A theory about Yellowstone’s possible ending could have new credence after the events of Sunday night’s new episode.
The children of the late John Dutton (Kevin Costner) were busy holding an auction to sell off all their livestock and equipment, which brought them a cool $30 million, plus another $13 million from selling off the horses.
Still, even Beth admitted that influx of cash would only buy them another year of controlling the ranch, but Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) teased a simple but effective plan.
After a chat with Beth about taxes, she realized what he had in mind, admitting she wished she thought of that herself, before Kayce tells his wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille) that the only way to save the ranch is to give it away.
Many fans took to social media to speculate how this may all hash out, which may connect to the finale of the Yellowstone prequel 1883.
While it’s unclear at the moment who Kayce might ‘give away’ the ranch to, it seems likely that Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and his Broken Rock Indian tribe may be the recipients.
If that is the case, it will tie into a scene from the 1883 finale, where John Dutton’s great-grandfather James Dutton (Tim McGraw) speaks with an Indian named Spotted Eagle (Graham Greene).
James says his family will settle where his daughter Elsa dies, after she was struck with a poisoned arrow, and Spotted Eagle tells him of a valley that can be reached before she dies.
He tells James that his family could thrive there as a homestead, though he warns him that many years later, his Indian people will take the land back.
‘Know this, that in seven generations, my people will rise up and take it back from you,’ as Dutton agrees, adding, ‘In seven generations you can have it.’
While it’s unclear if the Broken Rock reservation will have to ‘rise up,’ it seems possible they may reclaim the land, which many X users pointed out.
@Therealtodd1987 said, ‘He will see the land to the Indian people, watch 1883 and the indigenous people said inn7 generations we will get the land back , and James Dutton character said he’s ok with that , that’s how they say the ranch !!’
@iamchris0408 said, ‘Final predictions: rainwater ends up with the Yellowstone property. 1883 Easter egg : they told Dutton in 7 generations they will come back for the land. Well this could be that time,’ referring to Broken Rock leader Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham).
Another X user, @LarryHolme63048, mentioned that Kayce’s son Tate, ‘owns it already. It’s going back to the indian tribe that gave it to the duttons in 1883. 7th generation, just as the chief foretold.’
@mr_seans offered his, ‘Yellowstone predictions,’ which include, ‘Beth and Jamie take each other out in a shootout,’ and, ‘Rip gets molested by a hillbilly at the train station … like in Deliverance,’ and, ‘The Duttons give their land back to the Indians as James Dutton promised in 1883.’
Others like @BroGod4Life commended Kayce’s actions, adding, ‘Kayce did what he had to do to protect his family especially Monica and Tate it’s a lot of risks at stake.’
He added in another tweet, ‘Kayce is indeed a smart business man to save this ranch by giving away his ranch as he, Monica and Tate are moving elsewhere.’
These last few episodes have featured conversations with Kayce and his son Tate about their future and whether or not that involves Tate running the ranch.
Tate said he had always thought he would be working on the ranch when he grew up, but he wasn’t sure about running it, since he thought that is what basically killed his grandfather.
Now it seems Kayce and his family will be leaving the ranch for good after seemingly giving it away, though fans will have to wait until the finale to see how it all shakes out.
Another question that needs to be answered is the fate of Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), after his sister Beth claimed she would kill him.
Jamie and Beth had a brief phone conversation after he realized that Beth likely leaked things to the press about his relationship with Sarah Atwood.
It’s also worth noting that Paramount again referred to next week’s finale as a ‘season finale’ and not a ‘series finale’ as many expected.
Many thought the back half of Season 5 would be the final episodes, though the phrasing ‘season finale’ has many wondering if more Yellowstone is coming.
There have been rumors of a spin-off following Beth and Rip, and there is also a spin-off called The Madison about a wealthy New York family that relocates to Montana to run a ranch, though it’s unclear what connection, if any, the show has with Yellowstone.
Yellowstone’s finale airs Sunday, December 15 on Paramount Network.