Recap of Season 5 Finale of the TV Show ‘Yellowstone’ Episode 14: “Life’s Commitment”

See you later, Yellowstone. Taylor Sheridan penned and directed the grand finale of his series, “Life Is a Promise,” leaving a lasting impact on his television legacy. He returns to portray Travis Wheatley, a tough character embodying Sheridan’s version of masculinity. However, it is Beth Dutton, brought to life by Kelly Reilly, who truly shines as Sheridan’s female muse. Beth’s strength and determination takes center stage as life at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch comes to a close with the burial of John Dutton.

Despite Beth’s aversion to traditional ceremonies, John Dutton’s funeral becomes a solemn affair. Beth, Rip, Carter, Kayce, Lynelle Perry, and the cowboys come together to pay their respects. As Rip lowers the coffin and picks up the ceremonial shovel, the symbolism is not lost on anyone. With the ranch being sold, this marks the end of an era for the Duttons and their way of life.

Beth whispers to her father through his coffin, reaffirming her commitment to his wishes. The sale of the land, originally intended to alleviate the family’s tax burden, turns into a meaningful gesture as Chief Thomas Rainwater agrees to Kayce’s offer. The Yellowstone and Paradise Valley will return to the Broken Rock People, preserving the land’s integrity for generations to come. Rainwater emphasizes the sacredness of the land, uniting their people in a shared stewardship.

Kayce, Monica, and Tate will keep East Camp in the deal, and we catch a nice scene where father and son purchase the beginnings of their own brand and herd at auction. The Hooked Rocking Y brand will be retired, but retained by Beth and Rip, who have purchased their own ranch outside Dillon, northwest of the Yellowstone. It’s good country out there for cattle and yearlings, Rip likes the quality of the grass, and best of all, “ain’t nobody from the city gonna wanna put up with the winters.” Is this the ranch where we’ll find Beth, Rip, and their de facto son Carter in an upcoming Yellowstone spinoff? We shall see. For now, it’s vengeance time.

Minutes after his pompous, sanctimonious statement to the press – “blind scales of justice,” “the mettle of our Constitution,” “the murder of your freedom” – Beth appears in Jamie’s house with bear spray, a tire iron, and an old dagger. (For what she’s got planned, a gun would be too simple.) Jamie will not rise to power on the back of his father’s murder, and he won’t reveal 150 years of dark Dutton fam secrets, because once Beth attacks, Jamie retaliates just as pompously as his speech sounded. “You’re about to become another one of this family’s secrets” he says with his hands around a bloodied Beth’s neck. Which is right around when the second part of her plan kicks in. Rip arrives, holds Jamie up, and Beth drives her blade deep into his guts. Beth kept her promise. John Dutton is avenged. And Jamie’s dead ass is on its way to the Train Station, courtesy of Rip and Lloyd. There is definitely no ceremony as they dump his corpse in the Duttons’ trusty death receptacle.

With a punctured lung and a few other scrapes, Beth is victorious as Detective Dillon arrives. Offshore accounts are how he will track down her father’s killers. Sarah Atwood is who paid for the hit. Jamie was complicit in its planning. “And I am what he is willing to do to prevent someone from looking into it.” Beth will recover for a bit in the hospital, pouring Tito’s into her smoothies. But killing Jamie will have no further consequences. And Beth, who was the centerpiece of Yellowstone even when John Dutton was still alive, begins her happily ever after with Rip and Carter on their smaller but still substantial new ranch. Cue the Willie Nelson and “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.”

• What becomes of the Bunkhouse Boys? For Teeter, it’s an easy enough decision to head for Bosque Ranch and employment under Travis Wheatley. That he would dare demand she change her manner of speech is insulting, to Teeter and us. But Jimmy Hurdstrom’s down there in Texas, too, and the genuine grin of her cowboying pal is a welcome sight for Teeter’s future.

• Ryan also returns to Texas, but not as a wagon boss. He tracks down Abby (Lainey Wilson in a welcome return for the finale), who’s performing at Billy Bob’s in Forth Worth – “Hang Tight Honey” is a solid jam – and he manages to win her back with a bit of cowboy honesty.

• And finally, what about Lloyd? The ultimate Yellowstone cowboy said if he couldn’t cowboy at the Yellowstone, then maybe his cowboying days were through. But then he helped Rip clean up the scene of Jamie’s murder, and it’s not the first time they’ve done such a thing together. So our prediction is that Lloyd stays connected to Rip and Beth’s new venture, whatever Taylor Sheridan has planned for its shape.

Johnny Loftus (@glennganges) is an independent writer and editor living at large in Chicagoland. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift.