Yellowstone’s final chapter — Season 5 Part II — has been one of the most anticipated and discussed TV events of the franchise’s run, wrapping up the sprawling Dutton family saga in an era-defining series finale that has divided fans while setting the stage for future stories. After a long hiatus and major changes behind the scenes, the final episodes arrived amid high expectations, intense speculation, and intense fan reactions.mint+1

What Yellowstone Season 5 Part II Is
Season 5 was always planned as a split season, with Part 1 (eight episodes) airing earlier and Part II representing the final six episodes of the flagship series. These concluding episodes were meant to tie up decades-long character arcs and conflicts among the Duttons — ranch land, legacy, betrayal, power, and survival.Good Housekeeping

When It Aired and Where
The second half of Season 5 premiered on Paramount Network in November 2024, with new episodes running through mid-December. The finale aired on December 15, 2024 — and Paramount even shifted the last episodes to be labeled as a “Season 5 finale” rather than a traditional series finale, hinting that the Yellowstone world would continue in other forms.TVGuide.com

Streaming Release
Unlike many current dramas that stream immediately after broadcast, Part II did not immediately appear on Paramount+ due to prior distribution agreements. However, the final six episodes were officially added to Peacock on March 16, 2025, making it the streaming home for Yellowstone’s conclusion in the United States. Peacock already hosts Seasons 1–4 and Part 1 of Season 5, so fans can now binge the complete saga there.The Economic Times+1

In the interim between broadcast and streaming, fans could still watch Part II via on-demand services like Philo, fuboTV, and DirecTV Stream, which offer Paramount Network live and replay content.The Economic Times

Cast and Key Changes
The final episodes featured many core cast members — including Luke Grimes (Kayce), Kelly Reilly (Beth), Wes Bentley (Jamie), Cole Hauser (Rip), and Kelsey Asbille (Monica) — but the absence of Kevin Costner as John Dutton loomed large. Costner exited the show prior to Part II, and his character’s off-screen fate shaped much of the emotional backbone of the finale, as the Duttons grappled with loss, legacy, and how the ranch would endure in his absence. This was a major talking point among viewers.mint

Fan Reaction & Critical Discussion
When Part II aired on television, the response was mixed and sometimes contentious. Many long-time viewers felt that the pacing was rushed and certain emotionally charged storylines — particularly around characters like Jamie and Rip — lacked the depth expected from a series that built its reputation on slow-burn emotional stakes. Without Costner’s onscreen presence, some fans argued the final episodes struggled to stay grounded in the heart of the story. These criticisms were especially discussed on social media and fan forums.mint

Still, others appreciated the ambitious efforts to wrap decades of narrative threads while transitioning Yellowstone toward new chapters in its expanding universe.

Legacy and What It Sets Up
While Part II delivered closure on many arcs — including the fate of the ranch and the Dutton family’s internal power struggles — Yellowstone as a franchise isn’t ending. Several spin-offs and successor series are in development, ensuring the world continues even if the flagship story concluded with Season 5. These include a new series centered on Beth and Rip (The Dutton Ranch), and others focused on different characters or historical moments in the Dutton saga.EW.com

Other rumored and in-development series include ones starring Luke Grimes’ Kayce Dutton and additional stories within the Yellowstone narrative universe. While details are still emerging, these projects signal that Paramount and creator Taylor Sheridan plan to keep exploring themes of land, family, identity, and survival long after the main show’s conclusion.Southern Living

Behind the Scenes: Production Notes
Part II of Season 5 had its production delayed by industry strikes and scheduling changes, including Costner’s own commitments outside the show. These production dynamics likely influenced how the final season was shaped, including the storytelling decisions and cast involvement.Forbes

From a creative standpoint, director Christina Alexandra Voros and the production team described the ending as something that feels both “shocking and fated,” suggesting that the conclusion was crafted to resonate emotionally and thematically with the entire narrative arc, even if it didn’t please every fan uniformly.The Times of India

Where to Watch Now

• Peacock (streaming): All of Yellowstone, including Seasons 1–5 Part II, are now available as of March 16, 2025 in the U.S. for subscribers.The Economic Times

• Paramount Network (broadcast): Hosted the original weekly new episodes during their initial run.TVGuide.com

• Live/On-Demand Services: Philo, fuboTV, and DirecTV Stream offer access to past episodes for viewers without cable.The Economic Times

In Summary
Yellowstone Season 5 Part II brought a long, dramatic ride to its climax — from emotional farewells to divisive storytelling — and is now broadly accessible via Peacock for fans old and new. While the flagship tale concluded, the universe created by Taylor Sheridan continues to expand, promising that the Dutton legacy is far from finished.The Economic Times

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