Opinions Split Among Yellowstone Viewers After Season Finale, Comparisons Made to Game of Thrones

Paramount Network brought it’s hit Yellowstone series to a close on Sunday, which left its legions of fans largely divided. 

Last week’s episode ended with Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) teasing that he was going to save the ranch by giving it away.

As anticipated, he essentially returned the ownership of the ranch to its original owners, the Broken Rock Indians, by selling it at the same price it was bought for back in 1883 when John Dutton’s family initially acquired the land – .25 per acre, equivalent to just .1 million for the most extensive ranch in Montana.

Beth (Kelly Reilly) also kept her promise and killed her brother Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), seemingly the last person to be dropped off at the show’s proverbial ‘train station.’ 

Beth and Rip (Cole Hauser) also bought a brand new ranch, while Kayce, Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate (Brecken Merrill) kept the East Camp part of the sprawling ranch, with the rest going back to the reservation.

While all of the main story lines were wrapped up, many showed love to the finale on social media while others bashed it, some even claiming it to be worse than Game of Thrones’ final season.

‘@JustinRaley_15 said, ‘It is official. Game of Thrones is no longer the worst final season of any tv show ever. Yellowstone has taken that award. What a disaster of a final season. #Yellowstone #YellowstoneTV.’

Michael Vitale (@RealVampireMike) simply said on Twitter, ‘Dumb ending #yellowstone #yellowstonetv.

@njramen wondered, ‘? hm, after that finale, i wonder what the premise of the next season/beth and rip’s spinoff will be. i guess we’ll see.’

Last week, Paramount gave the green light for a new spin-off featuring Rip and Beth,’ which will seemingly follow their life on this new ranch they bought.

@GinaaRoxx said, ‘That was perfect. Well done, #TaylorSheridan,’ while adding an image of the headstone of Elsa Dutton.

@lumanicious added, ‘Quite the end to an era. Thank you, @Yellowstone #YellowstoneTV #Yellowstone

Kokila (@reachkokila) admitted, ‘What an ending! I rarely watch TV series but this one I cried the whole last ep. Truly touching. Thanks #Yellowstone #YellowstoneTV.’

@Flash3000Lester was one of many fans still mad about killing off Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, stating, ‘I Would Never Forgive Taylor Sheridan For What He Did to Kevin Costner. #YellowstoneTV #Yellowstone.’

@njramen said, ‘seeing the yellowstone mansion empty and the dutton family sign being torn down is so cold. i hate that it ended with john. and kayce’s attitude about it is making it colder, like shut up. #yellowstone #yellowstonetv

Flash Lester (@Flash3000Lester) added, ‘Don’t Blame Kevin Costner Blame Taylor Sheridan The End. #YellowstoneTV #Yellowstone.’

Ladybuglizzie (@sagevalentine) said, ‘They got their land back,’ referring to the Broken Rock tribe.

One of the biggest questions heading into the finale was will Beth actually keep her promise and kill her brother Jamie Dutton, which was answered as a resounding yes.

After burying her father, she drove to Jamie’s home and attacked him with a tire iron as a brutal and bloody fight ensued.

Jamie nearly killed his sister by choking her, but Rip arrived just in time to save her as she plunged a knife into his heart.

Some were surprised that Beth got away with the killing, with Jamie being seemingly the last “passenger” to be taken to the “train station,” the spot near the Wyoming border without a law enforcement presence where the Dutton family has been dumping the bodies of their enemies for decades.

Sandra Trollinger gleefully tweeted, ‘Adios Jamie!’ after his character was killed, though others like @snowcoton wondered, ‘Are Rip and Beth going to get away with it?’

Others like @CaseyBridge515 was thrilled that Jamie was killed, adding, ‘No more Jamie I’m so happy like a kid on Christmas day!!!’

@aarong3000 was not a fan of series creator Taylor Sheridan’s own character Travis Wheatley, adding, ‘Can they take Taylor Sheridan and this horrible character to the train station also? What an a$$hole!’ 

The series also confirmed a theory first set forth in the 1883 finale where the Indian named Spotted Eagle (Graham Greene) said his people would take the land back after seven generations, which ultimately proved true.

Kayce struck a deal with Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birminghan), selling him the land back dirt cheap at $1.25 an acre – the same price land was selling for in 1883 – $1.1 million for the largest ranch in Montana.

@zest674 said, ‘This is a wonderful solution for everyone….and the land,’ while Tiffany (@TiffSmallwood) said, ‘So he’s giving it back to the Indigenous people?! Am I understanding this wrong? #Yellowstone #YellowstoneTV.’

@iLEADFARMER said, ‘I KNEW IT! Kayce selling the ranch back to the Broken Rock Reservation! The prophecy from 1883 when James Dutton originally got the land, is about to come true!!!!’

‘They are slicing their palms with a knife in a ceremony. They are brothers now to each other and the land. After 7 generations – what was said in the 1800’s came true!’ tweeted @TheWSB.

Sandra Trolinger said, ‘Kasey and his family are protected and the ranch lives on as it should wild and free. Bravo!’

@LilMar68 said, ‘Kayce, I’m so freaking proud of you,’ while adding the hashtags #YellowstoneTV #Yellowstone

Tangee B (@DejaCQQ99) said, ‘That was a powerful scene,’ referring to the scene where Jamie negotiates the sale of the ranch.

@The_WSB said, ‘The promise made 7 generations ago – comes true! All that palm cutting was hurtful! #YellowstoneTV #Yellowstone.’

The Yellowstone saga will continue with Season 2 of the prequel series 1923, which will debut February 23.