as a heart attack but the guys and Teeter are still chuckling. (Poor Jake, he’s in trouble and none of this is his doing!)
A short while later the party gets underway with Shane Smith & The Saints performing on stage. The ranch hands are wearing their dress shirts but they’re still engaging in a lot of teasing as they discover there’s an open bar. The Bar M cowboys arrive and Lloyd suggests all the wranglers enjoy themselves away from the formal party.
A massive tent’s set up for dinner and applause greets John Dutton and Lynelle as they walk through the crowd and shake hands. They eventually arrive at the head table and Beth says her goodbyes; she’d rather be with Rip.
John complains to Lynelle that it’s the first time he’s been at the ranch in a month. This year marks the first time he’s ever spent the night away from his home. (I guess the nights spent in the hospital recovering from being shot don’t count.)
The cowboys are having a blast roping each other in the arena while pretty female party guests (including Lainey Wilson playing a Country singer named Abby) watch from the sidelines. The roping leads to dancing with the guests, and everyone enjoys themselves while Rip watches, relaxing on a nearby hill. Beth joins him and Rip says he’s just keeping an eye on things. He admits when he looks at this party, the future – which he normally never worries about – seems uncertain. Rip compares this whole affair to Nero playing the fiddle as Rome burned.
“He’s going to lose this place,” says Rip, calmly. He gives Beth a kiss and then heads home. Beth continues to sit on the hill and watch the party after he leaves.
Night’s falling as the stolen horses are corralled and waiting to be picked up. Kayce rings up Monica (Kelsey Asbille) to fill her in on what’s happening, and she appears to be ready to give birth any minute. He has to take the horses to Billings and Monica reveals she probably needs to meet him there. It’s three weeks before her due date but she’s having painful cramps that seem to be getting worse.
Kayce’s worried about her driving and says he’ll have an ambulance meet her on the road.
Kayce leaves Steve Hendon (James Jordan) in charge of the horses and heads out to meet Monica at the hospital.
Monica’s continuing to experience bad cramping as she drives with Tate in the passenger seat. The cramps are almost debilitating, but she won’t pull over and Tate’s too young to drive. The car weaves all over the road.
A truck is heading in Monica’s direction with a driver who’s distracted by food. Suddenly, a buffalo appears on the road in between Monica’s car and the truck. We’re spared the moment of impact, but the sound of shattering glass confirms something horrible’s taken place!
It’s a peaceful morning at the Yellowstone Ranch when Carter (Finn Little), who’s really sprouted since season four, greets John at the barn. John doesn’t have time for a ride and Carter admits he misses their rides. John promises they’ll do them again and then orders Carter to stop growing because it freaks him out.
“You’re a living reminder of how much time I don’t have,” says John to a completely confused Carter. John tosses in a warning that if he grows a beard, he’s fired.
Jamie meets John at the car and informs him their plans have changed and they need to go to Billings. Beth’s with them as they arrive at the hospital and find Tate outside his mom’s room. Tate’s banged up but okay. The same can’t be said of Monica. She lost the baby and Tate tells his grandfather that he had a brother for an hour. Tate reveals his mom and dad named the baby John.
John enters Monica’s room and stands silently by the bed as Kayce lies in bed next to his unconscious wife.
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