Fans ofSheridan’s hit showwill already be in the pre-mourning stage of grief. While we can enjoy the fact that production has finally started onYellowstone Season 5 Part 2, it’s a bittersweet moment, knowing that it signifies the early end of the show altogether.
But none of them were set to serve as replacements for the original flagship series that managed to brand itself into Western culture… until now.
Anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock will know that Yellowstone’s foundations crumbled last year afterKevin Costner unexpectedly left the show, with every possible reason from pay disputes to scheduling issues being cited as the cause.
It was announced shortly after that Yellowstone (which, apparently, was on the way to reaching Season 7 at least) had been canceled, and would end with the finalYellowstone episodesto come in Season 5 Part 2. This left fans — and Sheridan — in a pickle. With so many storylines planted and groundwork already laid, how could the show simply end in the span of six episodes?
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Despite the fact that Costner won’t be returning to the show and left of his own accord, it still keeps Sheridan clean of any complications or legal issues that might arise from keeping Yellowstone going without Costner. (Costner’s contract already allegedly has a complicated death clause, so Sheridan would likely have to step very lightly anyway.)
If Sheridan viewers have learned anything from five seasons’ worth of operatic nonsense, it’s that he’s going to write what he wants and he’s not going to be pushed around. If Costner wants to leave Yellowstone, fine — Sheridanwillsimply kill it, then rebirth it from the ashes in a new form. And he’ll bring back the original cast, too, just to make it burn all the brighter.
For more, check out our guides on1923 Season 2,6666, and1944. You can also read our feature on whyKevin Costner was right to quit Yellowstone for Horizon.
Jessica Cullen is a TV and Movies Writer on Dexerto’s UK team. She’s previously written for The Digital Fix, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, Slate and more. Aside from being the residential Yellowstone expert, she also loves Westerns, ’90s action movies, and true crime. You can email her here: jessica.cullen@dexerto.com.
