Yellowstone in theory is just two episodes away from its absolute finale. Indicators of that are not in abundance in Counting Coup.
As always, spoilers lie ahead.
Four episodes down, two to go. In theory, we’re building up to the very end of this particular guise of Yellowstone, with just rumours of a potential season six at most.
Which makes it a little baffling that Counting Coup – potentially the starting point for Yellowstone’s final three episodes – was so low key and on the surface, primarily treading water.
Stuff happened, some big stuff for certain characters. But is it anything that has a major impact? Well, I guess we’ll be finding out soon. At first glance, it felt like a lot of filler, and shuffling a few pieces around the board, albeit mainly sideways.
Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I like Yellowstone filler, when it soaks in the scenery and pops out a tune. However, the underlying theme of a way of life coming to an end is as it was when it was being talked about last week. And the week before. And the week before that. I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that the audience has got the message.
Even the characters have. The residents of the bunkhouse? They may need new homes and jobs, and know it. Billionaires might buy the ranch, they know too. Meanwhile, turns out John Dutton is dead, and this time, it’s Jimmy’s turn to find out the news that virtually everyone else knows. It feels a little perfunctory now going through this, without really nudging the drama onwards. I like the bunkhouse stuff when they’re sitting around playing cards, shooting shit, and letting us natter with the characters. Here, they’re catching up on stuff the audience has been told more than once.
Frugality is also rife, and as it turns out, it’s not just Rip doing a bit of cost-cutting this episode either (as he looks to sell off the ranch’s livestock in Texas to make some urgently-needed bucks). The show’s cut back on its cast again, with its third death in four episodes.
The unlucky recipient of a few kicks from a horse? That’d be Colby, killed for no obvious reason thus far than getting the payroll down and making a few people feel guilty. Maybe it’s building towards stirred emotions for the finale, maybe it’s getting across the random brutality of the way of life. Still, a savage, fast end for a long-running character. Useful for clickbait headlines and attracting interest, certainly.
Yet considering the shocking conclusion to last week’s instalment, there’s a fair amount of pottering around and beard stroking before we get to the that again. Inevitably, Jamie bears the instant brunt, a loose cannon about to get looser as Detective Dillard quizzes him about the murder of Sarah.
And Dillard is the key to bring Luke Grimes’ Kayce away from the beautiful landscapes and his much-loved family. By the end, Kayce – who’s been on the bench really since the show returned – is pointing a gun at a small child in his quest for his father’s murderer.
But still, it’s grist towards the three hander that surely lies at the end of all of this. We’re seeing characters such as Lloyd, Monica and Rip moved to the edges so that the path is cleared for Jamie, Beth and Kayce can have their showdown.
Beth and Kayce currently sit in one corner, Jamie the cornered animal in the other (much like the steed that killed Colby, left out for wolves to eat). Interesting to see that Beth’s confidence and power over Jamie has wavered now that the police may be getting involved, no matter how many documents the latter has rushed to shred.
Jamie is the threat, clearly, and the growing centrepiece here. Beth V Jamie: Dawn Of Justice feels like it’s been adequately primed now, but gets a little added juice. Now with dark Kayce in the mix, the stakes aren’t decreasing.
Two episodes to go, then. A growing bodycount, an impending sense of dread, the legalities of the last episode or two parked for the minute, and things in the balance. A functional episode to bridge the gap for now. Presumably, less pottering about next week though…
