Reviewer Rating: 2.5/5.0
2.5
The penultimate episode of Yellowstone should be incredibly exciting.
In Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 13, the ranch that is supposed to be the Dutton family’s legacy is just one step away from the highest bidder, and Beth seems powerless to stop it.
This should have been a heartbreaking and depressing potential ending to a series that once had my heart fluttering, but I felt nothing other than how much time this story was wasted.
Beth shouldn’t have gone down without more fighting
The whole “lost ranch to taxes” story is very disappointing as it unfolds.
For five years, did any of us know that Beth backed down from a fight even though it was clear to everyone that she was losing?
Beth seduces wealthy businessmen and then spits them out, which is just one of the fights she must fight to save the ranch, save her father’s legacy, and save her father’s embarrassment…
The story of this season is supposed to be that Beth is unhinged and refuses to give up her fight for the ranch.
We’re supposed to be getting an all-out war between Beth and Jamie, but Yellowstone only seems to remember one scene per episode and then tell all the story except that.
It’s a real shame, because the phone confrontation between Beth and Jamie was exciting, but nothing important happened next.
It would have been a compelling story if Beth had fought a losing battle to keep the ranch, but that’s not what we got.
Instead, the penultimate episode of the series spends more time on Travis’ ridiculous antics than on the actual battle for the ranch.
Travis’ behavior in Texas was mostly vulgar, and these scenes did nothing to help the final episode.
That time could have been spent fighting for the ranch (or trying to), or Beth having the epic battle with Jamie we were promised at the beginning of Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 12 but haven’t yet accomplish.
I was excited when Jamie and Beth were arguing on the phone, even though it took five episodes to get to that point.
Then Yellowstone had almost no follow-up and it broke my heart again. Jamie goes to meet his ex-girlfriend, who advises him to pretend he doesn’t know Sarah was behind John’s murder and investigate it thoroughly, while Beth wastes her time on Travis.
Beth’s scenes irritated me even more.
Jamie is an idiot with more than he is capable of and he needs to get his before the end of the series, although I have little hope for that.
People wanted a war between Jamie and Beth and revenge for John’s death, but instead we got some crap, like 20 minutes of Travis trying to get Beth to play strip poker (or any game).
Beth’s reaction was once again out of character for her. Since when does she start doing things she doesn’t want to do, including taking off her clothes for a scumbag like Travis?
This nonsense feels self-indulgent. We don’t need Tyler Sheridan to spend 20 minutes demonstrating his ability to play obnoxious characters.
We also didn’t need Rip to tell that long story when Beth asked him why he was friends with Travis.
I didn’t even listen to half of it; that’s how much I cared about this backstory.
Maybe if this wasn’t the end of the series I’d be more patient, but as it is, it feels like Yellowstone is just spinning.
No fillers required. We have serious stories to tell that have been ignored all season.
This wastes more time that could have been used to make Yellowstone‘s unforgettable penultimate episode.
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Episode 13 Has Some Great Moments, But Little Follows Up
Most of this episode is a waste of time. Even the tributes to Colby and John were rushed so that the auctioneer could return to the auction site.
(It looks like John will get a real funeral in the series finale, but still. That little tribute was almost worse than no tribute at all.)
However, this is not entirely a bad thing. There are several moments that could have led to something if some of Travis’ antics were cut to make room.
I’ve already pointed out that Jamie and Beth’s war should be a bigger story than it is, but it’s worth repeating.
Their argument is particularly heated this time, with Jamie trying to blackmail Beth, who reminds him that, unlike her, he doesn’t have the guts to do anything but talk.
That’s old-school Jamie and Beth. Why is this the only scene in their “war” this week?
Another scene I wish there was more follow-up to: Monica and Keith’s conversation.
Case: All we have to do is get out of this place.
Monica: Is this what we’re doing? Leave this place?
Case: I’ve been trying to do this my whole life.
Monica never wanted any part of the ranch or the dirty dealings associated with it. Casey wanted him and Tate to have some kind of relationship with John, which had been a pain in their marriage.
As such, their story in Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 13 deserves a few more words, especially considering that Monica barely had to do anything.
She mostly stood around offering Beth coffee or asking Beth what she was going to do.
Monica has always been a strong woman who doesn’t want Casey dragging their son into a life of questionable morals, but she’s been mostly invisible this season, and that’s not cool.
Did Yellowstone lose its way after John’s death?
It would be easy to blame Costner’s absence for everything that has gone wrong with the show since Kevin Costner left.
Regardless, however, the final season will most likely have a story about the loss of the ranch, and it probably won’t be written any differently.
Anyway, John Dutton is gone and Beth only pays lip service to caring because she has done nothing to fight for the ranch or his legacy.
In Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 13, I was more interested in Rainwater’s plan than anything else, and sadly, there was no time to build anything around it.
Over to you, Yellowstone fanatics.
What did you think of the penultimate episode? Vote in our poll and head to the comments to share your thoughts.
The series finale of “Yellowstone” will air on December 15, 2024 at 8/7c on Paramount Network.
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