Paramount Network’s Yellowstone season five episode six divides its time between the gathering, Jamie’s troubling relationship with Sarah, and preparation for a visit by the President of the United States. The episode also showcases the beauty of the land, and it gives Kelly Reilly a chance to play a different, seldom-seen side of Beth Dutton.
However, before we get to the little-seen side of Beth, we’re served up Beth with a bad attitude. In fact, her approach to the gathering is so negative that she’s ruining the experience for her dad as the episode begins. She thinks there’s too much open space and prefers more intimate, secluded settings – like a hidden meadow. Rip (Cole Hauser) understands exactly what she means because he’s just that type of guy.
Back in town, military helicopters shake the house as Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) and his family eat breakfast. Mo has no idea why the military’s in this area and jumps in his vehicle to follow them. It turns out the Secret Service are in town for an event, and Mo’s frustrated when the officer who stops him won’t explain what’s going on. No events are supposed to take place on tribal land without the tribe’s approval.
The police begin shooting stray dogs in the area, and Mo’s enraged because they won’t stand down. They continue to claim the dogs are all security threats, even though Mo insists they’re pets. (What’s with all the animal killing this season, Yellowstone writers?!)
Mo deduces the activity means the U.S. President is coming to town.
Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) arrives and he’s dismissive when Angela Blue Thunder (Q’orianka Kilcher) welcomes him to the event. Thomas points out that neither she nor the council has any authority to authorize anything on tribal land. She disagrees and thinks it’s important that people understand they’re not invisible. The president’s visit will amplify that message.
Thomas reminds her that President Obama visited Standing Rock and then two years later wanted to run a pipeline through it. Presidents don’t see Native Americans. Angela brags that she’s this president’s Director of Native American Affairs and he’ll be endorsing her candidate, Martin.
Thomas doesn’t appear fazed and doesn’t want or need the president’s endorsement. However, when the President and other dignitaries arrive, Thomas takes his seat on the stage – certain his absence would be held against him.
Elsewhere, Jamie (Wes Bentley) wakes up in bed next to Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri). They slept together, again, and Jamie confesses he’s still confused about her game plan. She accuses him of calling her a whore since he’s implying she’s being paid by Market Equities to sleep with him. Jamie’s self-esteem is so low that he doesn’t think there’s any other explanation, other than it’s part of some game she’s playing.
She strokes his ego and then asks why he’s not Montana’s governor. Jamie chuckles when she reminds him his dad won by campaigning on stopping progress.
Sarah asks, “Are there that many pissed-off old white men in Montana?”
“Apparently,” replies Jamie.
Sarah explains her ulterior motive is to get him elected, reverse his dad’s no-growth policies, and get the state back in business with Market Equities. She claims that wasn’t her original motive, but now that they’ve spent time naked in his house, she’s shifted her plan.
Jamie joins her in the shower and Sarah continues to insist she’s there because she wants to be. Jamie gives in and says if she helps make him governor, Market Equities can have their airport. They both agree they can’t wait four years for the building to begin.
As they have sex, Sarah says they need to find a way to make it happen sooner. (Sarah’s a snake and Jamie’s doing a great job of imitating a mouse.)
Back at the ranch, Summer (Piper Perabo) explores the house, browsing through photo albums to try to get a better understanding of the Duttons. She then heads down to the tents where Monica’s helping peel potatoes, and Monica (Kelsey Asbille) guilts her into also pitching in. They’re expecting hundreds of people tomorrow for the branding.
Monica and Summer discuss the Duttons and Monica admits she wasn’t what John had in mind for Kayce. Monica knows she’s the reason Kayce, the heir apparent, no longer wants the ranch. Yet despite that, Beth always stands up for her because Beth doesn’t view her as a threat to the Yellowstone. Beth does, however, view Summer as a threat.
Monica waxes philosophical while explaining what sets this town apart from other cities across America. Fire and blizzards work to make forests thrive, but if fires and blizzards hit cities, the cities are devastated. These mountains will hold up for thousands of years. The same can’t be said for cities.
Summer and Monica take a walk and wind up in the family graveyard. Summer stops by James Dutton’s grave (played by Tim McGraw in 1883) and Monica believes he was one of the first Duttons to be buried on the land. (James died in 1893.) Summer still can’t grasp how long they’ve been there, and Monica points out the land was her family’s before it was the Duttons’.
Monica suggests this graveyard is exactly where Summer needs to be in order to understand John Dutton. (Margaret’s headstone is also shown, but the year she died and her age aren’t legible.)
And now back to the gathering… Kayce (Luke Grimes) teaches Tate where to look for cattle, noting their whereabouts depend on the heat of the sun. Kayce also explains it’s better to slowly ride up to them, otherwise the chase is on. Tate admits he’s looking forward to the chase.
The other cowboys are also busy driving the herd toward the corrals. It’s a peaceful scene and even Beth’s smiling as the gathering continues. She shows off her skills and guides a stray calf back toward the herd.
As Rip rides off, Beth’s surprisingly happy as she advises him to never call this “work” again. “I can’t believe you’re not smiling,” she says.
Rip replies, “I’m smiling on the inside.”
They’ve rounded up the cattle much faster than they anticipated and John (Kevin Costner) wishes he brought his fly rod. Tate points out he told him not to, but fortunately, Emmett Walsh (Buck Taylor) brought his and is willing to share. He and Tate ride off and John’s assistant, Clara (Lilli Kay), joins Kayce and John, declaring this experience “f*cking awesome.”
John’s ready to take a nap until it’s his turn to watch the herd. Clara’s too excited to rest and John sends her off to watch the cows by the stream. John and Kayce are briefly alone, and John acknowledges he’d like to bottle this up and sell it. Kayce doesn’t think there would be a market for it since anyone who recognizes its value is already a cowboy.
Kayce gazes around the area, watching the cowboys settle in for a rest. He seems to reconsider his dad’s suggestion as he looks at all the contented faces.
Rip returns to find Beth asleep on the ground. He laughs when she wakes up, and Beth confesses she’s surprised she actually took a nap during the day. Beth never does that.
Rip asks her to join him on a short ride and then leads her to a picturesque, secluded meadow by a stream. Beth’s rendered speechless by its beauty and Rip explains he found it a year ago when she revealed she wanted to be married somewhere “with no memories” until they made them. Beth apologizes for rushing the wedding; she doesn’t say this place is perfect, but it’s obvious that’s how she feels.
He pulls out a flask which earns him a hug. She takes a drink and then they settle in under a tree. All she could ask for now would be a cigarette, and Rip once again surprises her by pulling out a pack. (This happier, more content Beth is someone we could get used to!)
“You know I’m blowing you anyway, right? You don’t have to work so f**king hard,” she says, laughing. “You are perfect, motherf**ker.”
Beth is sure she could live out her days here with only Rip for company. Just cigarettes, whiskey, a meadow, and Rip.
Night falls and the cowboys hunker down without the normal amenities. Emmett brought a blanket, and he and John discuss how perfect the day’s been. The old guy snores but John’s determined to make the best of it.
Morning arrives, horses are saddled, and the day begins with quiet conversations. There’s a discussion about the hardships of starting the day without coffee along with other good-natured kidding around before the hard work begins.
John’s already up and his horse is saddled when he returns to wake up Emmett. Unfortunately, Emmett passed away in the night, but John refuses to be sad about it. Emmett’s final day was perfect and he died on the trail, like every cowboy dreams.
Clara uses the satellite phone to call for a helicopter while the rest of the group, except she and John, head out to start the trip back to the corrals.
At the ranch, Monica tells Summer “the almost back to her” part is the part of the trip that makes her the most nervous. She’s relieved when she spots the group approaching.
John informs Clara they need to race back to get ahead of the group so that Emmett’s wife doesn’t learn what happened by noticing he’s not with the cowboys. They gallop back and beat the group to the corrals, and John’s able to personally inform Emmett’s wife, Ella, about his death.
Ella breaks down sobbing and John holds her tight. She takes a seat and John kneels in front of her, describing how Emmett died. He went peacefully in his sleep, head resting against his saddle.
The media notice something’s going on and film John and Ella’s interaction.
The branding gets underway and everyone, including John, is kept busy. The first group’s done and John instructs Rip to push them into the valley tomorrow to make room for another group.
Plates are filled and Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz) and John finally get a minute to talk. Lynelle points out that Emmett’s wife is busy helping on the food line, and John says she wanted to keep things normal because that’s how Emmett would have wanted it.
Lynelle asks about Summer and confesses she’s a little jealous. However, she also reveals she’s seeing the Secretary of Energy. He makes her laugh and he’s kind, and John thinks that means it might actually work out.
Talk turns to the President’s visit and John has no intention of putting in an appearance. “I have nothing to say to that idiot,” he says. Lynelle thinks he needs to or else it’ll send a bad message to the nation. John’s fine with that. Besides, he’ll be busy branding cattle.
John takes a seat next to Summer and asks her opinion of the events of the day. She calls it a mix of beautiful and heartbreaking.
Ryan’s grin lights up his face as he listens to Abby (Lainey Wilson) sing “Watermelon Moonshine.” Once the song’s over, Walker (Ryan Bingham) takes the stage while Abby and Ryan (Ian Bohen) dance – and kiss. Abby’s sure their relationship doesn’t have a future and they agree their relationship will just go until it doesn’t.
Rip and Beth relax on the hill overlooking the corral and Rip compliments Walker’s singing. “Motherf**ker can sing, can’t he? Sure won’t sing like that for me,” says Rip, and Beth calls him sensitive. She notices he’s insulted by that description and smiles.
A pretty girl asks Carter (Finn Little) to dance, and he admits he doesn’t know how. She doesn’t give up and volunteers to teach him.
John asks Summer to dance and she suggests he ask his “MILF senator.” John chuckles over his women troubles and does as Summer suggests. Lynelle doesn’t want to step on the inmate’s toes, and John points out it’s easier to wrangle cattle than to get a woman to join him on the dance floor. Lynelle gives in and confesses she wishes there were two of him. She’d like to marry the sensible one.
Abby heads back to the stage and promises Ryan a fun song. She launches into “Hold My Halo.”
Night’s fallen and Jamie and Sarah are naked while watching the news at his place. The reporter announces John won’t be present when the President visits Helena. Reporter Pat Jennings (Garon Grigsby) says that’s because local rancher and former head of Montana’s Fish & Game Emmett Walsh died in his sleep during the gathering.
Footage is shown of John comforting Emmett’s wife.
One of the news anchors voices her support of John’s decision.
Jamie thinks his dad could fall in manure and smell like a rose. Neither Jamie nor Sarah believe John can be beaten in a fair fight, and Sarah says John can’t be allowed to show up to the fight. Jamie doesn’t respond.
What is she suggesting?! The trailer for episode seven hints at a reason to impeach the newly-elected governor.
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