On Sunday, December 15, fans were gifted 86 minutes of tear-jerking, jaw-dropping drama, including John’s emotional funeral, Beth’s promise for vengeance, Rip’s private last words to his father-in-law, the fate of the Dutton ranch, and Jamie’s reaction to learning the news—not to mention his subsequent trip to the train station thereafter.
While fans had a lot (and we mean, a LOT) to say about the finale, it was refreshing to find that Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton) did, too.
“Whatever the future holds, this is the ending of the show we have been making for the past seven years,” Kelly captioned a clip commemorating the Yellowstone season 5 finale on Instagram. “Words cannot convey how I feel about the people I got to work and create with over the seasons. I have made true lifelong friends. The support from the crew and the trust and dedication of the cast. The words I got to say and the woman I got to inhabit. It changed me. It lit me up. It challenged me in every way possible and I will forever be grateful for it. For Taylor Sheridan, who took a chance on me and continued to write her in ways I got to feel on fire as an actor. Thank you, Taylor. Thank you, the audience we made it for, for being on this journey with us. We really cared about making something special for you all.”
Kelly didn’t solely hop online to reflect on her role, though. The actress, who is typically quiet on social media, spent much of her Sunday night helping fans process the season 5 finale.
“Ok, so a) I was saying to my friend that [you’re] 110 percent gonna kill Jamie,” one fan commented. “Ain’t no way that it would be anyone else. B) the only thing I don’t understand is didn’t Beth say the ranch was a prison and she wanted to burn it all? Like I get it, people’s minds change with time. But I personally don’t understand why Beth wants to save it just cause John died. I just feel like she would have sold the land before Jamie revoked the whole easement deal. Would you care to elaborate? [Because] I’m pretty huge [into] Yellowstone. And the math ain’t mathing. Also, you said the second half of the season was going to be explosive. So my question is: After tonight’s episode, can you discuss what the original plan was for part 5B? [Because] this whole season has truly detoured from where 5A was headed.”
Much to that fan’s surprise, Kelly actually replied! “No problem… so, she definitely changed,” she began. “In early seasons, it was a place with too many bad memories. The place haunted her. She was loyal to her father, as she loved him so ferociously, but she also felt such responsibility and guilt about the death of her mother, his wife. It almost became her reason to live to make it right, to do this for him. She became his most loyal soldier. Over the seasons, you saw her fall in love with it again. She did it for him. For the land. And for a part of her soul… Hope that helps x.”
Now the only question is: Was Sunday night’s episode truly the series finale, or will Yellowstone resume with Beth and Rip at the helm? While many fans have been debating the lingo surrounding the episode, only time will tell what’s real and what’s rumors. As it currently stands, though, sources have confirmed a spin-off led by Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser. Talk about the ultimate holiday gift!