Yellowstone viewers have taken to social media to discuss the show ahead of its final few episodes, which are set to air on the Paramount Network and Paramount Plus next month.
Ahead of the neo-Western drama’s series finale on November 10, fans have been looking back on the show’s various characters and unresolved plotlines.
Before Yellowstone season 5 wraps up the story for good, one group of characters fans have been wondering about are the Branded Wranglers.
This intimidating group, which includes Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), are forever sworn to the Dutton family ranch, duty-bound to protect the land.
However, some fans have been reflecting on the fate of the Branded Wranglers after seeing a flashback to Rip’s childhood.
Taking to Reddit, a viewer with the username @EntertainmentAny4368 shared: “Question about the branded wranglers…
“I’m sure the answer to this is just lazy writing but when you’re branded you are suppose to stay on the ranch forever right?
“Well in the flashbacks, when Rip is a kid there are lots of cowboys but outside of Lloyd none of them are still around. So where are all the old wranglers??” (sic)
Fans quickly descended upon the comments section to share their theories – and some of them are pretty dark.
Some viewers referred to ‘the train station’, which is a rural canyon area past the Montana border into Wyoming where the Duttons and their loyalists dispose of their enemies.
“At the train station,” one fan replied ominously, as another responded: “Oh s***! That would make John Dutton a mass murderer.”
A third fan theorised: “Dead. That life’s dangerous as hell without all the gunfights and intrigue.”
However, other viewers argued that a simpler solution is that not all the wranglers are branded and therefore aren’t bound to the ranch forever.
“Not every cowboy is branded only ones with shady dark pasts,” one commented, as another agreed: “Not all of them were branded. Only those who needed a second chance in life.” (sic)
One more fan gave a fairly nuanced answer, writing: “Not every one of them is branded. Also, we’ve seen him kinda release people from their responsibilities before, like Jimmy. It isn’t hard to imagine that regular attrition got some, some ended up at the train station, maybe one or two was allowed to move on.” (sic)
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 is set to debut on Sunday, November 10 at 8pm ET on Paramount Network, while the premiere episode will also air on CBS at 10pm that same day. UK fans can also watch on Paramount+.