The Final Showdown: 5 Shocking Things You Must Know About The Last Season Of Yellowstone

The wait is finally over, but the end is near. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the final chapter of the Dutton family saga is unfolding, bringing one of television's most massive modern Westerns to a dramatic conclusion. After a prolonged mid-season hiatus filled with speculation, drama, and major casting announcements, the second half of Season 5—the official last season of Yellowstone—has delivered its long-awaited premiere, setting the stage for the final episodes that will determine the fate of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and its embattled owners.

The highly anticipated conclusion to *Yellowstone* Season 5 Part 2 premiered on the Paramount Network on Sunday, November 10, 2024, with its streaming debut on Peacock following on March 16, 2025. This final run promises to be a no-holds-barred conclusion, focusing on the bitter feud between Jamie and Beth, the future of the ranch, and the monumental absence of its patriarch, John Dutton. Here is a definitive, up-to-the-minute guide on everything you need to know about the series finale.

The Confirmed Cast and The Shocking Absence of John Dutton

The final episodes of the flagship series will see the return of all the core Dutton family members and ranch hands, with one massive, unavoidable exception. The dramatic conclusion will focus intensely on the remaining main players as they navigate the fallout from the first half of Season 5 and the looming threats to their legacy.

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Key Returning Cast for the Final Episodes

• Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton
• Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler
• Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton
• Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton
• Kelsey Asbille as Monica Dutton
• Gil Birmingham as Chief Thomas Rainwater
• Breckin Merrill as Tate Dutton
• Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd Pierce
• Denim Richards as Colby
• Ian Bohen as Ryan

The Kevin Costner Conundrum

The biggest news surrounding the Yellowstone final episodes is the official departure of the show's star. Kevin Costner, who played the iconic John Dutton III, has confirmed that he will not be returning for the second half of Season 5. In June 2024, the actor made an announcement confirming his days in the cowboy hat were over, citing scheduling conflicts with his passion project, the film series *Horizon: An American Saga*. This means the show's creators had to pivot the plot to account for the sudden and permanent absence of the Dutton patriarch, leading to a series finale that will look drastically different from what was originally planned.

The plot of the final season has been significantly altered to address Costner's exit, with early reports and recaps suggesting the final episodes include a formal funeral for John Dutton. This dramatic development ensures that the central conflict—the battle for the ranch—will continue, but with the children and Rip Wheeler forced to take on the fight without their leader.

The Release Schedule and Where to Watch the Series Finale

The wait for the second half of *Yellowstone* Season 5 has been one of the longest in modern television history, but the schedule for the final episodes is now confirmed. The split-season approach has created two distinct viewing periods for fans.

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Paramount Network Broadcast

The final episodes of Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 began airing on the Paramount Network on Sunday, November 10, 2024. This is the primary, first-run viewing platform for the series.

Peacock Streaming Release

For viewers who prefer to stream the series, the Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 streaming release date on Peacock is set for March 16, 2025. All previous seasons (Season 1 through the first half of Season 5) are currently available on Peacock, making it the definitive streaming home for the entire saga.

The Future of the Dutton Ranch: Plot Theories and Spin-offs

With John Dutton gone, the central question of the Yellowstone series finale is: Who will inherit the ranch, and will it survive? The final episodes are expected to be an intense, high-stakes battle for the land and the Dutton legacy.

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The Jamie vs. Beth Showdown

The sibling rivalry between Beth and Jamie reached a deadly fever pitch in the mid-season finale, with both characters plotting the other’s murder. The final season must resolve this conflict, which could see one or both of them meet a tragic end. The Dutton ranch future hinges on who survives and who is willing to sacrifice everything for the land.

Kayce Dutton’s Vision and Role

Kayce’s role has always been one of conflicted loyalty between his family and his wife, Monica, and the Broken Rock Reservation. His final vision in the earlier seasons suggested a dark future. The final episodes will likely see Kayce forced to make the ultimate choice, possibly involving a controversial plot to save the ranch by selling it to Chief Thomas Rainwater at a below-market price, as hinted at in some finale recaps.

The Beth and Rip Spin-off Tease

One of the strongest indicators of the show's direction is the persistent rumor of a spin-off focused on Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser). The ending of the main series is expected to set the stage for this continuation, possibly seeing the couple leave the ranch to start a new life, or perhaps taking up the mantle of protecting the land in a new way. Kelly Reilly herself has expressed interest in exploring more of Beth's story.

Furthermore, an official sequel series is already in development, tentatively titled *2025* or *The Madison*, which will continue the story of the Dutton family and their ranch. This confirms that while the original *Yellowstone* series is ending with Season 5, the overall narrative and world created by Taylor Sheridan will live on, ensuring that the saga of the modern American West is far from over.

Topical Authority Entities & LSI Keywords

• Taylor Sheridan (Creator)
• Paramount Network (Original Broadcaster)
• Peacock (Streaming Service)
• 1883 (Prequel Series)
• 1923 (Prequel Series)
• Horizon: An American Saga (Kevin Costner's Film Project)
• Yellowstone Dutton Ranch
• Chief Thomas Rainwater
• Broken Rock Reservation
• Montana (Setting)
• Dutton Family Legacy
• Jamie Dutton Impeachment
• Market Equities
• Rip Wheeler's Loyalty
• Kayce's Final Choice
• Yellowstone Season 6 (Speculation)