No matter how “Yellowstone” fans received the Season 5 finale, it undeniably provided a fitting farewell for patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner).

The episode, which captivated 11.4 million viewers on Sunday, featured an emotional funeral for Dutton, interred with his forefathers at the Yellowstone Ranch’s Paradise Valley cemetery.

Costner did not appear in the last six episodes of “Yellowstone” following his exit announcement in June. However, his character John Dutton was symbolically represented at the funeral, including lying in a beautifully crafted coffin, as explained by director and executive producer Christina A. Voros to YSL News.

“Initially, the casket was empty,” Voros reveals. “But one of the teams decided to place a life-size cut-out of John Dutton inside the casket. This was done to remind everyone of the moment’s significance.”

Why Did Rip Get to Speak Last at John Dutton’s Burial?

After heartfelt farewells among family at the gravesite, ranch foreman Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) literally buried his mentor using a shiny shovel. “This isn’t symbolic today,” Rip informed the protesting preacher. “Today, this shovel is doing its job.”

Crouched over the freshly turned soil after the strenuous task, Rip bid a solemn farewell to the man who once took him in during troubled times.

“Rip has always been like a spiritual son to John Dutton, even if not biologically,” Voros notes. “This moment reflects that bond. Rip’s history is intriguing and needed to remain private.”

Beth’s New Scar from Her Major Confrontation with Jamie

The scar on Beth Dutton’s face, located under her right eye—resulting from an explosion in the memorable Season 3 finale—has evolved into a recognizable aspect of her character.

The resilient daughter (Kelly Reilly) sustained yet another permanent mark after a fierce confrontation with her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley). Their sibling rivalry has always been intense, but Beth’s furious quest to avenge their father’s death, to which Jamie contributed, escalates to new heights.

“This had to be the ultimate battle—quite literally—the biggest, bloodiest, and most brutal,” Voros emphasizes.

Voros praises Bentley and Reilly for handling much of the vigorous action themselves, with stunt doubles stepping in only for extreme moments. “Wes and Beth went all out, throwing punches and embodying the heightened emotions to convey the anger and violence,” states Voros. “It was like running an ultra marathon.”

By the end, both characters bear injuries and bloodied faces, but Jamie finds his demise when Beth fatally stabs him, putting an end to their conflict. Jamie is subsequently deposited in the family’s “train station” grave.

While Beth recovers, she is seen with a new scar on her left cheek during the concluding scenes.

How Elsa Dutton’s Voice from ‘1883’ Connected to the ‘Yellowstone’ Resolution

In the “Yellowstone” finale, the ranch is handed back to the Native American tribes who once lived on that land seven generations prior. Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) restores the Dutton grave markers that were vandalized, fulfilling his promise to guard the legacies buried on the property. The first gravestone he replaces is that of Elsa Dutton, the ill-fated ancestor from “1883” (played by Elsa May), who narrates the prequel series from beyond and whose family established the ranch in Paradise Valley after her death.

Elsa’s voice permeates the “Yellowstone” finale as Mo attends to more graves, concluding with the new headstone for John Dutton. This haunting narration beautifully intertwines the “Yellowstone” generations and the entirety of the show.

“It signifies the closure of a legacy, and that legacy’s beginning,” Voros comments. “You can’t conclude the saga of a patriarch whose life was dedicated to preserving his family’s legacy without revisiting its origins. It’s a crucial callback to where it all started.”

Rip and Beth Conclude ‘Yellowstone’ But are Open to Future Spinoffs

In the finale of “Yellowstone,” Dutton’s son, Kayce (Luke Grimes), finally finds tranquility as he tends to cattle alongside his wife, Monica (Kelsey Asbille), on a section of the Yellowstone Ranch.

Beth and her husband, Rip, wrap up the season—and likely the series—in an unexpected state of happiness, residing on a new ranch Beth has bought in the stunning town of Dillon. Voros has not confirmed whether the couple will continue their journey in a potential spinoff series, claiming she is unaware.

However, Voros mentions that both key couples conclude the series enjoying “their own little slice of heaven.”

“It’s the cowboy dream of owning 300 cattle, a couple of horses, and having a bar nearby where older men play dominoes. This is the end of their fairy tale. You can close the book,” Voros explains. “Or you could ponder, ‘How long will Beth be okay playing dominoes?'”