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Yellowstone Series Finales Ranked: The Most Satisfying Ending Is 1883

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Taylor Sheridan’s TV series “Yellowstone” has concluded its run, featuring three distinct endings. While each finale presents a unique narrative, many believe that one stands out as the best among them. The “Yellowstone” universe encompasses three series so far, with the first being “Yellowstone,” which premiered in 2018 and starred Kevin Costner as John Dutton III. This series focused on the ongoing struggle of John and his modern-day family to preserve their ancestral ranch legacy. The success of “Yellowstone” led to the creation of two other series, produced by Sheridan, that serve as prequels to the original, offering insights into the lives of John Dutton’s ancestors, which can be watched independently.

1883 marks the beginning of the Yellowstone spin-off series, a Western tale spanning one season of ten episodes that introduces the earliest known Dutton family, starring James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill). 1923 serves as a continuation of 1883, set 40 years later and featuring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton. Initially ordered as one season, 1923 is actually a two-part story unfolding over two seasons, consisting of 15 episodes in total. The saga of the 1920s concluded its second part in April 2025 with the finale of 1923 season 2.

Taylor Sheridan’s acclaimed series, Yellowstone, concluded its fifth season with episode 14, set to air in December 2024. In this installment, John’s children, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes), were freed from the conflict surrounding the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, resulting in varied responses. Following the conclusion of Yellowstone season 5, Sheridan is developing stories revolving around the future of Beth and Kayce, with Luke Grimes preparing for a role in a Yellowstone spinoff on CBS. Reilly and Cole Hauser are also set to reprise their roles as Beth and Rip in Dutton Ranch. Here’s hoping that Sheridan can continue his legacy of spinoffs by expanding upon the endings of Beth and Kayce from Yellowstone.

3. 1923

1923 Season 2, Episode 7 – “A Dream And A Memory”

In the final episode of season 2 in 1923, many viewers felt that the ending wasn’t as fulfilling as they had hoped for the franchise. Although Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) returned to the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, some fans were disappointed because the series’ main romance didn’t progress further. The separate stories of Spencer and Alex Dutton’s (Julia Schlaepfer), both set in the 1920s, were engaging, depicting an immigrant’s life and a returning war hero’s experiences respectively. However, fans of 1923 had been expecting to see Alex and Spencer reunited, possibly co-managing the ranch together. Therefore, the lack of shared screen time between Schlaepfer and Sklenar was somewhat disappointing for these viewers.

Regrettably, the demise of Alex Dutton was undeniably the most impactful moment in the finale of season 2 of 1923. Spencer’s wife succumbed to hypothermia complications following a prolonged stay in Montana’s harsh winter. Despite aligning with the somber undertones of the Prohibition-era narrative, her sudden death seemed somewhat incongruous given Alex Dutton’s harrowing experiences throughout 1923, and the brutal manner in which she perished so swiftly after her introduction.

The Duttons’ struggles with life during the financial depression in Montana, which led to turmoil and range wars, is arguably one of the most compelling storylines in Yellowstone. And when Spencer Dutton traveled through time in the finale of the second season of 1923, revealing his death, the story came to a fitting conclusion. However, some parts of the ending seemed rushed. For example, the reunion between Alex and Spencer felt overly dramatic yet not emotional enough, with their highs and lows failing to strike the right balance for many viewers. In 1923, themes reminiscent of Shakespearean tales of star-crossed lovers were often present, but the ending left some people questioning whether Alex’s self-sacrificing decisions were truly necessary.

2. Yellowstone

Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 14 – “Life Is A Promise”

In contrast to the climax of 1923 seeming overdramatic with no satisfactory conclusion, some viewers found Yellowstone season 5’s ending underwhelming. However, the finale did manage to address several key plot points that fans had been anticipating. Essentially, events in Yellowstone season 5 tended to unfold as expected for the main characters. Critics pointed out that the predictability of Yellowstone’s finale was a letdown for many viewers, particularly since creator Taylor Sheridan saved most of the surprises for the end. Nevertheless, the conclusion of Yellowstone season 5 did provide fans with the resolutions they had been hoping for, such as Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) selling the Yellowstone Ranch to the Broken Rock Tribe at the end, thereby fulfilling a prophecy hinted at in 1883.

In the final episode of 1883, James Dutton encounters an elder from the Crow tribe named Spotted Eagle (Graham Greene), who shares with him the story of Paradise Valley. Spotted Eagle informs James that he’s welcome to settle in the valley, but warns that his people will reclaim it seven generations later. At this point, Dutton vows that in seven generations, the Crow people can regain their land. True to this prophecy, Kayce Dutton, played by Gil Birmingham, gives up the land, marking the season 5 finale of Yellowstone as a satisfying resolution, albeit one that’s somewhat expected for those who have watched 1883.

“In Yellowstone’s season 5 finale, some scenes didn’t quite hit the mark for me, particularly Beth’s confrontation with her brother, Jamie (Wes Bentley). The climactic moment where she stabbed him was intense, no doubt, but I can understand the disappointment of viewers who felt that the build-up to this pivotal event wasn’t as strong as it could have been. This is reminiscent of some feedback about season 2 of 1923, where the conflict over the ranch seemed to resolve rather swiftly, despite being heavily promoted as the season’s main focus. However, Yellowstone’s finale did deliver on many fronts, wrapping up storylines in a way that felt satisfying and true to the promise of its spin-off, 1883, which ended several years ago.”

1. 1883

1883 Episode 10 – “This Is Not Your Heaven”

Among the fulfilling endings in the Yellowstone universe, the final episode of 1883 stands out. In this climax, following Elsa Dutton’s (Isabel May) tragic poison arrow incident in the second-last episode, James and his daughter race towards Paradise Valley on horseback. The fate of Elsa serves as a pivotal point for the conclusion of the narrative. Elsa, with her sparkling eyes, breathes her last in her father’s embrace, only to reunite with her husband, Sam (Martin Sensmeier), in the hereafter. Moreover, the finale of 1883 ties up the stories of the remaining wagon train members, including Shea (Sam Elliott), Thomas (LaMonica Garrett), and Josef (Marc Rissmann), showing how their journeys eventually come to an end.

1883’s endings are skillfully crafted, striking a perfect blend of drama and emotional fulfillment. For example, even though Elsa Dutton’s demise is one of the saddest in Yellowstone, her journey feels deserved. As Elliott’s Shea Brennan remarks to James in the finale, “I’ve watched this girl for the last six months, and she has outlived us all. I’m 75 years old, and she has out-smiled me, out-loved me, out-fought me… She’s outlived me.” Elsa’s death serves a significant purpose, providing the foundation for the entire Yellowstone series. Without Elsa’s fate, James would never have found himself in Montana, where Yellowstone unfolds.

Elsa’s and her companions’ (Shea, Thomas, and Josef) outcomes are tragic yet fitting given the circumstances, providing a satisfying conclusion. We understand exactly why these tales end in such a manner, and Elsa’s demise in 1883 carries a profound meaning. Elsa’s passing is linked to turmoil on the Oregon Trail during westward expansion. The gruesome wound inflicted upon Elsa is shown at the start of the series, and then 1883 guides us through the events to clarify how it occurred, also unfolding the story of the Lakota warriors who mistakenly thought Shea and Thomas’s wagon train were responsible for killing their families.

1883’s climax stands out for a unique reason: Isabel May asked Tim McGraw about his real-life daughters before their final shoot, resulting in raw emotions that linger (as reported by Taste of Country). The series is said to revolve around Isabel May’s character, with Taylor Sheridan allegedly penning the entire tale within a week following her casting (according to The New York Times). As a result, 1883 represents one of Sheridan’s most integrated Yellowstone stories. Unlike Yellowstone and 1923, its ending is not split into two parts.

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2025-05-17 20:58

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