Fans have been sharing their verdict now the two-year hiatus between new episodes of the epic modern Western series Yellowstone is finally at an end
Yellowstone’s season five, part two has finally arrived with a jaw-dropping midseason premiere dropping on Paramount on Sunday night.
Streamers are able to catch all the action on Paramount+, and millions of fans will be tuning in to reunite with the Duttons after the show’s lengthiest break yet.
In the back half of season five, Beth (played by Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes) are rattled by a devastating event, prompting Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) to race back home from Texas.
Meanwhile, Jamie (Wes Bentley) is left equally shaken, despite his sister remaining convinced he and his conspirator Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) are behind it.
After such a lengthy wait, expectations for Yellowstone’s return were bound to be high, especially with Hollywood A-lister Kevin Costner no longer at the helm as ranch owner John Dutton.
So, what’s the verdict? Unfortunately, nearly two years after season five’s first half bowed out in January last year, fans have highlighted a number of issues with the part two premiere, Desire Is All You Need.
One disappointed viewer on the Yellowstone subreddit wrote the latest episode was “just embarrassing”, adding, “I have been a fan from the beginning, but have been getting less and less enchanted as the show goes on.
“After waiting 2 years for this, I am at a complete loss. I mean, does [showrunner Taylor] Sheridan and his writers honestly believe we are all sheep and believe all this?”
Major spoilers ahead – the fan went on to point out several issues with the apparent conspiracy behind John’s death as well as several characters, such as Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) and Lloyd (Forrie J Smith) becoming afterthoughts.
“John was a governor, how is there not 1 secret service or a member of a detail protecting him?” they asked.
“Jamie, out of anger, throws out an idea to kill his sister, and without another word and 6 weeks later, this lady decides he meant he wanted his father dead.
“We are supposed to believe that Jamie went along with it.”
And the final straw: “And my favorite, just because Beth complains, she gets out of mandatory community service?”
Another fan had similar complaints, admitting in another post: “Costner was [the] only thing keeping this on the rails.
“Guys, is it me or was this episode (and, well, show in general for the past 2 seasons) just genuinely…bad. Like historically not good,” they continued.
“I always knew but didn’t even realize how central Costner was to making this work. Without him the rest of them are just flailing around.”
Despite the backlash, the show still had plenty of positive responses over on X (formerly Twitter), with one person writing: “Yellowstone return is incredible. Everything fans were hoping it would be.”
And another said: “Ya’ll weren’t lying when you said ‘epic return’. See you same time next week!”
Will you be tuning in for more Yellowstone next Sunday?
Yellowstone season 5, part 2 continues Sundays on Paramount and the following Monday on Paramount+.