5 Most Important Moments In ‘Yellowstone’ Season 4, Episode 5 (2024)

In Yellowstone Season 4, Episode 5, entitled “Under A Blanket of Red,” the Duttons are spread far and wide. Kayce (Luke Grimes) is back at the Broken Rock Indian Reservation with Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate (Brecken Merrill). Jamie (Wes Bentley) makes his way to the prison at Deer Lodge to make Terrell Riggins (Bruno Amato), the man responsible for orchestrating the attacks on the Duttons, admit that his old cell mate/Jamie’s biological father, Garrett Randall (Will Patton), ordered the hit. Back on the ranch, John (Kevin Costner) shows concern for both Beth (Kelly Reilly) and her Market Equities job offer and the growing rift between Rip (Cole Hauser) and Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith).

John’s most pressing issue, however, is the protest, led by environmental activist Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo), outside the Montana Livestock Association, for which Kayce is commissioner. John thinks the timing of the demonstration is suspicious… and he’s not wrong. On yet another front, Jimmy (Jefferson White) starts to acclimate to life on the 6666, where an old cowboy gives him this advice about the profession: “You’ve gotta want this life. You’ve gotta want it all the way to your bones. And if you don’t, it can be absolute hell on earth.” Before Jimmy heads out on his first ride, he encounters a legendary horse trainer, the 93-year-old Buster Welch (playing himself), a random moment that lends itself to Yellowstone‘s trademark authenticity.

Let’s break down the 5 most important moments from Episode 5 that will have repercussions throughout the rest of the season.

BETH TAKES THE JOB AT MARKET EQUITIES

After some uncharacteristic soul searching, Beth ends up taking the job at Market Equities offered to her by Caroline Warner (Jackie Weaver). Unnerved by Beth’s decision, John asks her to explain: “Tell me how that helps us.” Beth quickly and simply replies, “It helps us when I run it into the f*cking ground.” Doesn’t John know by now that Beth always has a plan?

Who is the second person that Beth tells about her new position? Why, Schwartz & Meyer partner Bob Schwartz (Michael Nouri). Fans will remember that Beth’s only contingency to accept Warner’s offer was that she would acquire Market Equities’ controlling interest in Schwartz & Meyer. In a classic Beth move, she drives seven hours to Schwartz’s office to reveal that she is the new president of the Montana Division of Market Equities. When he naively congratulates on her on what be a huge pay day, Beth sneers: “No salary, Bob. No stock options, no percentage of profit. I wonder if you can guess what would entice me to take a job doing exactly what my family has been fighting against for centuries…. you’re fired.”

BACK AT THE RESERVATION

Per his father’s advice, Kayce has been spending time on the Reservation with Monica and Tate at Monica’s father’s home. In the backyard, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Mo Brings Plenty (Mo Brings Plenty) have constructed a sweat lodge to help Tate process the trauma of killing the man who was attacking his mother back at the Dutton ranch on that fateful day.

When Thomas emerges from the lodge, he tells Monica, “[Tate] feels guilt for doing something he should be praised for.” Thomas adds, “A few more sweats and Mo will take him up on the hill, and when he comes down, he won’t think of himself as a killer. He’ll think of himself as a warrior. Like you.” Comforted by Thomas’s words, Monica does not hesitate when Kayce suggests she start looking for homes near the Broken Rock Indian Reservation for them to rebuild their lives together.

MEET SUMMER HIGGINS

Outside the Livestock Commission office in Livingston, Kayce encounters the protest led by activist Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo) and her team. Kayce and his fellow Livestock agents are forced to fight back after protestors begin to throw rocks at them, and things get ugly until the Sheriff intervenes and calls John to come to the scene. “We’re here protesting the existence of a state sponsored police force that protects industrialized animal farming and the mass murder of millions of animals every year,” Summer righteously tells John when he confronts her. Nonplussed, John schools her in the ways of quinoa farming and advises the Sheriff to press charges.

Fans know that John admires people who stand up for themselves, so it’s no surprise when he bails Summer out of jail, telling her: “You believe what you’re doing is right. I disagree, but I respect it.” In an act of bipartisanship and general curiosity, John invites Summer back to the Yellowstone, explaining, “I think it might help you understand me better or it might help me understand you too.” Summer can’t resist a personal invite from John Dutton and neither could we!

LLOYD VS. RIP

Welp, it’s official. Lloyd is still in Rip’s doghouse after starting that fight with Walker. To teach him and the rest of the bunkhouse boys a lesson, Rip publicly punishes Lloyd by taking away his colt, forcing him to ride a mare, and making him do chores around the Yellowstone instead of breaking horses with the rest of the crew. When John sees the wedge Rip is driving between him and Lloyd, he cautions him, “Whatever he did, don’t forget who he is to you, to both of us.” Rip replies, “Who he is to us, Sir, is the reason why he’s still walking.”

The silver lining that could come from Lloyd’s demotion is that he gradually becomes the steadying force (and vice versa) in Carter’s (Finn Little) life. Per Rip’s instruction, Lloyd teaches Carter how to saddle horses and the boy responds to him. Lloyd later offers Carter a few words of conversation in the stables. It’s the most kindness anyone has shown Carter since he unwisely fought with Beth back at Murdoch’s.

JAMIE’S PAST COMES BACK

Just when you think Yellowstone is gonna zig, it zags. Jamie offers Riggins (the convict who helped orchestrate the attack on the Duttons) immunity to testify against Jamie’s biological father/Riggins’ former cellmate, Garrett Randall, the man who ordered the assassinations. With this action, Yellowstone fans begin to understand that Jamie’s loyalty to the Duttons outweighs his newfound allegiance to his biological father who, after all, killed Jamie’s mother (lest we forget).

As Jamie prepares to confront Garrett on the porch of his home, he is stopped short by the sudden appearance of Christina (Katherine Cunningham), Jamie’s ex-girlfriend and former campaign manager, with a baby! The last time Yellowstone fans saw her was way back in Season 2 when she told Jamie she was pregnant but that he couldn’t be a part of her and their baby’s life as long as he was serving John’s interests instead of his own. With tears in her eyes, Christina tells Jamie: “You got away from him. You got the job you deserve. You did everything you said you would do. Now I keep my word.” Full of emotion, Jamie holds his son as Garrett looks on proudly, their confrontation now forgotten. From the look in his eyes, it’s fair to say that Jamie is going to do anything to protect his new family.

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