In 'Yellowstone' First Look Week, Rip and Beth take center stage (exclusive photo)

"Yellowstone" First Look Week at USA TODAY kicks off with the passionate couple at the center of the Taylor Sheridan hit series — Beth and Rip.

Through every kind of Dutton family drama and intrigue, fans have counted on one steady thing in the changing fortunes of "Yellowstone" — the decades-long romance between John Dutton's fiery-tempered daughter Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Dutton's long-time right-hand ranchman Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser).

The unusual love story will become even more pivotal in the long-awaited second half of Season 5, which kicks off Nov. 10 (8 EST/PST) without John Dutton, as Kevin Costner has parted ways with the "Yellowstone" franchise. The Paramount Network has maintained since May 2023 that Season 5 would be the final one for "Yellowstone." The network declined to comment on a report in Puck, later confirmed by other outlets, that negotiations were underway for "Yellowstone" to continue with Beth and Rip as the lead characters.

Either way, the power couple, shown exclusively in the USA TODAY first look, will take on even greater prominence with the patriarch Dutton out of the picture of the neo-Western series.

More exclusive photos: 'Yellowstone' First Look Week: Kayce and Monica Dutton survive into Season 5 second half

And Paramount Network's "Yellowstone" Labor Day Weekend marathon (starting Friday, 10 EDT/PDT) revisits each "Yellowstone" episode (also streaming on Peacock), as well as Rip and Beth's non-traditional love story. The affair kicked off in the pilot episode as Rip discovered Beth up early at the Dutton ranch, smoking an early-morning cigarette in a bathrobe.

“You look nervous, Rip,” Beth says in one of the character's classic lines. "Like a stray dog who can’t enjoy being in the house 'cause he’s so worried about the broom."

More scheming: 'Yellowstone' First Look Week: Jamie Dutton doubles down on family duplicity (photos)

Somehow, their love story has thrived and the couple survived the Season 3 finale family assassination attempt to make it to their impromptu Season 4 finale marriage, despite John Dutton's objections. The beginning of Season 5, which premiered way back in November 2022, saw John Dutton sworn in as governor of Montana, with Beth as his chief of staff, giddy with newfound power.

But there were already signs of trouble: Beth declared war on her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley), blaming him as the malevolent force behind her own infertility. The long-brewing family battle between sister and scheming brother could have major implications ― even on the rock-solid Rip and Beth relationship ― in the final episodes.

In the first teaser released by Paramount Network on Aug. 30, Jamie says to his sister over the phone, "You destroy me, you destroy yourself."

"Unlike you I keep my promises," Beth says in return, reminding her brother of her longstanding promise to kill him.

In a clip posted on the "Yellowstone" Instagram page earlier this month, Rip is shown growling to Jamie, "My job is to protect this family, and you are the worst thing for it."

There are many major "Yellowstone" questions to be answered in the final Season 5 episodes, including how the series will work around the absence of Costner's Dutton. Likewise, whether Rip and Beth can stay together, continue with a new "Yellowstone" or end up being part of a spinoff series, is one of the biggest.

Check out USA TODAY all this week for more "Yellowstone" final-season first looks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Yellowstone' new season 2024: Rip and Beth together