SPOILER ALERT:Taylor Sheridanjust wrapped theYellowstonesaga at least for now with tonights just-concluded final episode.
First, Flemings recap:
Congratulations, you just made the worst land deal since my people sold Manhattan.
John Dutton was murdered.
Kelly Reilly as Beth DuttonParamount Network
They take the pipes and lose them in water deep enough that they wont be salvaged.
Hes back, ostensibly to give some good-natured abuse to his underling Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White).
She notes shell be glad to be free of the tourists, and he can build her a bar.
Good, she says, because she already bought the land that morning.
First, the ranchs fate must be decided.
How to get around a crushing tax burden that only corporations interested in developing the land could afford?
The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.
So even though Jamie was not invited to the funeral, hell be seeing her soon.
That clumsy murder staged as a suicide was exposed by Kayce based on his SEAL experiences.
Jamies impassioned speech seems to move the crowd of journalists.
What follows is a knock-down, drag-out brawl reminiscent of Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
Why didnt Beth bring a gun?
Why didnt she wait for Rip, who was speeding to the location but was hopelessly behind?
At that point, Jamies intent becomes murderous.
Before Jamie can kill his sister, Rip barrels in and throws Jamie through a sheetrock wall.
Before Rip can tear the familys lady-hitter in half, Beth intervenes.
Then Beths carefully crafted plan becomes clear.
A few other loose ends get tied up in the aftermath.
Distraught after losing best friend Colby, he regains his footing by tracking down the one who got away.
That would be the C&W singer Abby (Lainey Wilson).
Its clear she still hurts from when he spurned her offer to leave Yellowstone and join her.
Ryan stops her, and says hed made the wrong choice when he chose the cowboy life over her.
She kisses him and it is clear Ryans ranching days are over and a more promising future beckons.
When he sees them toppling Dutton family headstones, he scolds them.
This is hallowed ground that must never be disturbed, he tells them.
We hear her familiar voice as narrator, tying together the final knots in Sheridans deftly plotted finale.
These connect all the way back to the familys first wagon train trek from Texas to Montana.
He has become one of the most prolific storytellers ever seen in the modern TV landscape.
Lynette, I think Sheridan stuck the landing pretty good here in theYellowstonefinale.
Lynette Rice:Mike, Ill admit I began this season with lots of pent-up frustration.
I just miss him, man.
That said, the only way that Sheridancouldproceed without the big guy was by killing off John Dutton.
Telling their stories in flashback and in the present was some of Sheridans best stuff.
But theyve fought and won their wars.
The only compulsion to continue would be thatYellowstonecontinues to get such high ratings that, how can you stop?
As for what you said about Costner, I agree.
And nobody looks better in a cowboy hat than Costner.
I felt Costner and his fans deserved something more respectful.
Beth and Rips story was concluded as gracefully as was Kayce and Monicas arc.
But the ratings have been so huge that the impulse to continue from a financial standpoint is undeniable.
And Sheridan seems to have no shortage of ideas.
Have you noticed how good Billy Bob ThorntonsLandmanis, right out of the gate?
Or the just completed season ofLioness?
AndMayor of KingstownandTulsa King?
These shows are so different and he writes most of them.
I am a fan of every one of these shows.
Paramount is lucky to have him and they work him like a rented mule.
Rice:I absolutely adore Billy Bob Thornton inLandman.
And my God, hes so damn funny!
Do I wish the women ofLandmanwerent so one dimensional?
Would I like to see Demi Moore do more than just swim in the family pool?
And speaking of the tireless work of that rented mule, I cant wait for the return of1923.
I love him almost as much as I do Beth and Rip.
This guy is Indiana Jones.
She is as overpowering as any actress on TV.
As for Rip, his moments of righteous rage have been a highlight of the series.
How wonderful would it be if we saw her splitting her time between the corral and the C-suite?
I mean, where else do they go in a new version?
Were you sad to see Wes Bentleys Jamie offed?
Fleming:Jamie was always the weak link in the family chain.
In the words of Livia Soprano, Oh, poor you.
Think of how many times Jamie was able to blame others for his wormy misdeeds.
And finally the last act where Jamies passive aggressiveness led to his adopted father being killed.
That planted the seed of their blood feud.
Bentley was a great and complex villain, but he got what was coming to him.
I did want to note what this show meant as a cultural phenomenon.
The show became the biggest thing on cable and built a lifestyle brand.
As long as Sheridan doesnt run out of ideas and energy, this could become a billion-dollar business.
Makes you long for the days when shows likeBonanzaran forever.
I could have seenYellowstonego another five years if not for the falling out between Kevin Costner and Sheridan.
Rice:Mike, Im with you onBlue Bloods.I just dont get why that show is over.
But I dont hear anyone over at CBS saying that aboutNCIS.
Fleming: What is troubling is, everybody onBlue Bloodswanted to continue, including Tom Selleck.
After a long week, Friday night with the Reagan family was like a bowl of warm chicken soup.
And dont get me started onSWAT.
Feels like sports is the only reason to watch linear connection television anymore.
Rice: As for Teeter, I just learned about her real-life pa last month!
It truly makes me love her more.
Its only a matter of time.
Just dont touch Thornton and Sklenar, Skydance people.
I was actually presented with two (naturally), but could only choke down the one.
I wouldnt advise eating bulls balls to anybody.
I would, um, have a dollar.
Fleming: Now, Ive digressed.
I agree with him.
This guy can flat out write, and he remains a good actor.
He is certainly the boss when hes on set.
But when hes home, believe me, she is.
Taylor was playing a character inYellowstone; it had no bearing on who he is at home.
