Paramount Network’s Yellowstone wraps up the first half of season five with episode eight, “A Knife and No Coin.” Episode seven ended with Jamie on the verge of going to war with John and Beth. However, episode eight makes us wait a while to get back to that storyline and instead slips into a flashback of young Rip making his first trip with a dead body to the train station.
John (Josh Lucas) asks what Rowdy said that caused Rip to stand up for Beth. John knows without Rip explaining exactly what was said, and he informs Rip that the only fighting he’ll do in the future is to protect the ranch or someone who works there.
Rip is offered the Yellowstone’s brand and told if he accepts, he’s committed his life to the ranch. In exchange, he’ll have a home until the day he dies – or the ranch is gone. Rip agrees to be branded.
Rip returns to the bunkhouse and the cowboys applaud as Lloyd shows them the brand on his chest.
Next, we check in with Jimmy (Jefferson White) who’s still happy and in love with Emily. He’s also apparently well respected and fully integrated into life on the 6666 Ranch.
And, finally, 15-ish minutes into the midseason finale we see the guys – and Teeter (Jen Landon) – working the cattle on the Yellowstone Ranch. They’re hard at work herding the cattle onto trucks for the big move, as Monica (Kelsey Asbille) asks John (Kevin Costner) where they’re heading. John says he’s leased land in the panhandle of Texas where it’s windy and dry.
Monica turns serious and thanks John for helping her deal with the loss of her baby. John thinks we are subjected to tragedies so we can pass along how we survived through them to the next generation. John knows Monica wears the pants in her family and has a big request. He’s heading back to work governing and Rip will be leaving with the cattle, so he really needs Kayce’s help running the ranch.
Monica agrees and tells John all he ever had to do was ask.
John and Rip (Cole Hauser) have one final talk before Rip heads out with the cattle. John apologizes for it having to be like this and Rip completely understands. If cowboying weren’t hard, everyone would be doing it.
John asks Kayce (Luke Grimes) if he can come the next day and help get the rest on the road. Kayce is willing but has to ask Monica first, and John – who doesn’t admit he’s already spoken to her – suggests Kayce listen to whatever she says. Kayce agrees that’s the safest move.
John surprises Kayce with a hug and tells him he loves him before walking off.
Cue the dramatic music as Jamie (Wes Bentley) addresses the legislature. He begins his speech but the action cuts away to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) who’s joined by John and Senator Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz) to address the press regarding the pipeline.
Thomas is happy to see him and John agrees to start the press conference off by introducing him. John delivers a short speech coming out on the side of the tribe and against the pipeline. He promises to use the full weight of his office to stop it from happening.
Meanwhile, Jamie tells the legislature that John Dutton has violated state law and exposed Montana to litigation. He’s also cost Montana billions of dollars through his callous, calculated actions. Jamie requests Article 5 Section 13 be put into action and that John should be impeached.
As Thomas Rainwater’s speaking, the news breaks that Jamie’s seeking to impeach his father. Lynelle tells John to avoid the press, but John steps up to the mic and suggests the press keep their focus on the pipeline and not the theatrical maneuverings of Jamie.
John heads back to the capitol as his assistant, Clara (Lilli Kay), explains Jamie’s speech doesn’t point to any specific wrongdoings. It’s all conjecture, and John explains that sometimes that’s all you need to get started. Clara thinks the truth will prevail, but John doesn’t think truth will win this battle. It will take “menace” to win this fight.
Back at the ranch, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Summer (Piper Perabo) get into an argument about Summer being at the ranch while John’s gone back to the capitol. Their argument dissolves into a fight about peanut M&Ms, and Beth actually seems to like Summer by the time they wrap up their fight.
Summer shows Beth a video of Jamie’s speech and it’s the first time Beth learns what her brother’s done. This impeachment tribunal will be the first in Montana’s history. Beth reacts in shock and says, “That mother**ker.”
We press pause on Jamie’s story for Carter to say goodbye to the pretty girl he’s been hanging out with, while inside the bunkhouse the crew that’s heading out pack everything they’ve got. Rip warns them it’s going to be freezing and to make sure to bring everything warm.
The guys joke about how Teeter heading to Texas won’t help her accent. The laughter is a cover for how much the guys remaining on the ranch will miss those heading off with the cattle. It’s apparent Colby (Denim Richards) is actually going to miss Teeter, even though he continues to claim he was forced into the relationship.
Just as the cowboys are about to head out, Colby joins Teeter outside for a final hug and kiss. She whispers “I love you” before they take off.
That night in bed Sarah (Dawn Olivieri) compliments Jamie on delivering the perfect speech. Jamie knows his dad’s going to fight it, but Sarah thinks there are enough votes to impeach him.
As they’re talking, Beth pounds on the door. Jamie doesn’t answer, so Beth breaks the glass. She charges in and warns Jamie that he’s committing career suicide. Jamie tries to push her out of his house, but she fights back. Beth hits him in the head with the rock she used to break the glass. He hits his head on a piece of furniture as he falls down, but isn’t badly injured.
Beth threatens Jamie that if he doesn’t resign tomorrow, she’ll print photos for the sheriff. Jamie doesn’t think she’ll go through with that and Beth replies, “Doubt me, Jamie. I am begging you.”
Jamie actually chuckles as he reminds her how many bodies John’s disposed of at the train station. Beth looks surprised; she didn’t know the place had been used for decades to hide dead bodies. Jamie suggests she ask Rip about the train station and reveals that killing their enemies has always been part of protecting the ranch.
Jamie – figurately – shoves a knife into Beth’s heart by reminding her she won’t be able to add to future generations of Duttons. He also points out that monetizing the ranch is the only way to protect it, and that she’s got to realize that’s true. Jamie claims what he’s doing is helping to guarantee there’s a ranch to pass down to Tate and his own son.
”The greatest threat to that ranch is our father!” says Jamie, promising he’ll remove that threat.
Sarah enters the room and Beth calls her “one expensive hooker.” Beth informs them both that war is just beginning.
The hits just keep on coming as news breaks that wolves’ collars were located and the wolves could have been killed on John Dutton’s land. Clara and Lynelle are with John as they watch the news, and Lynelle believes the news broke now because they smelled blood in the water.
Beth shows up as they’re talking and suggests her dad take them to the train station. John asks the others to leave as he describes the train station as a trash can for everyone who’s attacked the ranch. It’s in a location that’s so remote it will never be found. John also admits the men who attacked her are there along with others she knows did the family wrong.
John confirms Jamie knows about the train station, and Beth believes he’ll use that knowledge to destroy him. After a brief pause, Beth suggests Jamie’s body should be the next taken to the train station. She asks what John thinks, but we don’t hear his answer. (I can’t imagine John saying no at this point.)
Sarah tends to Jamie’s injured head and asks what he thinks Beth will do next. Jamie’s spot on when he says she’ll probably have him killed. He wonders if Sarah knows anyone who can help, and Sarah reminds him he has security.
“That’s playing defense. What if I want to play offense?” he asks. Sarah confirms there are companies that can handle it. They can make it look like a heart attack or car accident.
Jamie wants to meet with them, but Sarah will take care of it herself. She seems to hint that they should go after John at the same time, and Jamie indicates he was thinking that, too. (They’re all plotting to kill each other and any sympathy I had for Jamie has flown out the window!)
The next day Monica tells Kayce about her talk with John. She thinks they should help out on the ranch and she’s fine with moving into the home (East Camp) that John suggested. It’ll be like a fresh start, and the house would be theirs instead of a rental.
Kayce reveals the choice he saw in his vision was between the ranch and Monica. Monica believes that if they move into East Camp, then it’s a way of having both. They kiss and Monica smiles as Kayce gets back to work helping load the cattle.
The midseason finale ends with the camera panning up to the Y on the barn.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until this summer for the second half of season five!
- Luke Grimes and Kelsey Asbille Talk Yellowstone Season 5
- Yellowstone Season 5: Wes Bentley Interview on Jamie’s Shattered Relationships
- 1923 Episode 1 Recap: Introducing a New Generation of Duttons
- Yellowstone Will End With Season 5 and Sequel’s Greenlit
- Yellowstone Season 4 Episode 10 “Grass on the Streets and Weeds on the Rooftops” Finale Recap
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 1 “One Hundred Years is Nothing” Recap
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 2 “The Sting of Wisdom” Recap
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 3 “Tall Drink of Water” Recap
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 4 “Horses in Heaven” Recap
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 5 “Watch ‘Em Ride Away” Recap
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 6 “Cigarettes, Whiskey, a Meadow and You” Recap
- Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 7 “The Dream is Not Me” Recap
