Paramount Network just dropped a new Yellowstone episode on Sunday night, which has fans theorizing about the future
of this beloved show.
The network has long contended that Season 5 would be its last, with the show’s lead character John Dutton (Kevin
Costner) killed off in the Season 5B premiere.
Sunday night’s new episode featured the third shock death in the past four episodes, with Colby Mayfield (Denim Richards) dying in a freak horse accident.
While that death left reverberations throughout the show’s fanbase, many also noticed a subtle but telling clue that this might not be the show’s final season after all.
During a preview for next week’s penultimate Season 5 episode, the announcer said there was, ‘only one episode left until the season finale of Yellowstone,’ which shocked fans since he said ‘season finale,’ not ‘series finale,’ as most expected.
Given the show’s massive popularity, it wouldn’t be too surprising to learn that the show was continuing in some form or the other, though many thought it would be in spin-offs.
There was a Yellowstone spin-off in development with Matthew McConaughey that was announced in 2023, though the show switched gears a bit.
It’s now entitled The Madison starring Michelle Pfeiffer, following a New York City family who moves from New York City to Montana to look over a ranch.
There is no indication yet if that ranch is in fact the Yellowstone-Dutton ranch, or what connection it may have to Yellowstone as of yet.
Still, fans were quite surprised that what was previously announced as the show’s final season may not be so final after all.
@beachesandstars tweeted, ‘The announcer dude said “Season finale”, not series finale hmmm #YellowstoneTV.’
@WICH1T0 added, ‘I’m confused. I thought this was the final season.! Only 1 episode left?? #YellowstoneTV.’
@SteelyLan said, ‘In the previews, they called it a season finale not a series finale #YellowstoneTV.’
@ren_notstevens added, ‘Wait, there’s only two more episodes left… Forever or is there another season?’
@shannonswatts1 said, ‘Only 2 episodes left? This is happening too fast. #YellowstoneTV.’
@iamjessnellaa added, ‘How on earth are they wrapping this series up with only two episodes left, it’s giving GOT vibes #YellowstoneTV,’ comparing it to the final season of Game of Thrones that ended in a way many fans disapproved of.
@MsAJF said, ‘Did I hear that right @Yellowstone? One more episode BEFORE THE SEASON FINALE? Not SERIES finale, SEASON finale! #Yellowstone #YellowstoneTV.’
@KenSchoeffler said, ‘Season finale and not series finale?!?!?!? I like the sound of that. #YellowstoneTV.’
@eddiekenny said, ‘Only one episode until the season finale?!? #Yellowstone.’
@mrschieftayor said, ‘Wait a second… that preview mentioned the S5 finale, not the series finale… I thought the show was ending? @Yellowstone? #Yellowstone.’
@CarissaPavlica said, ‘They’re calling the finale episode of #yellowstone Season 5 a season finale in the promo, which seems unlikely if it wasn’t continuing. Not sure I want it to continue anymore. At least not like it has been for Season 5 Part 2.’
@snowcoton said, ‘I believe they said “season” finale not “series” finale. Could that be hint they may do S6? #Yellowstone.’
@BillBernardoni said, ‘That was one of the best hours of television, EVER. My goodness. One question though – How in the world will they wrap all of this up in 2 episodes? I did notice that SEASON finale line instead of SERIES finale line. That didn’t go unnoticed.’
Paramount has also been developing another Yellowstone spin-off dubbed 6666, that will be set at the Four Sixes ranch that has been featured on the show.
There have also been rumors about a Yellowstone spin-off focusing on Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) though that is also unconfirmed.
Yellowstone airs its penultimate episode Sunday, December 8 with the finale airing Sunday, December 15 on the Paramount Network.
