Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2’s Divisive Flashbacks and Its Purpose Explained by Director: “It’s Doing Two Things”

Notice! Spoilers ahead for Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2.

Director Christina Voros analyzes the significance of the divisive flashback sequences in yellow stone Season 5, Part 2. TV’s #1 show is back after a long hiatus, not to mention Kevin Costner’s messy departure. Burdened by the absence of its main star, yellow stone season 5, episode 9 immediately addressed the fate of John Dutton III, revealing that he allegedly killed himself. While the rest of the show’s presentations so far have revolved around the aftermath of the tragedy, the neo-Western series’ latest episodes also feature a time jump before John’s death when Beth visits Rip in Texas.

The flashbacks have been divisive so far, with some pointing out that they disrupt the flow of the story. However, Voros says The Hollywood Reporter that there is meaning to said sequences, explaining that the Texas scenes are a reminder of what’s at stake in next fight between Beth and Jamie in yellow stone season 5. Another justification for them is the fact that they allow yellow stone to showcase the Texas landscape. Read his full quote below:

I think the flashbacks continue to do their job, reminding us all how much is at stake. Reminding us all how much there is to fight for and reminding us all where our hearts are as viewers: in these relationships with these characters embodied by these tremendous actors. So it’s doing two things.

I read that some people get really frustrated with flashbacks because they just want to solve the mystery [around John’s death]. And I think that’s part of the point, right? You are being forced to really internalize how high the stakes are in the future. Because at the end of the day, yes, John Dutton is the patriarch. But the show has always been about land.

Even for us to film. We joke that Landscape is number 1 on the call list because if it rains or snows, or there is smoke, we won’t film that day. It’s the backdrop to every scene for every character and it’s what everyone is fighting for. So we know what happens to John, more or less. But we still don’t know what happens to everything else. And I think Taylor is going into these flashbacks to remind us how close we were to this idyllic version of the world. Yes, they had to ship the cattle to Texas and Beth and Rip were separated from each other, several states apart. But everything was fine. And it’s important to juxtapose that with this approach that we’re taking to get answers that help solve the mystery of what happened to John.

What Rip & Beth’s Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2’s flashbacks mean for their future

Shows what their future could have been like if John hadn’t died

Voros says the whole point of the flashback scenes is a reminder of what’s at stake yellow stone season 5, part 2, as the Duttons clash for their own benefit. For a long time, the conflict was just between Beth and Jamie, with Kayce mostly left aside. Even after John died and his sister told him it was his adoptive brother behind it, he didn’t believe it. This all changes, however, in yellow stone Season 5, Episode 10. Now, he’s fully committed to getting revenge on Jamie, like Beth.

In addition to John’s children’s infighting, the flashbacks are also a reminder of how the tragedy changes Beth and Rip’s future. During their mini-vacation in Texas, it appeared they were considering options for leaving Montana. Rip had never left the state until then and Beth talked about building a new life. Now that John is gone, the responsibility for continuing the Duttons’ legacy lies with Beth and Ripas they are two of Costner’s character’s most loyal allies. Losing the Dutton patriarch takes them back to the ranch.

Our Take on Rip and Beth’s Fate in Yellowstone

The Duo Could Continue Yellowstone’s Legacy in Season 5

As Jamie becomes the clear villain of these last remaining episodes of yellow stoneBeth and Rip’s place is solidified as your new protagonists. Just like on the show, Cole Hauser and Beth Reilly are taking over yellow stone of Costner, as they continue his legacy on the show. Interestingly, despite reports that the next few episodes will be the series finales, there have been persistent rumors of a yellow stone 6th season/sequel with the couple.

While it’s an adjustment process to not having John around, I think Taylor Sheridan’s best bet to continue her successful run is with the characters mentioned above, with Kayce and her family rounding out the ensemble. John’s death will impact the series for a while, but Rip and Beth are perfectly poised to take over the series, with their compelling love story and equally interesting individual arcs. Given how popular yellow stone remains, pulling the plug on its flagship series might just not be the right decision right now.

Source: THR