Yellowstone is one of the most popular shows, with certain episodes standing out and showcasing the best of Taylor Sheridan’s Western franchise.
Yellowstone has become one of the most popular TV series, with some episodes standing out as the pinnacle of 21st-century Western television. The series follows the wealthy John Dutton, the head of a family that’s been settled on the Yellowstone Ranch in Montana for generations. Yellowstone explores the family dynamics of the Dutton family as they contend with various threats to the ownership of their property, ranging from neighboring landowners, a Native American reservation, and a major corporation seeking to build an airport.
10. Daybreak
Season 1, Episode 1: The first episode of Yellowstone sets the stage for the series, introducing audiences to the Dutton family and their ranch. The series immediately jumps into drama with the Broken Rock Reservation over a cow dispute, leading to the death of John Dutton’s eldest son, Lee. Season 1 is one of the worst seasons of Yellowstone, but the messy start importantly establishes the dynamics of the series, as the absence of Lee creates a need for the other Dutton children to fill in and help out.
9. The Long Black Train
Season 1, Episode 4: The early episodes introduce the Yellowstone branding, but it isn’t until “The Long Black Train” that viewers understand what the branded ranchers actually do. The branded are responsible for doing the dirty work, handling trouble, and dropping it off at “the train station.” The episode also explores Kayce’s relationship with violence and dives deeper into his past, better-introducing audiences to one of Yellowstone’s most likable characters. The scenes between Beth and Dan Jenkins are also pretty funny, with the whole episode helping ingratiate the audience to Taylor Sheridan’s world.
8. The Unravelling
Season 1, Episodes 8 & 9: The season 1 two-part finale sees the Duttons handling their first major conflict and also provides some interesting backstory into the life of the beloved Rip Wheeler. The finale explores how Rip killed his abusive father and made his way to the Yellowstone ranch, becoming eternally loyal to John Dutton. “The Unravelling” also sees Jamie building toward his first serious betrayal of the family, as he disobeys John and decides to run for Attorney General regardless. It’s not as exciting as later season finales, but it sets up conflicts that persist throughout the series.
7. Blood The Boy
Season 2, Episode 6: Jamie has his ups and downs throughout the series, but “Blood the Boy” is a crucially low point, as he’s backed into a corner and kills a reporter so she won’t leak the things he’s revealed to her about the Dutton family. In his moment of anger and insecurity, Jamie made mistakes and revealed incriminating information, and it’s the reporter Sarah who pays for it with her life. Love him or hate him, it’s hard not to pity Jamie in the episode where his flashbacks are revealed, showing how he was initially alienated from the family by John.
6. Half The Money
Season 4, Episode 1: Season 4 is one of the worst seasons of TV in the Yellowstone franchise, but it started strong with its opening episodes. The season 4 premiere, “Half the Money,” sees the long-awaited fallout of the explosive season 3 finale, picking up after the events that would nearly claim the lives of the Dutton family. The episode also introduces the season’s mystery of who put out the hit on them, and Beth meets Carter for the first time outside the hospital.
5. Enemies By Monday
Season 2, Episode 9: Season 2’s “Enemies by Monday” has two vital climactic moments, with Tate being abducted and Jimmy getting revenge for the needless killing of his grandfather. The best scene in the episode, however, is Beth coming to Monica’s aid in a clothing store. After Monica has been accused of stealing, Beth comes to her aid and brutally berates the saleswoman for her racism. It’s one of Beth’s best moments in the show, whether she was doing it to protect Monica or simply out of her own sense of morals.