Even after John Dutton is dead and gone from “Yellowstone,” bad things happen to those who dare to cross him.
In the eleventh episode of the fifth and final season of Paramount’s hit ranch drama, the show continues revolving around John (Kevin Costner) and his death – and, the hour ends with another shocking murder.
Spoilers below for the eleventh episode of “Yellowstone” Season 5.
“Yellowstone” follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, including patriarch John (Costner), who was also the Governor, and his adult children Kayce (Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley), Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Beth’s husband, Rip (Cole Hauser).
The show returned on Nov. 10 and kicked off the second half of Season 5 by killing off John, since Costner left the show amid rumors of behind-the-scenes strife. A hit man fatally shot John, and staged it to look like a suicide. Jamie was partly responsible, as his evil girlfriend, Sarah (Dawn Olivieri), arranged it, but Jamie was not directly involved.
Now, the chickens have come home to roost, because the news is out that John didn’t die by suicide.
So, Costner can rest easy, since the “Dances With Wolves” star recently appeared on SiriusXM’s “The Michael Smerconish Program,” to say about John’s death, “I didn’t see [the episode]. I heard it’s a suicide. That doesn’t make me wanna rush to go see it.”
In this week’s episode, after Kayce pushes the medical examiner to look deeper, they find signs that John was restrained. The police hold a press conference announcing that the late Governor’s death is now officially being investigated as a homicide.
Sarah and the hitman are both shown watching the press conference on TV, panicking.
Back at the ranch, Beth meets with Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) to discuss its future, which isn’t looking good. Rainwater tells her that he doesn’t think he can do much to help her save the ranch, but he’s available.
A dejected Beth says, “There is no preserving this place. There is prolonging its collapse,” and sneers, “one day, there will be a Costco where the barn is.”
Meanwhile, Kayce also visits Jamie to confront him about his involvement in John’s death. Last week, Beth showed up to Jamie’s office to slap him and threaten him, and now, it’s Kayce’s turn.
After Kayce hits Jamie, the latter tells him, “I had nothing to do with our father’s death. I was as shocked as you were… I love you, even if I hated him, which I never did. I could never do that to you.”
Kayce doesn’t seem convinced, but he stops physically attacking Jamie and leaves.
Since Jamie is the attorney general of Montana, he also gets recused from involving himself in the investigation of John’s death, and matters involving the future of the ranch.
Jamie isn’t happy to get recused, and he blames Sarah for that turn of events.
They slap each other – making it twice that Jamie has gotten slapped this hour. Ouch.
When Sarah tries to calm Jamie down, she tells him that even if she confessed to hiring the hitman that killed John, Jamie wouldn’t get in much trouble for it.
“The worst you face is accessory after the fact, and impeding justice,” she reassures him.
Sarah then gets into her car and drives away. But, she pulls over when Jamie calls her on the phone to make up with her after their fight.
Another car pulls up alongside her. It seems to be an ordinary couple asking her for directions – until suddenly, the man takes out a gun and shoots Sarah, executioner-style.
So, Sarah only lasted two episodes before facing deadly consequences for arranging John’s murder.
It’s unclear yet who hired the hitman that got Sarah, but presumably, it’s someone who liked John enough to want revenge. “Yellowstone” isn’t “Game of Thrones,” but nevertheless, it wouldn’t have felt out of place if Sarah’s murderer had said, “John Dutton sends his regards.”
Jamie, who was on the phone with Sarah the whole time, overhears the shooting. The episode ends as he panics, cries, and calls 911.
“Yellowstone” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Paramount Network.