Yellowstone season 5, episode 11 just set up Jamie’s redemption, as improbable as it may seem. Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western hit on Paramount Network’s return has been defined by the death of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III. Despite being the show’s face for most of its run, the veteran actor decided to leave the series, resulting in the writers scrambling to find a way to explain his absence moving forward. In the end, Yellowstone season 5, part 2 decided on killing the Dutton patriarch, with the rest of its run thus far tackling the tragedy and its fallout.
In both “All You Need Is Desire” and “The Apocalypse of Change,” the focus has been on the reaction of Beth and Kayce to learning about their father’s death. However, “Three Fifty-Three” shifts its storytelling to see how the tragedy is impacting Jamie. John’s death in Yellowstone was originally ruled as suicide, as he was found with a gun beside him. That said, Beth was adamant that it wasn’t the case, forcing Kayce to investigate it himself. Ultimately, Yellowstone season 5, episode 11 reopens the case, as the law enforcers consider the possibility of foul play, which puts stress on Jamie.
Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 11 Reveals Jamie’s Fear Over The Murder Of John
Kayce Is Able To Force John’s Case To Be Reopened
Technically, Jamie doesn’t have anything to do with the murder of his adopted father in Yellowstone season 5, part 2. The scheme was all Sarah’s plan, who was his romantic partner and a corporate shark. The specifics of how the murder of the former Montana governor was planned are still murky at this point, but the perpetrators were almost able to get away with the plan, had it not been for Beth’s convincing Kayce that there was foul play involved. This leads to Yellowstone’s medical examiner, Janice Everly having different findings when she redid the autopsy.
Even with all the power that he has, however, Jamie doesn’t have the spine to stick to the plan.
With John’s death officially walked back on as suicide, Jamie feels the heat of the situation when his father’s successor shames him in front of the whole government body by essentially forcing him to recuse himself as Attorney General. Despite not being directly involved in the crime, he is on the cusp of breaking under pressure, resulting in an intense confrontation with Sarah. Even with all the power that he has, however, Jamie doesn’t have the spine to stick to the plan. Sarah is able to pacify him, but that may not last long, considering her twist fate.
Sarah’s Death In Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 11 Means Jamie Is Truly Alone
Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 11 Ends With Another Tragedy
Aside from finding a way to explain John’s absence after Costner’s exit from Yellowstone, his death was also supposed to elevate Jamie in terms of power and influence in Montana. Unfortunately for him, he only had a very brief time to bask in the glory of his win, and even then, it didn’t feel like he truly enjoyed it. For starters, he had to put on a sad facade to express his fake grief over losing his father. Although he and John butted heads multiple times, they were still family as far as the people of Montana were concerned.
Jamie and Sarah argue, both immensely high-strung, given the unexpected development of John’s death case. She storms out of the house after their fight becomes physical, but before she can get away, Jamie calls and the pair reconcile. While they are able to sort out their intense fight, Yellowstone season 5, episode 11 doesn’t give them time to actually reunite. Someone already ordered a hit on Sarah, as she is shot multiple times. The outing ends with her death, and the last conversation she has on her phone is with the troubled Montana AG.
Now that Sarah’s gone, Jamie is truly alone in the world.
Regardless of the true nature of their dalliance, Jamie found an ally in Sarah. As he fought hard to be accepted by his family and worked tirelessly to get the approval of the Dutton patriarch, she easily took her in. Now that Sarah’s gone, Jamie is truly alone in the world. Couple that with the potential ramifications of being the last person to talk to Sarah before she is murdered, and he may not have any chance but to finally make things right.
Jamie’s Best Redemption Arc Is To Help His Siblings Secure The Ranch
Beth & Kayce Need All The Help They Can Get
If Jamie really wants to redeem himself, his work is cut out for him. Beth hates him, not just for what happened to John, but for everything that he has done against her and their family. Yellowstone season 5, part 2 was always going to be about the all-out war between the siblings, but the recent events in the show make their conflict more interesting and complicated. Jamie still has a chance to win Kayce over, but even he’s already developing resentment towards his adopted brother. This is especially true with Beth continuously posing convincing statements about his betrayal.
At this point, however, the only way that Jamie can even get remotely close to the good graces of the Duttons is if they help them secure the ranch. He remains the Attorney General of Montana, and while it’s a bit trickier to undo everything that he has set out to do, he could still prove himself useful as Beth and Kayce scramble to find a way to keep the Dutton family land intact and safe from the developers. If Jamie is truly committed to the cause, he may even find a way to get those who killed John punished.
Jamie’s Final Redemption Move Is To Sacrifice Himself
Yellowstone Requires Jamie To Give Up Something
It’s worth noting, however, that even if Jamie pulls a miracle and delivers both the ranch and the people who killed John to Beth and Kayce, it may not be enough for them to forgive him. Beth, in particular, promised that she would kill him one way or another, and considering her history, there is no doubt that she fully intends to do that. With that, to fully redeem Jamie, he must make a sacrifice big enough to make up for all the havoc he has wreaked in the past.
…it’s difficult to imagine Yellowstone solving these lingering plots with Jamie surviving…
Given the situation, Jamie giving up his life for the greater Dutton cause could be his final act in Yellowstone. It may rob Beth of the satisfaction of killing him, but it would still accomplish the same goal. which is to see him die. Admittedly, it’s difficult to imagine Yellowstone solving these lingering plots with Jamie surviving, especially if news of a season 6 or sequel show turns out to be true. For the sake of his character’s potential redemption, sacrificing himself for penance would be the perfect way to end his arc.