I’m officially worried that Yellowstone is doomed

Yellowstone. You were once the untouchable king of TV drama a sprawling epic of cowboy grit, family betrayal, and Kevin Costner magnificent gravelly voice. But now? Well, this is embarrassing. Cringe, even. Because somehow, Yellowstone has gone from Dutton Family Saga to Taylor Sheridan Vanity Project.

Sheridan Takes the Reins, Literally

Episode doesn’t just feature a scene or two set on Sheridan Bosque Ranch in Texas. Nope. It turns the entire story into a glorified ad for the place. Every wide shot screams, “Look at this gorgeous ranch I own” The Bosque Ranch logo practically outshines the famous “Y” brand of the Dutton–family ranch.

To make matters worse, Sheridan character in the show, Travis Wheatley, becomes a focal point of the drama. Remember him? The cowboy-horse-trainer extraordinaire who pops in and out to offer sage advice and show off his riding skills? Well, this week, he gets the full spotlight. Sheridan real-life ranch and his fictional cowboy persona take center stage, overshadowing the once-mighty John Dutton storyline.

ALSO RAED….Yellowstone Season 5 Finale Missed the Opportunity to Highlight Tate Significance

John Dutton Deserved Better

John Dutton is dead. Not in a glorious, cinematic showdown. Not in a bittersweet, hero’s farewell. Nope. Sheridan killed Kevin Costner character offscreen. The man who anchored Yellowstone from the start dies in his bathroom.

Look, I’m not saying Yellowstone needed to go full Game of Thrones with fire-breathing dragons and bloody battles. But come on. John deserved more. If you’re going to kill off your lead, at least let us see it. Give us one last gravel-voiced monologue. Instead, it feels like Sheridan didn’t just kill John he ghosted him.

Beth Dutton, What Are You Doing?

Let me set the scene. Beth (Kelly Reilly), the show’s resident firecracker and queen of sharp insults, travels to Bosque Ranch to beg Travis for help selling horses. Yes, the same Beth who’s been through hell and back, who never backs down, who could make grown men cry with one raised eyebrow. That Beth.

Except now, she’s practically drooling over Sheridan cowboy persona. She plays poker with him, almost strips (why?!), and delivers cringe-worthy lines like, “You are such a fucking asshole, it is almost attractive.”

Beth Dutton is one of the most complex characters on TV, and THIS is how she spends her final season? Flirting with a side character who also happens to be played by the showrunner?

The Petty Feud That Tanked Yellowstone

Let’s not pretend this mess came out of nowhere. Last summer, reports surfaced about tension between Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan. Costner allegedly wanted to reduce his filming schedule, Sheridan wasn’t thrilled, and things spiraled from there.

But while Costner has kept his side of the drama to the occasional radio interview, Sheridan seems determined to make his feelings known through the show itself. It’s like watching someone air their dirty laundry in the middle of a crowded bar.

ALSO RAED…‘Yellowstone’ creator Taylor Sheridan knows why critics don’t like his show.

What Next for Yellowstone?

Honestly, at this point, I’m scared to find out. With one episode left in the entire series, it’s hard to see how Sheridan can redeem this trainwreck. Will we get closure for the Duttons? Will the ranch survive? Or will the finale be one big Bosque Ranch infomercial?HY

Final Thoughts

Yellowstone used to be about the epic highs and crushing lows of ranch life, the weight of legacy, and the complicated bonds of family. Now, it’s about one man cowboy fantasy.

Taylor Sheridan may have created this world, but in his quest to make himself the star, he’s lost sight of what made Yellowstone great. And that’s not just embarrassing it’s heartbreaking.