This article contains SPOILERS for Yellowstone season 5, episode 9, “Desire Is All You Need.”
The return ofYellowstone, without Kevin Costner, draws record-breaking ratings. After an extended break away from audiences,Yellowstoneseason 5 part 2 returned on Sunday night. The popular drama wasted little time explainingwhat happened to John Duttonafter Costner’s high-profile exit, revealing in its opening minutes that the show’s central character suffered a tragic fate.
Paramount reports that theYellowstoneseason 5 part 2 debutdelivered the show’s biggest premiere night audience ever. Counting viewers on both cable and CBS,the premiere garnered 16.4 million viewers. This initial data, which is from the media measurement company VideoAmp, includes both the original showings of the episode and any encores.
What The Ratings Success Means For Yellowstone
The Curiosity Likely Helped
Before the opening credits ofYellowstoneseason 5 part 2start rolling, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes) discover their father’s lifeless body in the restroom of the Montana governor’s mansion. The audience never sees John’s face, but it’s confirmed to Kayce and Beth thatJohn is dead after a fatal gunshot wound. Beth immediately suspects her sibling, Jamie Dutton, is involved in what happened given that Jamie (Wes Bentley) was plotting against the family in the first half of season 5.
The episode, titled “Desire Is All You Need”, is written by franchise creator Taylor Sheridan and directed by Christina Voros. It takes time to unspool what specifically happened to John, showing how Jamie and his lover Sarah (Dawn Oliveri) conspired to make John’s death look like a suicide. Even thoughCostner had a high-profile exit fromYellowstone, he retains his executive producer credit and his name appears in the opening credits for the premiere.
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 New & Returning Cast & Character Guide
One notable name is missing from the Yellowstone season 5, part 2 cast, but most of the stars from part 1 will return for the show’s final episodes.
Even though he’s no longer thereJohn’s demise drives the story and likely drives interestin terms of audiences curious to see how his absence will be handled. But even beyond that element of curiosity,Yellowstoneis easily among television’s biggest shows. The latest numbers reinforce that, paving the road for the Western to continue without its main figure.
Our Take On Yellowstone’s Ratings
It’s Time To Turn The Page
With questions aboutYellowstoneseason 6still unclear, the one thing to watch is whether the remaining episodes of the series' long-awaited comeback continue to operate at such a high level. If that is the case, some continuation for Beth, Kayce, and Rip (Cole Hauser) seems almost inevitable. Given the high ratings thatYellowstonepremiered its new batch of episodes with, interest among viewers seems to only be growing.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on August 04, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
