8 Yellowstone Episodes That Aged Poorly

Taylor Sheridan’s original series is incredibly popular. With three spinoffs already released and another on the way, it continues to be a leading show in the modern Western genre on Paramount. However, the lifestyle it portrays isn’t for everyone.

Over its five seasons, Yellowstone has had its share of successes and missteps. While some episodes were initially exciting, looking back now, certain moments don’t quite hold up as well as they did originally. Some scenes may have felt great at first, but haven’t aged well over time.

Season 2, Episode 9 Hits a Low Point

In Season 2, Episode 9, titled “Enemies by Monday,” Beth and Monica share significant scenes for the first time, united by a shared negative experience. The episode features a disturbing incident where Monica is falsely accused of shoplifting and is subjected to a humiliating search by the boutique owner and police.

Beth manages to avert a crisis, but ends up resorting to the same questionable tactics as the person she’s fighting, nearly crossing a line. Meanwhile, Monica faces a devastating blow when Tate is kidnapped. The episode had the potential to thoughtfully explore the vulnerabilities of Indigenous communities, but instead, it prioritizes showcasing the resilience and heroism of the Dutton family during a difficult time.

Season 3, Episode 5 Overlooks Indigenous Trauma

In Season 3, Episode 5, titled “Cowboys and Dreamers,” a key revelation comes to light. We learn through a flashback that Jamie secretly had Beth sterilized as a teenager at an Indian Health Service clinic, without her knowledge or permission. This explains why Beth has harbored resentment towards him for so long.

While the story aims to explain a troubling history, it actually creates new problems. It focuses on the experiences of a white woman to illustrate a serious issue – the forced sterilization of Native American women in the 1960s and 70s – long after the issue had already come to light and been investigated. This approach unintentionally suggests the experiences of Indigenous women weren’t significant unless a white woman also suffered, minimizing their pain and trauma.

Season 3, Episode 9 Leaves No Room for Redemption

Throughout the series, it’s been clear the Dutton family has no tolerance for betrayal. However, in Season 3, Episode 9, “Meaner Than Evil,” Rip handles a betrayal in a way that goes beyond what’s reasonable or just.

After enduring repeated attempts by Wade Morrow and his son, Clint, to destroy the Dutton Ranch, Rip and his crew tracked them down. Clint died after hitting his head, and Wade was captured. Even though Wade had previously tried to have Colby and Teeter killed, watching his fate is deeply disturbing. The most difficult part is Rip making Walker, who was trying to escape his violent past, carry out the gruesome act of removing Wade’s branded skin as a demonstration of loyalty.

Season 3, Episode 10 Takes Wild Plots to a New Level

The season 3 finale of Yellowstone received a high score of 9.2/10 on IMDb, but many parts of the episode felt unnecessarily over-the-top. One of the strangest moments was Rip’s quest to find an engagement ring for Beth. He went to the extreme length of exhuming his mother’s body to take her ring. While Rip clearly loved his mother, this act felt deeply disrespectful.

The episode concludes with a wildly over-the-top attack on John, Kayce, and Beth, resembling a scene from a comic book. Surprisingly, all three survive the attempt on their lives, which appears in the very next episode. This dramatic event emphasizes just how dangerous Montana seems to be.

Season 5, Episode 5 Begins the Final Season’s Bad Habits

As a huge fan of Yellowstone, I have to admit the fifth and final season was… strange. It just didn’t feel as tight or well-crafted as previous seasons – honestly, it felt a bit disjointed and sloppy at times. It’s weird because it does have a pretty good rating on IMDb, but to me, it felt like the show started to lose its way, like it was heading downhill after a fantastic run.

Okay, so things really escalated this week! It’s branding season, and while the cattle are getting marked, Summer and Beth had a showdown of their own – a full-on, messy fight. Honestly, it felt like something Rip would approve of – a rough way to settle things. But it wasn’t about actually solving anything, more like a public humiliation for both of them. It was pretty immature, like a childish argument between grown women, which, if you’ve watched Taylor Sheridan’s shows before, is kind of his thing when he writes female characters.

Season 5, Episode 9 Takes a Major Hit

Everyone anticipated this episode ever since Kevin Costner announced he wouldn’t finish the final season of Yellowstone. The show had been plagued by off-screen conflicts and rumors surrounding Costner and Taylor Sheridan. The episode opens with the sudden death of John Dutton, seemingly by a self-inflicted gunshot. However, Beth immediately suspects Jamie, and it turns out she’s correct.

While the episode aimed for excitement, it felt slow at times. Jamie ordering a hit on John – even with some hesitation – doesn’t quite fit with how he acted earlier in the season. Ultimately, it’s an unsatisfying conclusion to the character’s journey.

Season 5, Episode 12 Features a Dangerous Kayce and a Deadly Horse

Throughout the series, Kayce has struggled between two conflicting lifestyles: the harsh, violent world inherited from his father and family, and the peaceful new life he’s tried to build for himself. The central question is whether he’ll follow in his father’s footsteps or forge a different path. While Kayce has made mistakes, he’s generally avoided the extreme cruelty seen in others.

Kayce tracks down the man sent to kill his father and confronts him while holding the man’s daughter at gunpoint. This scene doesn’t quite work for a couple of reasons. Even when he’s at his lowest, Kayce wouldn’t typically inflict trauma on a child. Also, because he’s never encountered this killer before, the moment lacks a strong emotional impact. The show attempts to create a powerful moment by having Colby killed, but his death feels sudden and doesn’t resonate because it hasn’t been properly set up.

Season 5, Episode 13 Takes a Narcissistic Detour

Let’s be honest, this show hasn’t held up well, and it really didn’t start strong either. But the biggest misstep, in my opinion, came in Season 5, Episode 13, “Give the World Away.” While ostensibly about Kayce and Beth trying to save the ranch through an auction, the episode quickly devolved into a bizarre showcase for a relatively unimportant character, Travis. It felt less like a natural part of the story and more like the writer, Taylor Sheridan, indulging himself – a full hour dedicated to a character he clearly favored, and a not-so-subtle way of patting himself on the back for creating the whole thing.

The film “Give the World Away” includes two unnecessary strip poker scenes with Bella Hadid, distracting from the main story. Ultimately, it’s a frustrating and empty experience, especially considering it’s almost the end of the series.

Yellowstone is available to stream on Peacock.

2026-05-08 00:41