Fans of Yellowstone get a double-sized first episode of the Dutton family drama. The first episode is carefully paced and focuses on the characters.
Yellowstone Season 5 Episodes 1 and 2
Taylor Sheridan is the creator, showrunner, and god of cowboys-at-heart. He is often praised for his intense, gritty, and usually crime-driven dramas, but his sense of balance doesn’t get enough attention. It’s one of the main reasons why Yellowstone’s audience keeps growing, even though the show is now in its fifth and rumored penultimate season. It’s also one of the reasons why the show has kept people interested the whole time. Sheridan knows how to set the pace.
In the first episode of the last season, a group of killers who were unknown at the time went after the Duttons. Kayce, the youngest son of the Duttons was played by Luke Grimes. He went after those who were after him and his family with a fury that only a Dutton could bring. The season 4 premiere was full of blood, dead bodies, and bullets, which is exactly what fans wanted to see.
Since the last time we saw the Dutton family, the story jumps ahead in the first episode of this season, and things are looking up for the family. John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, has won the governor’s race and will be Montana’s (and his ranch’s) steadfast and stubborn gatekeeper. Lynelle Perry, played by Wendy Moniz, has been elected to the Senate, giving the Duttons and their allies a lot of power to start the season. So far, there’s nothing shocking or surprising about what might happen in season 5 based on the trailer. But if you expect John to rock the boat right away, you should be ready for a gentle sway rather than a rough ride.
More than anything else, the first episode of Season 5 shows that things are going to get rough, which is interesting enough on its own. One storyline that was left a little bit open at the end of the last season was how Beth (Kelly Reilly) was mean to Jamie, the black sheep of the Dutton family (Wes Bentley). Since it was found out that Jamie’s biological father, Will Patton, was behind the Dutton attack, Beth used Jamie’s lack of willpower to get him to kill his father and then put him back in the Dutton family’s pocket. But if some of the things Sheridan put in the first episode pay off, the Jamie storyline might end up being the most interesting this season.
When John and Lynette finish their joint victory speeches, Beth is right by John’s side, but Jamie is keeping his distance and is a little further away. This happens again when John is sworn in a little later in the episode. The Duttons’ many enemies start to notice the rift between supposed family members just by watching Jamie’s reaction to his adopted father’s victory. When the confetti falls at John’s party, Jamie and Beth look at each other for a long time. For a moment, it seems like Jamie has a plan as he tries to stare Beth down. Even his sister notices that this isn’t like him to act so sure of himself.
The smile on Jamie’s face goes away very quickly. Bentley and Reilly really shine in these first two episodes. They bring back some of the hatred that faded a bit last season and set up what looks like the explosive end to their love/hate (but mostly hate) relationship as siblings. Reilly reminds the audience of how dangerous Beth can be, and Bentley does what he has been doing for four seasons by showing that Jamie’s steely-gray eyes are always filled with fear.
In truth, these character-driven threads are what make the first two episodes so good. It’s not as explosive or exciting as last season’s first episode, but it does what any safe first episode should do: it sets up the rest of the season. There is some wiggle room in the word “safe,” because Sheridan makes it clear that this boat will eventually rock and probably throw some of the Dutton family off, but the best parts of “One Hundred Years of Nothing” happen in the last 10 minutes.
Tate (Brecken Merrill), who has grown up since last season, is at home with his pregnant mom Monica (Kelsey Asbille), who has also grown since last season. Kayce is chasing horse thieves all the way to Canada and back when she gets a call from Monica, who is in a panic because she is about to give birth. She has no choice but to put herself and Tate in the truck and try to drive herself to the hospital while Kayce races to get to his family.
As often happens, a terrible thing happens, and Tate, Monica, and her baby all die in a horrible crash. Monica and Kayce lose their baby boy, John, who they named after the Dutton family’s patriarch. The family puts aside politics and rivalries to mourn together.
The next few episodes are mostly sad, but the second episode, “The Sting of Wisdom,” gives Grimes and Asbille another chance to do what they’ve been doing for 4 seasons now: be the show’s heart. In the whole show, Kayce’s story is the one that shows the calmest way of dealing with the chaos in his family, and Monica is always the voice of reason. They are the middle ground that Sheridan made on purpose to make situations that could easily turn into melodrama more real.
Kayce has trouble balancing his roles as a son, husband, and father. They have trouble in their marriage. They have trouble with money. In short, they are the most approachable characters, and the two actors and their stellar performances are sometimes overlooked in a world of political intrigue, badass cowboys, and fiery romance. “The Sting of Wisdom” is a great name for this episode because Kayce and Monica have learned so many valuable lessons that have made them smarter, but they have often cost them a lot. Grimes and Asbille give performances that are really nuanced and real, and they are easily the best parts of the first two episodes.
This brings us back to the idea that Sheridan brings a sense of balance. From the dark comes the light. With Kayce and Monica’s death in the second episode, the celebration of John’s victory, which includes some much-needed laughs as the Dutton ranch hands drink and dance, is a good counterpoint. When Jamie’s sister beats him up again, it gives him hope that he may finally be able to fix Beth for good. John’s new job keeps him away from his beloved Yellowstone, so Rip (Cole Hauser) pretty much runs the show. There’s also a touching scene between a grown-up Carter (Finn Little) and John, who seems to be his surrogate grandfather.
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The best way to describe the first two episodes is as a collection of great parts. Ryan (Ian Bohen) meets someone he might like at the governor’s dinner. Clara, John’s assistant, played by Lilli Kay, seems to be a new friend. The arrival of Sarah Atwood, played by Dawn Olivieri, seems to be the perfect match for Beth in every way. In his first few days as president, John was already breaking the law and abusing his power, which upset Caroline Warner (Jackie Weaver) and even Jamie. Rainwater (Gill Birmingham) looked like he might lose his power to Angela Blue Thunder (Q’orianka Kilcher), who looked like a snake. All of the stories are great, but the first few episodes just throw them at us.
The real problem is that the first two episodes have a lot going on, but nothing really moves forward. Even before the trailer for Season 5 came out, viewers knew John would win the election, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Duttons are at war with Market Equities. The ranch is still in danger, Beth and Jamie still hate each other, and Kayce and Monica have to deal with another major blow to their marriage. None of these storylines are all that new, so episodes 1 and 2 of this season feel a little pointless.
Sheridan will, however, do what he always does, which is a source of comfort. He will make the season more even. Similar to how the season 4 premiere was very exciting but the rest of the season was pretty slow, the season 5 premiere might be setting up one of the most exciting seasons of the show’s run. Even though these character moments are important, if they were shown in the middle of the season instead of at the beginning, most people would call them “filler” episodes. It just remains to be seen if a new balance can be reached.
