Yellowstone has been a massive hit, drawing viewers in with its tense portrayals of the Dutton family’s battle to protect their land, legacy, and empire. But as the show progresses into Season 5, there’s an undeniable issue that can no longer be ignored: the collapse of the Dutton dynasty is happening in real-time, and it’s happening on-screen in the most underwhelming, frustrating way imaginable.
From the very first episode of Yellowstone, the Duttons have been presented as an unshakable family of power, pride, and ruthless determination. John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and his children, Beth (Kelly Reilly), Kayce (Luke Grimes), and Jamie (Wes Bentley), have all been embroiled in various wars—both external and internal—fighting for control of their ranch, their legacy, and their very futures. Yet, Season 5 has completely derailed what made the show such a compelling watch in the first place.
The Family Drama Is No Longer Intense – It’s Exhausting
Family drama has always been a cornerstone of Yellowstone. The Duttons have an unbreakable bond that’s constantly tested, but there was always a feeling that, despite everything, they were a force to be reckoned with. In Season 5, that power dynamic feels increasingly forced, and the family drama now feels more like a drawn-out soap opera than the high-stakes, pulse-pounding action fans loved in earlier seasons.
Take, for example, the central conflict between John and his children. While their individual struggles were once deeply personal and often tragic, now they’ve been reduced to predictable and repetitive arguments. Kayce, the once-devoted son, seems to have lost his purpose entirely. His plotline in Season 5 is frustratingly aimless, which detracts from his once-pivotal role in the show. Jamie, meanwhile, is no longer the “black sheep” with an unpredictable edge—he’s devolved into a caricature, a pawn in a political game that’s losing its relevance.
But perhaps the most glaring problem of all is Beth. In earlier seasons, she was a firecracker—fiery, sharp, and fearless. Now, she spends most of her time yelling at everyone around her, with little emotional development. It’s exhausting, and the character’s once-stellar arc has become an afterthought.
The Show’s Pacing Is All Over the Place
Season 5 has become a chore to watch, primarily due to its inconsistent pacing. One episode drags with tedious family squabbles and political maneuvering, while another feels like it’s in fast-forward, rushing through important storylines just to keep the action moving. The earlier seasons of Yellowstone knew how to balance suspense and action. It was a masterclass in dramatic tension. Now, each episode feels like it’s building to a climax that ultimately fizzles out or leads nowhere meaningful. The show is suffering from a lack of focus, and it’s painfully obvious.
The high-stakes battles that once defined the show—be it with rivals like the Beck brothers, land developers, or even personal conflicts—now seem watered down. The battle for the ranch feels hollow when the core characters are so embroiled in petty arguments with one another that you can’t care about the larger issues at play. This is a series that once felt like the Duttons were up against the world; now, they can’t even figure out how to get along with each other.
The Loss of the Wild West Appeal
Yellowstone made its name by combining family drama with a fierce, untamed western setting. It was as much about the characters as it was about the rugged beauty of the land they fought to protect. But in Season 5, the show has veered too far from its roots. The West no longer feels wild. It’s lost its untamed spirit, its authenticity. Instead of feeling like a battle for survival in the wilderness, the show now often feels like a political game, where power struggles are more about boardrooms than cattle ranches.
Even the stunning Montana landscapes—which once served as a reminder of the grandeur of the West—are starting to feel like background decoration, rather than integral to the story. The show has started to lose its soul, and it’s impossible to ignore.
Can Yellowstone Recover?
It’s not too late for Yellowstone to get back on track, but Season 5 has undoubtedly shown the cracks in the foundation. The family dynamics that once kept us glued to the screen now feel like a chore to watch, and the plotlines that drove the Duttons forward have become stale. The show’s future is uncertain, and it needs a serious course correction if it’s going to reclaim its place as the must-watch drama it once was.
The Duttons need a new sense of purpose, and fast—because if they continue on this path, the Dutton dynasty won’t just fall apart on-screen. It will unravel entirely in the eyes of the audience.
As the Duttons have shown us time and time again, nothing is ever truly certain. But Season 5 of Yellowstone has proven one thing for sure: the biggest problem now lies in the family itself. And until they find a way to reforge that bond, the show is destined for a slow and painful demise.
