The worst possible way to end Yellowstone is the best route to set up its future without Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III. After five seasons, Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western flagship series will wrap up. Despite an extended hiatus due to the ongoing drama between the franchise creator and Costner, Yellowstone season 5, part 2 is already confirmed for a November 2024 rollout, with the remaining cast and crew working on it in the last few months. However, wrapping the main show isn’t the end of the modern-set branch of its storytelling. Sheridan already has a couple of spinoffs on the way.
Sheridan has long started building the Yellowstone universe with a string of prequels tracing the Duttons’ ranch history. This time, however, he is working to expand the franchise with a few contemporary series. Recently, the Michelle Pfeiffer-led offshoot called The Madison got some substantial updates. There’s also the previously in-development 6666 series. Finally, there’s a direct sequel that’s supposed to feature Kayce, Rip, and Beth. Among the group, this is the most dependent on how Yellowstone ends, simply because it will feature characters who are not just in play for so long but also have strong ties to Costner’s patriarch.
Yellowstone Ending On A Cliffhanger Is A Cop Out (But Helps Launch The Sequel)
Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III Needs A Proper Ending In Yellowstone
There have been so many theories as to how Yellowstone might end. Costner’s non-involvement presents an additional challenge on top of an already daunting task. Sheridan also has to explain what happened to the Dutton patriarch, and considering how beloved the ranch is to him, he needs a solid explanation for his sudden absence. One of the worst ways that the writer can cap off Yellowstone is to leave it with a major cliffhanger. Sheridan absolutely cannot leave John’s fate up in the air even with the sequel coming. It should be the end of Costner’s story in the universe.
Granted that Sheridan still needs a solid story to sustain the follow-up moving forward, having people tune in on the Yellowstone sequel when it launches increases its chances of succeeding.
On the flip side, however, ending Yellowstone with a massive cliffhanger is the most effective way to launch its sequel. It gives viewers a clear reason to come back and check back on the new show, even though it may only feature a few characters from the main show’s ensemble. Granted that Sheridan still needs a solid story to sustain the follow-up moving forward, having people tune in on the Yellowstone sequel when it launches increases its chances of succeeding. That’s especially the case if Sheridan saves the resolution to John’s fate in it.
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The Yellowstone Finale Needs To Set Up Beth, Rip, and Kayce’s Future
As his brainchild, no one knows the Yellowstone franchise better than Sheridan. Because of that, there’s confidence that he will be able to figure out how to approach this storytelling dilemma. The key here is to give John’s story a definitive ending while also leaving questions about the future of his family and the ranch in limbo. Perhaps Yellowstone season 5, part 2 can reveal what happened to the Dutton patriarch but save the fallout of his fate in the sequel. This can effectively launch Kayce, Rip, and Beth’s future without John, and maybe even Jamie.