Warning: Spoilers ahead! If you prefer not to know how Kevin Costner’s character John Dutton meets his end in “Yellowstone,” please stop reading.

If you’ve been off-the-grid, like Rip Wheeler, you might have missed the return of “Yellowstone” this past Sunday after a two-year break. The premiere of the last six episodes of Season 5 on Paramount Network and its broadcast on CBS attracted a record 16.4 million viewers the same day, as reported by VideoAmp, the ratings service for Paramount Global.

Taylor Sheridan, the creator and executive producer, stirred up headlines by unexpectedly killing off the key character John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner. Dutton, the patriarch and Governor of Montana, faced an off-screen demise after Costner and Sheridan had public disputes over work-related matters, leading Costner to announce in June that he would not return for Season 5.

Director Christina Voros, a frequent collaborator with Sheridan and also at the helm of the Michelle Pfeiffer-led Sheridan Universe spinoff “The Madison,” told YSL News that she was “shocked” at how quickly John Dutton’s character was written out. On screen, his death appears to be a suicide, but it’s actually a murder orchestrated by Attorney General Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) and his girlfriend, lawyer Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri).

However, Sunday’s premiere had much more to offer, as Voros elaborated to YSL News.

Question: With John Dutton gone, will Kevin Costner’s character still appear in “Yellowstone” through flashbacks?

Christina Voros: We do incorporate flashbacks, but all the material shown was filmed specifically for this season. One of the strengths of (Sheridan’s) flashbacks lies in how they enhance the narrative.

Rip’s dramatic ride home from Texas is quite a sight. Is Cole Hauser really horse riding?

That is Cole riding for sure. A show about cowboys requires that the cast be skilled riders. We also have a fantastic crew of stunt performers, wranglers, and trainers working alongside them to ensure their skills are top-notch.

Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) urges her husband Rip (Hauser) to hurry home, but he makes some stops along the way. Did Rip visit the 6666 Ranch because of Sheridan’s ownership, or is it linked to a potential “Yellowstone” spinoff?

The Four Sixes Ranch embodies true cowboy culture and pays respect to those who genuinely embrace this lifestyle. It’s not about a possible spinoff or ownership; it’s a tribute to real cowboys and ranchers who resonate with the same spirit.

The episode honors the late Billy Klapper, an iconic craftsman of bills and spurs, who is seen with Rip in this episode. Why was this tribute fitting?

Klapper passed away in September, just weeks after we worked with him. It was a tremendous honor to film that scene in his workshop, akin to being in Michelangelo’s creative space. We made sure to keep everything untouched.

“Yellowstone” aired on CBS on Sunday after debuting on Paramount Network. What adjustments were necessary for network television?

We prepare our cut as we originally intend it to be seen. Usually, some of Beth’s more colorful language needs to be edited for network standards, which mainly involves just a few extra words that aren’t allowed.

In the premiere, we see Beth grieving her father, yet there’s also a flashback where Beth is in community service on a road crew following a bar altercation. Why was it important to include this scene?

Whenever there’s the passing of a loved one, it opens the door to showcasing memories and experiences that shaped their relationships and personalities.

One moment can reflect the joy of life, showcasing how everything can seem perfect one day, only for everything to change dramatically the next. These uplifting memories set against the backdrop of the family patriarch’s passing highlight the enormity of loss, emphasizing that things will never return to the way they were. This contrast provides a much-needed break from the emotional heaviness.

Are you still filming “The Madison,” a spinoff featuring Michelle Pfeiffer and Patrick J. Adams about another family in Montana? How do they connect to the “Yellowstone” universe?

It offers a fresh viewpoint on Montana, presenting a different world that feels closely related. We brought nearly the entire crew over on the final day of “Yellowstone” to kick off “The Madison.” We may be traveling the same path, but the narrative we are telling is distinct.