Warning: Spoilers! We’re discussing key moments from the first episode of “Yellowstone” Season 5 Part 2.

Viewers quickly learned about Kevin Costner’s fate in “Yellowstone.”

The premiere of the much-anticipated second half of “Yellowstone” Season 5, aired Sunday on Paramount Network, opens with emergency responders outside the Montana governor’s residence, where Costner’s troubled character, Governor John Dutton, resides.

Christina Voros, a frequent collaborator and director, expressed her surprise at how Taylor Sheridan, the show’s creator, approached John Dutton’s storyline (following Costner’s official exit from the series in June).

“Reading the first episode left me astounded,” Voros shared. “Like many fans, I thought, ‘Is this really happening?’ Sheridan was more focused on following the remaining characters’ journeys rather than getting too sentimental or dwelling on the inevitable. As the season unfolds, it’s a bold, courageous, and beautiful decision.”

Here’s how “Yellowstone” (Sundays at 8 EST/PST) addressed Costner’s exit from America’s top-rated show after six successful seasons.

What transpired with Governor John Dutton in ‘Yellowstone’?

Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) speeds up to the emergency responders outside her father’s home (the iconic Daly Mansion in Hamilton, Montana).

“What in the world? My father!” Beth exclaims in panic.

Her darkest fears come true when Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) arrives, and the two push past police barriers to investigate further. They find a gun on the bathroom floor and a pool of blood. While John’s face remains unseen, viewers glimpse his body laying on the ground (Costner’s stunt double) alongside his heartbroken children’s faces. Their grief serves as the “intentional choice” to affirm the reality of Dutton’s death, Voros explains.

“There’s no denying their loss,” Voros states. “You see it clearly, not just from the blood and the gun, but through Beth’s tears and Kayce’s heartbreaking performance. It leaves no doubt.”

Initially, it seems like a suicide, but Beth knows it’s not the case. “It was Jamie!” she whispers to Kayce.

When Season 5 premiered in November 2022, Costner’s character was embroiled in a political battle, with his son Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) aligning with lawyer Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) to sabotage their father’s political and personal life. Under Atwood’s influence, Jamie even began impeachment proceedings against John and considered hiring someone to eliminate him, as hinted by Atwood about certain “corporations” that would assist in such matters.

As the Sunday premiere unfolded, a news reporter updates the scene, stating, “A tragedy has occurred.” “This morning’s impeachment hearing against the governor was supposed to start at 8, but the governor was absent.”

In a panic, Beth reaches out to her husband Rip (Cole Hauser), who is currently in Texas relocating the Yellowstone cattle to protect them from a deadly disease called brucellosis. “They murdered my daddy,” she tells him. Rip immediately mounts his horse and hurries back home.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Jamie faces the press but struggles to convey the details about his father’s death.

How do we know Jamie Dutton is to blame?

A flashback depicts Atwood walking into a heavily protected building, where she undergoes a thorough search for any recording devices. There, she meets a secretive operator who discusses the best ways to discreetly assassinate Dutton. He advises that causing a heart attack is too dangerous due to toxicology tests and autopsy risks.

“Suicide is the option with the greatest gain and the least risk,” he tells her, wanting Atwood to verbally confirm her approval to carry out the plan. She agrees.

In another flashback, Jamie receives a call confirming that the unspecified act has been carried out. Overwhelmed with grief, he weeps as he enters his bedroom, where Atwood, dressed in lingerie, awaits him. He tells her that he only suggested hiring hitmen but never expected her to take action.

“You are entirely safe,” Atwood assures him. “Old lions fall prey to younger lions, and you are the younger lion.”

What will Beth do about her father’s demise?

Kayce uses his Bureau of Land Management credentials to uncover what the authorities know. Notably, a power outage occurred in the area during the early morning of his father’s death, meaning there is no security footage available. The police are leaning toward a suicide explanation. However, Beth and Kayce are convinced that if Jamie is innocent, then Dutton’s adversary, Atwood, must have connections.

“Come back home and help me decide how to take him out,” Beth tells Rip, who is still traveling. The episode concludes with Rip arriving just as Beth rushes out of the house and leaps into his arms.

Will Season 5 be the last for ‘Yellowstone’? What’s the conclusion?

Voros is uncertain if “Yellowstone” will conclude with the second half of Season 5, as previously rumored, or potentially lead into a spinoff focused on Beth and Rip or even a Season 6 (with cast members hinting at both options). However, the upcoming six episodes in Season 5 promise to provide “a true resolution” while also leaving room for more stories.

Sheridan “has made bold decisions regarding how the ‘Yellowstone’ world will drastically change with John Dutton’s departure,” Voros states. “Yet, when you craft characters that have depth, emotion, and complexity, there’s always space to ponder what might come next. These are some of the most beloved characters in contemporary television.”