warning: This article contains season 5 spoilers yellowstone.
yellowstone Fans knew the mid-season finale of everyone’s favorite cowboy drama would be full of ups and downs, but they didn’t expect a tearful goodbye between father and son. Or father and daughter-in-law. There’s a big shift on the Montana horizon, and some of our favorite characters are gearing up for a change of scenery, one of them being the Patriarch himself.
John Dutton was sworn in as governor of Montana in the season 5 premiere, making several changes to his family and ranch in the process. Of course, John himself hasn’t been immune to everything that’s going on around him, and besides his job title change, he’s been spending less time on the ranch lately.
As the ranch’s best workmen prepare to head to Texas to move cattle from Dutton Ranch in Yellowstone, John finds Monica leaning against the gate watching them work. She looks at him and, in perhaps the most sincere conversation she’s ever had, thanks him for the kind words he offered after his son’s death.
After a ceremony honoring the short life of John Dutton IV, John shared a moment with Monica, telling her all her baby had ever known was love. The darkness of the world never touched him and he was blessed to exist only in love. has helped their family cope. They don’t always see eye to eye, and her appreciation for their relationship comes at a critical time.
John is there to question Monica, but that’s what matters.
John informs Monica that if Tate is to take over the ranch in old age, he needs to ensure it is in good working order. So, for now, he needs someone to take care of the ranch, not just someone while he’s doing business in Helena – he needs Keith and Monica.
Monica agrees to help and reminds John that all he ever had to do was ask. Jon says he knows it now and walks towards Case and Rip tending the cows. He shares a heavy moment with Casey, leans over and hugs her full body, and speaks her three words that he doesn’t often say to her son. “I love you”. cue of tears.
Case shrugs off the moment and tells Lip he feels John is the one to leave, and Lip tells him he has. Case didn’t interrupt John and Monica’s conversation. He knew that his father had a burden on his shoulders, but he was not sure how much it was. He didn’t understand why the goodbye felt so heavy.
Of course, Case didn’t even know what Jamie had. Part of the emotional depth of this episode lies in the magic that Taylor Sheridan uses to create storylines that manifest themselves in several ways throughout the episode, including hints. What comes next is less obvious.
When John Dutton left the ranch that morning, he wouldn’t have been prepared for what the future held, and when he said an emotional goodbye to Case, he didn’t know it. We won’t know what’s next for John, Jamie, or Beth until the second half of season 5 premieres this summer, but we have a lot to dream about in the meantime.
