Yellowstone audience members are confused about whether the show is really ending after season 5’s final episode is not labeled a series finale.
Yellowstone season 5, episode 13 saw Beth (Kelly Reilly) manage to raise $30 million to keep the Ranch, with Kayce (Luke Grimes) coming up with an idea that would allow them to get it for themselves without contest.
However, trailers for both episode 13 and the upcoming final episode have labeled season 5’s ending a “season finale.” This is despite the show supposedly ending for good on Sunday, December 15.
Now, fans of Yellowstone on Reddit and Twitter/X have begun to question whether season 5, episode 14, is going to be a series finale, or if there are plans for the show to continue into another season.
Questions arise from the labeling of season 5’s last episode as a “season finale,” since it implies the possibility of season 6, which has been rumored in the months leading up to the show’s supposed final episodes.
Check out what people across Reddit and Twitter/X are saying below:
AlternativeAd7684 on Reddit is one of the earliest posts to point out the reference to “season finale,” seen in the trailer for season 5, episode 13.
dvonbrod was also confused, posting a clip from season 5, episode 13’s trailer to emphasize how the show is referring to its alleged swan song.
ThatRedgirl_78 follows suit a week later, wondering why the trailer for the supposed final episode isn’t calling it the last episode of the entire series.
flyonthesewalls was also confused about the wording in the trailer, with some commenters theorizing the show is keeping it open-ended for a possible continuation.
On Twitter/X, sagevalentine is also confused, adding the show advertised it as a “special season finale,” hinting at something major happening in the last episode.
Sporting a GIF of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, mrfilmstock is less confused and more intrigued by the “season finale” word choice, hoping creator Taylor Sheridan writes a quality ending.
bon52 offers a hopeful outlook on the confusion, believing season 6 could happen and continue the Dutton family storyline.
ggabefootball believes that, with how much story is left in the show, there’s likely going to be another season to properly tie up all its loose ends.
elke_wtf also noticed the wording, and is curious about if the show really will be ending.
RPG4444 appears confident in the show’s continuation, also believing there’s not enough time to fully wrap up its story.
BearDown316 asked the Yellowstone Twitter/X account directly about the distinction, with the account simply referring to season 5’s ending as a “finale” without mention of what its end would mean.
While Yellowstone season 5 part 2 had previously been advertised as the final season, rumors have been swirling around a possible season 6, potentially led by Beth and Rip (Cole Hauser).
In September of this year, Reilly confirmed continuation talks were happening, and that it would all depend on the direction Sheridan wants to take the show.
A spinoff titled 2024 had also previously been in development, with the potential for the couple and Kayce to return, though that series has since evolved into the Michelle Pfeiffer-led The Madison.
The franchise is also far from over, with 1923 season 2 airing in February 2025, and plans to make at least two other spinoffs, titled 6666 and 1944.
While it’s unclear what any of the upcoming shows mean for the modern Dutton family, the franchise’s expansion coupled with reports about a potential return mean season 5 really might not be the final season.
There have been no indications from Paramount Network’s advertisement it’s over, since it was billed as “The Epic Return” before it came back. However, there’s still no concrete confirmation about if the show’s really going to continue.
Despite Yellowstone having an extended season 5 finale, there’s still plenty of ways the Dutton family’s story can continue beyond the current episodes.
The show recently set up Beth’s maternal relationship with Carter (Finn Little), and there will likely continue to be more struggles even if the family ensures their ownership of the Ranch by the end. Because of this, using the term “season finale” could be a subtle hint the show isn’t over yet.
