Intense, gritty, and often crime-driven dramas are often praised for Taylor Sheridan’s work as creator, showrunner, and divinity to the cowboy-at-heart, but the prolific author isn’t given enough credit for his sense of balance. It’s one of the main reasons Yellowstone’s fan base keeps expanding, even as the programme enters its fifth and presumed penultimate season. It’s also the reason why fans have remained enthralled throughout the whole run of the programme. Sheridan is aware of pacing.
The Dutton family was the subject of an assassination attempt in the season’s first episode from last year, which was quite literally explosive. The youngest Dutton son, Kayce (Luke Grimes), pursued those who pursued him and his family with the kind of enraged vengeance that could only come from a Dutton. The season 4 opener of Game of Thrones was drenched in blood, featured numerous dead bodies, and had numerous bullet wounds.
Do not anticipate that in the fifth season’s opening.
The first episode of this season picks up immediately after the last time we saw the Dutton family, and things are going well for them. Kevin Costner’s John Dutton has won the governor’s race and is now Montana’s (and thus, his ranch’s) loyal and unyielding gatekeeper. The Dutton family and its friends are in a true position of power to start the season because Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz) was elected senator. If you seen the season 5 trailer and what it potentially contain, there is currently nothing unexpected or surprising. However, if you anticipate John to startle the boat right away, be ready for a moderate sway rather than a bumpy voyage.
The season 5 premiere focuses more on the rough ride promises, but they are still fascinating enough. The torture of Jamie, the Dutton black sheep, by Beth (Kelly Reilly), was one of the plots that was left open a little bit from the previous season (Wes Bentley). When it was determined that Jamie’s biological father, Will Patton, was responsible for the Dutton attack, Beth used her influence over Jamie to convince him to kill his father before slipping him back into the Dutton family’s good graces. But if some of the moments Sheridan threw into the first episode pay off, the Jamie narrative might end up being the most intriguing one this season.
Beth is naturally right at John’s side as they conclude their simultaneous victory speeches, while Jamie is standing a bit further away and keeping his distance. The Duttons’ extensive list of opponents start to notice the split between supposed family members by watching Jamie’s responses to his adopted father’s triumph, which occurs again when John was sworn in a bit later in the episode. When the confetti falls over John’s celebration, Jamie and Beth have an amusingly lengthy stare, and for a few second, it appears Jamie is trying to intimidate Beth. Even his sister noticed the out-of-character confidence display.
Naturally, Jamie quickly wipes the grin off his face. In these first two episodes, Bentley and Reilly genuinely shine, reigniting the animosity that took a backseat in the previous season and building up what appears to be the explosive end of their love/hate (but largely hate) sibling relationship. Bentley continues to do what he has been doing for four seasons by revealing Jamie’s ongoing dread hidden behind those steel-gray eyes while Reilly reminds the audience just how much of a viper Beth can be.
Actually, the first two episodes’ strength lies in these character-driven themes. It’s not particularly spectacular or explosive like the season debut from the previous year, but it achieves what any safe premiere ought to do: it sets up the rest of the season. Sheridan definitely predicts that this boat will eventually shake, which will probably throw some members of the Dutton family off. However, the major moments in “One Hundred Years of Nothing” are hidden in the last 10 minutes.
A small flash forward also shows a grown-up Tate (Brecken Merrill) at home with his very pregnant mother Monica (Kelsey Asbille), who has undoubtedly matured since last season. While Kayce is pursuing horse thieves into Canada and back, Monica calls him in a panic as she is about to give birth. Kayce rushes to be with his family as she loads Tate and herself into the truck and tries to drive herself to the hospital.
Tragic events occur, as they so frequently do, and Tate, Monica, and her infant are all involved in a terrible collision. The Dutton family puts politics and rivalry aside to grieve together after Monica and Kayce lose their baby boy, whom they named John in memory of the family patriarch.
The scenes that follow are frequently depressing, but the second episode, “The Sting of Wisdom,” provides Grimes and Asbille the chance to continue acting as the centre of the programme, as they did for the past four seasons. Throughout the entire series, Monica is the voice of reason, and Kayce’s story exhibits the most grounded response to the commotion that surrounds his family. They serve as Sheridan’s deliberate compromise to turn circumstances that could easily turn into melodrama into ones that can be understood.
Kayce struggles to fulfil his responsibilities as a son, husband, and parent. Their marriage is having issues. They have financial issues. In a world of political intrigue, badass cowboys, and flaming passion, they are the most relatable characters, and the two actors and their outstanding performances are occasionally overlooked. The episode’s title, “The Sting of Wisdom,” is just perfect because Kayce and Monica have gained so much wisdom via the episode’s many pricey lessons that have been learnt. Grimes and Asbille are unquestionably the standout performers of the first two episodes because of their subtle and genuine performances.
Which takes us to the sense of equilibrium Sheridan offers, which was already highlighted. Darkness gives way to brightness. It balances the joyous celebration of John’s win, which includes some much-needed chuckles while the Dutton ranch hands drink and dance, with the tragedy of Kayce and Monica’s defeat in the second episode. The promise that Jamie might finally fix Beth for good comes with his sister beating him up once more. Due to John’s new role keeping him away from his beloved Yellowstone, Rip (Cole Hauser) is now essentially in charge, and a heartwarming scene between a very grown-up Carter (Finn Little) and his apparent surrogate grandfather-figure, John, also occurs.
The best way to describe the first two episodes is as a compilation of fantastic moments. At the governor’s banquet, Ryan (Ian Bohen) met a potential love interest. Introducing Clara, John’s aide, who appears to be a new ally (Lilli Kay). the introduction of Beth’s match in every manner, Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), who appears to be Sarah in every way. To the dismay of Caroline Warner (Jackie Weaver) and even Jamie, John is already breaking the law and misusing his position. Angela Blue Thunder (Q’orianka Kilcher), who resembles a snake, poses a potential threat to Rainwater (Gill Birmingham), who appears to be in a position of authority. All fantastic plotlines, however they were only briefly introduced in the first few episodes.
The major problem is that there is a lot going on in the first two episodes but nothing is really progressing. The viewers had to have known John would win the election even before the season 5 trailer was released, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Duttons are at war with Market Equities. The ranch is still in danger, Beth and Jamie are still at odds, and Kayce and Monica must deal with yet another significant setback to their marriage. As a result, this season’s episodes 1 and 2 feel a little unnecessary.
But there is comfort in the knowledge that Sheridan will definitely act in the same manner as always. He will make the season more balanced. Perhaps the season 5 opener is building up one of the most explosive seasons in the show’s history, similar to the explosive season 4 opening, which was followed by a pretty boring season (in fairness). These character moments are significant, of course, but if they had been featured in an episode that aired in the middle of the season rather than the beginning, viewers would have mistaken it for filler. Just whether the balance can be restored remains to be seen.
Season 5 of Yellowstone has Sunday 8 p.m. ET premieres on Paramount Network in the U.S. and Paramount+ the following day in the U.K.
