Yellowstone Recap: Suffering Is the Job

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As a long-time fan of Yellowstone, I must say that this week’s episode was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, much like riding one of those mechanical bulls at the local honky-tonk! The loss of Colby felt like a gut punch, but it also served as a stark reminder that in the world of the Duttons, life is tough and unforgiving.

In this final half-season, the John Dutton murder plot has dominated the storyline, leaving the ranch hands and their tales feeling detached and unimportant. However, as the Duttons struggle to maintain their hold on their only home and the elders confront the prospect of departure, a sense of nostalgic sadness pervades. Although I’d rather not see more Four Sixes scenes – last week, eliminating the ranch hands resulted in the best episode of the season – it’s comforting to know that everyone’s storylines are interconnected and contribute to one cohesive narrative.

In “Counting Coup,” Rip and Travis frantically try to sell off every single Yellowstone herd as a last resort to keep hold of the ranch, while Lloyd considers alternative ranches for employment. However, the most poignant scene of the entire episode is reserved for Colby, an unexpected hero and the most lovable character on the show, who is also one of the few Black characters. He bravely intervenes when Carter gets attacked by a nervous stallion, but unfortunately loses his life in the process, allowing Carter to eventually put the horse down.

Reflecting on the recent episode, I must confess I should have anticipated this turn of events given Colby’s endearingly manipulative phone call to Teeter expressing his love. However, with minimal screen time devoted to Colby in the past four episodes, it’s challenging to fully grasp the implications. Nevertheless, I’ve always found the character intriguing, so his departure leaves me saddened. Frankly, if I had to choose, I would have preferred to see Ryan, Jake, or even Carter exit the stage, but we’re down to just two episodes left with this particular cast. Still, it seems fitting that a character with genuine emotional resonance is being written off, and watching Teeter and Ryan grapple with their grief is moving indeed. The somber delivery of Ian Bohen’s line, “Just lost my best friend, Jake,” carries an especially poignant weight.

The tale of Colby’s death isn’t primarily about Colby himself, but rather it highlights his courage and selflessness. It serves more as a reminder of the perils associated with such a lifestyle, where Teeter poignantly remarks that “suffering is the job.” It also gives insight into Carter’s struggles with guilt in the prolonged, melancholic period that follows. Beth steps in to console the boy, assuring him he isn’t responsible; accidents like these are common on a ranch. Now is when he should seek solace from his family – and as Beth gently reminds Carter, they are indeed his family here.

I’m glad this scene acknowledges the relationship between these two because season four put a lot of emphasis on their quasi-mother-son bond (and how it played into Beth’s own trauma about having kids). But a lot of this story feels like it just exists to take up time and give the ranch hands something to do and feel besides general moroseness about the state of the ranch. It also suffers from its placement in the season: “Three Fifty-Three” really dialed up the drama when it came to the investigation into John’s murder and the war between the Dutton siblings, and this time that only really comes into focus in the first half (and very end) of the episode.

In these scenes, Detective Dillard’s interrogation of Jamie becomes particularly intriguing, especially following Sarah’s death, which is oddly being labeled as a carjacking despite its apparent discrepancies. Jamie’s responses are reminiscent of his usual floundering, denying any professional involvement with the late Sarah Atwood. However, it’s hard to believe such a claim given the substantial evidence of their shared legal dealings, no matter how many documents he destroys. It all feels rather suspicious: the attorney general having a romantic relationship with an outside counsel on a development project that his father halted just before his murder. Jamie barely keeps the detectives from entering the bedroom, but his anxious behavior and obvious desperation only fuel Dillard’s suspicions. (“You’re treating me like I’m a suspect.” “I wasn’t, but I will now.”)

The news about Sarah’s demise supports Kayce’s hypothesis from the previous episode, which suggested that those responsible for John’s death would target the individual who had paid them. Luckily, Kayce’s former military companion manages to locate the mastermind of the operation in a timely manner. Following the extended Colby segment, the episode resumes with Kayce, who prepares a bag for an overnight journey and heads out to face Grant Horton.

Immediately after Grant’s daughter’s soccer match, Kayce slips into the back seat of their vehicle and issues his warnings. Aiming a firearm at a child of nine years old leaves little room for ambiguity: Kayce is well-versed in this man’s life and the lives of those he cherishes, and has the power to end them all if he so desires. It’s been uncommon to witness Kayce in such a threatening manner lately; given his transition into family life, violence has become less frequent in his narrative, but this instance serves as a chilling portrayal of his potential for lethal danger.

Through striking Grant with his weapon on the head, Kayce is upholding a time-honored tradition of the Plains Indians called “counting coup,” which he subsequently clarifies to both Grant and Mo, his escape companion. By merely frightening and causing a minimal injury to the man who murdered his father, Kayce has vanquished his adversary without taking his life. It’s an act that could be interpreted as compassionate, but it also underscores his dominance. It’s challenging to envision Grant targeting any of the Duttons again after such a menacing encounter, except perhaps Jamie.

With merely two episodes remaining, there aren’t many directions the plot could take anymore. Often, I can only anticipate some kind of development—and fortunately, there are indeed events unfolding now, even if they don’t carry the same intensity as before. The significant emotional impact of this episode’s heart-wrenching event left me with a mix of feelings, but at least it stirred an emotion within me.

The Last Roundup

• The Travis and Jimmy interaction wasn’t terrible, I suppose, but I didn’t find myself deeply moved by Jimmy’s response to John’s demise. Although they shared a connection in the initial episodes, we are now so distant from those periods that it’s challenging to fully appreciate the impact here. It could be that Jimmy quickly resuming his work signifies how much he has evolved since the early phases – in this series, nothing exemplifies nobility and masculinity more than suppressing emotions and returning to work. However, after numerous seasons emphasizing Jimmy’s growth, I don’t feel compelled to witness further development.

In this episode, it’s quite reminiscent to lay eyes on the old bunkhouse once more. The sentiment is particularly strong when Beth goes there to gather a modest amount of Colby’s possessions to be sent to his mom.

When I assume the role of therapist for this family, they’re in a rather challenging situation.” Or simply, “Beth shows a bit of candor when she describes this family as complex during her therapeutic sessions.

While I acknowledge that some viewers might be frustrated that Beth didn’t personally kill Sarah, I believe the unexpected twist adds a level of intrigue and excitement to the storyline.

Currently, Beth is expressing her viewpoint that apprehending Jamie wouldn’t truly benefit them since he might expose John’s secrets and jeopardize the Dutton legacy to save himself. However, despite repeatedly stating she’ll “handle it,” Beth doesn’t appear to be effectively addressing the situation! I understand that she can’t execute Jamie until the finale, but still, show us more of your Beth resilience.

Gosh, it seems this so-called top-notch assassin corporation doesn’t quite grasp the art of staying incognito, does it? As a movie buff, I can’t help but notice that their anonymity game is weaker than a leading man’s performance in a B-movie.

Hey there! A big shout-out goes to Denim Richards, our longstanding cast member who’s been part of the show right from the start. It’s a pity that he didn’t have more opportunities to really make an impact in the recent episodes.

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2024-12-02 06:54