‘Yellowstone’ kills Sarah in revenge for John’s death: recap

Even after John Dutton is dead and gone from “Yellowstone,” bad things happen to those who dare cross him.

In the eleventh episode of the fifth and final season of Paramount’s hit ranch drama, the show continues to revolve around John (Kevin Costner) and his death – and the hour ends with another shocking murder.

Spoilers below for the eleventh episode of “Yellowstone” season 5.

“Yellowstone” follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, including patriarch John (Costner), who was also the governor, and his grown children Kayce (Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley), Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Beths husband, Rip (Cole Hauser).

The show returned on November 10 and kicked off the second half of Season 5 by killing off John as Costner left the show amid rumors of behind-the-scenes strife. An assassin fatally shot John and staged it to look like a suicide. Jamie was partially responsible as his evil girlfriend, Sarah (Dawn Olivieri), arranged it, but Jamie was not directly involved.

Kevin Costner in “Yellowstone”. ©Paramount Network/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser and Kevin Costner in “Yellowstone”. Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kelly Reilly and Kevin Costner in “Yellowstone”. ©Paramount Network/Courtesy of the Everett Collection

Now the chickens have come home to roost, because the news is that John did not die by suicide.

So Costner can rest easy as the “Dances With Wolves” star recently appeared on SiriusXM’s “The Michael Smerconish Program,” to say of John’s death: “I didn’t see (the episode). I’ve heard it’s a suicide. It doesn’t make me rush to see it.”

In this week’s episode, after Kayce pushes the doctor to look deeper, they find evidence that John was being held back. Police hold a press conference announcing that the late governor’s death is now officially being investigated as a homicide.

Sarah and the hitman are both shown watching the press conference on TV, panicking.

Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) in “Yellowstone”.
Lee Dutton (Dave Annable), Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and the patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner) in “Yellowstone”.

Back at the ranch, Beth meets with Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) to discuss its future, which does not look good. Rain tells her that he doesn’t think he can do much to help her save the ranch, but he is available.

A dejected Beth says, “There’s no saving this place. It’s prolonging its collapse,” and scoffs, “someday there’ll be a Costco where the barn is.”

Meanwhile, Kayce also visits Jamie to confront him about his involvement in John’s death. Last week, Beth showed up at Jamie’s office to slap him and threaten him, and now it’s Kayce’s turn.

After Kayce hits Jamie, the latter tells him, “I had nothing to do with our father’s death. I was as shocked as you were… I love you even though I hated him, which I never did. I could never do to you.”

Kayce doesn’t seem convinced, but he stops physically attacking Jamie and leaves.

Wes Bentley as Jamie in “Yellowstone”. PARAMOUNT NETWORK
Luke Grimes as Kayce in “Yellowstone”. ©Paramount Network/Courtesy of the Everett Collection

Since Jamie is the Attorney General of Montana, he is also denied involvement in the investigation of John’s death and cases involving the future of the ranch.

Jamie is not happy about being rejected, and he blames Sarah for the turn of events.

They beat each other – do it twice that Jamie has been beaten this hour. Practice

When Sarah tries to calm Jamie down, she tells him that even if she confessed to hiring the hitman who killed John, Jamie wouldn’t get in much trouble for it.

“The worst you’ll face is accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice,” she reassures him.

Sarah then gets into her car and drives away. But she backs off when Jamie calls her on the phone to make it up to her after their fight.

Another car pulls up next to her. It appears to be an ordinary couple asking her for directions – until the man suddenly pulls out a gun and shoots Sarah, like an executioner.

Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton in “Yellowstone”.
Dawn Olivieri as Sarah in “Yellowstone”. Paramount network

So Sarah only lasted two episodes before facing deadly consequences for arranging John’s murder.

It’s still unclear who hired the hitman who got Sarah, but presumably it’s someone who liked John enough to want revenge. “Yellowstone” isn’t “Game of Thrones,” but nonetheless, it wouldn’t have felt out of place if Sarah’s killer had said, “John Dutton salutes.”

Jamie, who was on the phone with Sarah the whole time, overhears the shooting. The episode ends as he panics, cries and calls 911.

“Yellowstone” airs Sundays at 8pm on the Paramount Network.