Another gripping installment of Yellowstone is in the books! Written by Taylor Sheridan and directed by Cristina Alexandra Voros, Season 5, Episode 10, entitled “The Apocalypse Of Change,” took us first to Texas in the recent past and then back to Montana in the present. The action begins six weeks earlier with Rip (Cole Hauser) discovering a terrified Teeter (Jen Landon) in her teepee with a rattlesnake on her chest. As Rip swiftly picks it up and Walker (Ryan Bingham) kills it, the crew discovers they’ve accidentally camped on top of a rattlesnake den. Talk about a metaphor.
The next day, Beth (Kelly Reilly) makes a surprise visit to see Rip. While Rip is less than enthused to leave the cattle and his boys, he can’t say no to that woman. He leaves Ryan (Ian Bohen) in charge and the happy couple heads to Amarillo, TX, for a couple days respite. Back in Montana in the past, Kayce (Luke Grimes), Monica (Kelsey Asbillie), and Tate (Breckin Merrill) work on sanding the floors and making other improvements to their new home in East Camp. “And just like that, a house is a home,” Monica tells Kayce. “It’s our first home, if you think about it. Always lived with somebody or rented from somebody, but this one’s ours.” Viewers know that this is a bittersweet moment, given the tragedy that is to overtake them just six weeks later.
As Rip and Beth cozy up in their suite, Beth talks about their future, noting this is the first time they’ve been out of Montana together. “It’s the first time I’ve been out of Montana ever,” corrects Rip. “Imagine all the things we could do if we weren’t shackled to that ranch,” says Beth. “I chose to be shackled to the ranch; I ain’t interested in traveling,” replies Rip. Later, the pair goes to a speakeasy at the Paramount and has a nice night together. You love to see it!
Back in the present day, Rip is back on the Yellowstone with Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), who also does not believe John Dutton (Kevin Costner) killed himself. “We getting in this fight?” asks Lloyd. “If we can figure out who to fight and how to fight ‘em,” says Rip. “Going to prison for the rest of our lives doesn’t solve anything.” Back at the house, Beth is dressed to impressed. As she’s pouring a cup of coffee, she encounters Summer (Piper Perabo) at the house. In a shocking scene, Beth reveals to Summer that John tricked her into thinking that she was under house arrest at the ranch when in reality she was free to leave whenever she wanted. “You know there is no such thing as clemency with an asterisk, right?” asks Beth. With that, Beth promptly kicks her out of the house and instructs her to get a ride to the airport. Better than the train station, right?
In the bunkhouse, Rip comforts Carter (Finn Little) in the bunkhouse as he wmourns John’s death. “I wanted to be just like him,” says Carter. “I’ve seen plenty try, but if you do it, you’d be the first,” replies Rip affectionally. Back at East Camp, a devastated Kayce returns to Monica and Tate. As Monica packes their bags for their return to the ranch for the time being, Kayce and Tate have a heart to heart. “You can remember the way he lived or you can remember the way he died,” says Kayce of John. “You’re gonna have to choose to miss him or be mad at him.” “I’ll miss him then,” says Tate as he breaks down in tears.
As Jamie continues about his business in Helena, Beth is there waiting for him in his office. Jamie can’t look Beth in the eye when she confronts him about his role in John’s death. As she slaps him around a bit, Beth has her answer: Jamie is responsible for John’s murder. “Next time I see you will be the last time,” says Beth. “I will be the last thing on this planet your rotten fucking eyes will ever see.” After that, Beth storms out of his office and runs smack dab into Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) and Ellis Steele (John Emmet Tracy) of Market Equities who are about to meet with Jamie. Unlike Jamie, Sarah doesn’t break eye contact with Beth. “Well, this is going to fun,” says Beth. “It’s been pretty fun so far,” replies Sarah gloating.
After Beth throws Sarah against the wall, she makes a phone call to Kayce confirming their worst fear: Jamie and Sarah were behind their father’s assassination. Quickly, Kayce makes a phone call to his old Navy seal buddy, Cade McPherson (Jake McLaughlin), who estimates that the hit on John could have been done by “EMRS out of Houston” and must have cost “$40 or 50 million.”
As Kayce seeks answers, Jamie gets further into bed with Market Equities. He tells Ellis that he will meet with the Lieutenant Governor to reinstate their lease on area surrounding the Dutton’s land as early as next week. When Ellis presses him for a timeline to continue building the airport and further developments, Jamie gives him at least year before they can start construction. Grateful, Ellis tells Jamie that Market Equities will support him if he decides to run for Governor in the upcoming special election. “That’s the plan,” says Jamie as Sarah smiles in agreement.
Let’s break down the 5 important moments from the episode that will have repercussions throughout the rest of the season.
6666 DOES GOOD BUSINESS
The famed 6666 seems to be everywhere, don’t it? The ranch is first talked about by Beth and a Texas State Trooper who stops her on her way to see Rip. “You heard of it?” asks Beth. “This is Texas, kids study it in school,” says the Trooper. After the Trooper tells Beth to thank her husband for being a rancher, Beth is struck by the respect Rip’s profession and his association with 6666 get in Texas.
Later at the speakeasy, Beth is able to order only the 6666 line of vodka instead of her usual Tito’s. “They have their own vodka,” marvels Beth. “Yeah, they have their own everything, ma’am,” answers the bartender. “Man, we are ranching in the wrong state,” muses Beth, the wheels in her head turning. Back in Season 5, Episode 7, Beth was impressed by the fact that 6666 could sell 8 million pounds of beef online direct to consumers. Clearly inspired by the 6666’s business model, Beth will no doubt continue her quest to emulate their success for the Yellowstone.
WHAT DOES TATE WANT?
In the aftermath of John’s death, Kayce is tasked with planning the future of the Dutton ranch as Beth plots her revenge. The beneficiary of John’s will is Tate, but does Tate want the responsibility of running the Yellowstone someday? In a moving scene, Kayce asks Tate what he wants to be when he is grown up. It’s a simple question, but all the more poignant now. “I figured I’d be working the ranch,” says Tate. “I also thought about being a fly fishing guide, but that’s not really a career.” Fans will remember that in previous seasons Tate and John used to go fishing all the time.
“I thought we were going to talk about Grandpa,” says Tate. “We’re talking about his legacy,” points out Kayce. “If that’s something you feel compelled to continue, then I’ll find a way to make sure it happens.” “Is that your job now?” asks Tate. “Only if it’s your job next,” says Kayce. Tate expresses his hesitancy to run the ranch someday because “running it is what got [John] killed.” Can’t say we blame him.
SO LONG, SUMMER
Ah, Summer, we hardly knew ye. After Summer was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison for protesting in the Season 4 finale, John secured her early release as one of his first acts as Governor in Season 5, Episode 4. However, it is revealed by Beth that John lied to Summer about finishing out the remaining 6 months of her sentence under house arrest at the Yellowstone ranch. “He told you that you were on house arrest so you would stay with him, and you were dim-witted enough to do it. You never bothered to speak to an attorney, never bothered to look at your own release document,” says Beth. “The one that stated ‘Released.’”
“Why would he tell me that?” questions Summer. “Well, in the immortal words of Gus McRae, ‘If a man isn’t willing to cheat for a poke, he doesn’t want one bad enough,’” says Beth before she kicks Summer out. Now, before you go questioning John’s character for lying to Summer, Summer owed him for getting her sentence converted. He planned to use her environmental expertise to help him save the ranch, especially after the whole wolf debacle. Was it the best move on John’s part? No, but he had done far worse to protect his family’s legacy.
FROG MAN
Now, it’s been a minute since Yellowstone has mentioned Kayce’s military background, but he is a former Navy Seal who received the Navy Cross for his service. While his PTSD is explored in earlier seasons, Kayce has been able to get to a better place with the help of Monica, Tate, and his family. The last time Kayce’s military service was highlighted was during his vision quest in Season 4 during which he remembered leading his unit into an ambush.
So, given that background, it is not surprising that Kayce would know who to call to help him get to the bottom of his father’s death. His old Navy Seal buddy Cade is eager to help Kayce find answers. He mentions the film EMRS, which employs “a bunch of ex-company guys.” He agrees to make some calls for Kayce, but warns Kayce to “be real careful.”
JAMIE AS GOVERNOR
Jamie is see preparing to run for office in the state’s upcoming special election, and his dreams of becoming Governor of Montana might actually become a reality. John had initially groomed Jamie for the role of Governor of Montana, but instead John himself ran for the Governor’s office in Season 4 because he realized that Jamie could not be trusted to act in the best interest of the ranch.
With Sarah and Market Equities by his side, Jamie seems to have the office within his grasp. However, Beth and Kayce are hellbent to stop him, save the ranch, and reinstate their father’s legacy. We’re betting on them.
