Yellowstone season 5: next episode, recaps, cast and everything we know
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Yellowstone season 5 premiered back in late 2022, with the first eight episodes of the western series having aired and the show currently on a hiatus before the final batch debut.
While viewers desperately wait for Taylor Sheridan's popular series to return (the Yellowstone season 5 delivered the biggest ratings yet for the show, 12.1 million same-day viewers, per Hollywood Reporter), they have been able to enjoy some other shows in the Sheridan-verse, including the Yellowstone prequel series 1923 and Mayor of Kingstown season 2.
But Yellowstone is still the main attraction. Here is everything we know about Yellowstone season 5, including when it will return.
When is Yellowstone season 5 coming back?
After a two year wait, Yellowstone season 5 is finally set to return with new episodes on Sunday, November 10. This will mark the start of the final episodes for the flagship Paramount Network series.
Though the flagship show is ending, we should also be getting 1923 season 2 and a Yellowstone sequel series on the heels of Yellowstone's ending, so the franchise will live on.
Yellowstone season 5 episodes
Here are the official synopses for all of the Yellowstone season 5 episodes released so far, as well as our recaps for each:
Yellowstone season 5 episode 1, "One Hundred Years is Nothing"
"John Dutton is sworn in as Governor of Montana; as John settles into the powers of his new office, he makes bold moves to protect the Yellowstone from his opponents." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 1 recap.
Yellowstone season 5 episode 2, "The Sting of Wisdom"
""As John makes a passionate speech to the state of Montana, a new formidable opponent from Market Equities arrives in Montana. The cowboys at the ranch deal with a new problem." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 2 recap.
Yellowstone season 5 episode 3, "Tall Drink of Water"
"Beth heads to Salt Lake City to take care of unfinished business; a trap is set for Jamie; Kayce makes an important decision for his family." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 3 recap.
Yellowstone season 5 episode 4, "Horses in Heaven"
"The venom between Jamie and Beth reaches a boiling point. John makes changes at the Capitol." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 4 recap.
Yellowstone season 5 episode 5, "Watch 'Em Ride Away"
"John tells Clara to cancel his Capitol meetings to brand cattle with the Yellowstone cowboys; Beth's disdain for a perceived rival reaches a boiling point." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 5 recap.
Yellowstone season 5 episode 6, "Cigarettes, Whiskey, a Meadow and You"
"The Duttons and the Yellowstone enjoy an almost perfect day branding cattle; Montana gets an unexpected visitor from outside; Sarah continues to sink her teeth into Jamie; Rainwater deals with a challenger from within." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 6 recap.
Yellowstone season 5 episode 7, "The Dream Is Not Me"
"John deals with a problem with his herd; Senator Perry delivers news to Rainwater; Jamie and Sarah plan their next move; the entire ranch enjoys a rare evening of fun together; Beth discusses a new business plan with the ranch in mind." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 7 recap.
Yellowstone season 5 episode 8, "A Knife and No Coin"
"Jamie goes through with his plan. John has an ask for Monica, and lends support to an unexpected friend. The Yellowstone cowboys embark on a big change. A flashback reveals a source of Rip’s loyalty." Read WTW's Yellowstone season 5 episode 8 recap.
This was always going to be the biggest season of the western to date with 14 episodes, but Taylor Sheridan recently teased that Yellowstone season 5 could be longer, adding more episodes if he thinks they're needed to effectively close out the series.
Yellowstone season 5 cast
The big casting news as we head into the second half of Yellowstone season 5 is that Kevin Costner, who has played lead character John Dutton throughout the series, is not returning. There were rumors for a while that this may be the case, but it was made official by Costner and Paramount Network shortly after the November 2024 premiere date was announced, with scheduling conflicts cited as the reason. Exactly how John Dutton will be written out of the show is TBD, though for those who need a refresher, Jamie was planning an assassination attempt at the end of the first half.
As for the rest of the Dutton family, here is who plays them.
Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton: John Dutton’s children include Beth a ruthless businesswoman and her father’s most loyal defender. Reilly is also known for Flight and Cavalry.
Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton: Kayce is the youngest son of John Dutton, who attempts to balance what is best for his dad and his own wife and son. Some of Luke Grimes other credits include American Sniper and Fifty Shades of Grey.
Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton: Jamie is the black sheep of the family as John Dutton's adopted son. Wes Bentley is known for American Beauty and Interstellar.
Other members of the Dutton family include Beth’s husband and foreman of the Yellowstone Ranch Rip Wheeler, played by Cole Hauser (Rogue, Olympus Has Fallen); Kayce’s wife Monica Dutton, played by Kelsey Asbille (Fargo, Wind River); and Kayce’s son Tate, played by Brecken Merrill.
Here's other series regulars of the Yellowstone cast, all of which are set to return for season 5:
Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom
Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater
Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd
Denim Richards as Colby
Ian Bohen as Ryan
Ryan Bingham as Walker
Finn Little as Carter
Jen Landon as Teeter
Kathryn Kelly as Emily
Mo Brings Plenty as Mo
Wendy Moniz as Governor Lynelle Perry
We've also gotten a number of flashback scenes in season 5, which have included Josh Lucas as young John Dutton, Kylie Rogers as young Beth Dutton and Kyle Red Silverstein as young Rip Wheeler.
Jacki Weaver is also back as Caroline Warner, one of the season 4 antagonists.
A number of new faces have also been confirmed for season 5. They include Kai Caster as Rowdy, a young cowboy; Lainey Wilson as Abby, a musician; Lilli Kay as Clara Brewer, the Dutton's new assistant; and Dawn Olivieri as Sarah Atwood, a new corporate player who arrives in Montana.
We've got more on the Yellowstone season 5 cast right here.
Yellowstone season 5 trailer
At long last, we have our first look at Yellowstone season 5 part 2. It's just a 30 second teaser, but we get a preview at what appears to be the aftermath of John Dutton's exit and the coming battle between Beth and Jamie:
Yellowstone season 5 music
A cool feature of Yellowstone season 5 has been the music in the show. A number of big name and lesser known country music stars have either appeared in person or have had their songs featured in episodes. Here are some of the music references in Yellowstone season 5 so far:
A well known Taylor Sheridan favorite band was in the Yellowstone season 5 premiere
Country music star Lainey Wilson plays a singer on the show, appearing in multiple episodes
Fans got another tune stuck in their heads with a song that was featured in Yellowstone season 5 episode 4
There were two songs in Yellowstone season 5 episode 5 for fans to enjoy
Lainey Wilson and Ryan Binghman performed some of their songs on Yellowstone season 5 episode 6.
Another band was in Yellowstone season 5 episode 7 getting the spotlight.
The songs in Yellowstone season 5 episode 8 included a musician already featured this season and one of the Yellowstone cast's debut single.
Yellowstone season 4 recap
SPOILERS AHEAD if you are not caught up with Yellowstone season 4.
After the Yellowstone season 3 cliffhanger where Beth, Kayce and John were all attacked, season 4 picks up a couple of months later with John Dutton waking up from a coma in the hospital. The rest of the family are all alive, but struggling in different ways — Beth suffered burns on her back from the explosion, while Kayce struggles to help a traumatized Monica and Tate.
While looking after her father, Beth meets a teen, Carter, whose father overdoses and she invites him to live and work on the ranch. They’ll need the extra hand as Jimmy, once recovered from another accident with a bucking horse, is sent off to the Texas ranch, 6666, by John as a last-ditch effort to try and become a real cowboy.
In the fight to keep Yellowstone from being sold, Market Equity is beginning construction on its planned airport, with a new executive coming to Montana to oversee things, Caroline Warner. As a way to have Beth fight for them instead of against them, Caroline offers Beth a job; but Beth’s first loyalty is always to her father, so she uses the opportunity to learn more about Market Equity’s plan and try and disrupt it from the inside. This includes using an environmentalist that becomes close with John Dutton as a pawn to stage a protest on Market Equity’s build site that eventually draws national attention.
Thomas Rainwater and the Duttons continue to put their once and likely future rivalry on hold as he first shares key information with John about who was hired to attack him and his family, as well as help Kayce and his family through their struggles. The info reveals that an inmate organized the attack against the Duttons, but he appears to have no connection to them before this. Though their relationship is still tense (and as a test), John sends Kayce to ask Jamie for help to interview the inmate. Jamie agrees but quickly learns that one of the inmate’s previous cellmates was his real father, Garrett Randle. Though Jamie attempts to confront him, he still struggles with which father he wants to truly be loyal to. He lets Randle live and doesn’t say anything to John.
Things get even more complicated when Gov. Perry decides to run for Senate and needs to endorse a successor. She initially tells John that she will endorse Jamie, but John doesn’t think that is a good idea and reluctantly says that he will do it. When Jamie finds out he is shell-shocked but attempts to figure out a way to run anyway.
As the season concludes, Beth is fired by Market Equity after her actions are revealed, but she has bigger fish to fry. She learns the truth about their attacker and uses that info to blackmail Jamie, forcing him to kill Randle and then saying that she now owns him. Beth ends her whirlwind couple of days by marrying Rip.
Kayce takes part in a Native American ritual where he has a powerful vision that he tells Monica will be the end of them (but we aren’t given any clues to what he saw). Jimmy, meanwhile, returns from 6666 a changed and engaged man, and he is ultimately given permission to return to Texas and start a new life.
How to watch Yellowstone
If you need to catch up with Yellowstone or just want to rewatch the series, streaming remains the easiest option, with all five seasons of Yellowstone exclusively available to stream on Peacock. Reruns of episodes also stream occasionally on cable channel Paramount Network, while as we mentioned CBS has been airing episodes as well.
For fans in the UK, all Yellowstone episodes are available to stream on Paramount Plus.
Check out this article for all the details on how to catch up with Yellowstone seasons.
