As Yellowstone gets closer to its dramatic series finale, the problems at Dutton Ranch keep getting worse. Episode 12 “Counting Coup” is a wild ride through grief, revenge and the Dutton family’s fight to stay alive. This episode starts with a surprising moment of sweetness before diving back into the sad reality that has enveloped the family after the events of Episode 11. The stakes are higher than ever, and the choices people make are having very bad results. Here is a full list of the episode’s most important events.
Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 12 Recap
The episode starts with a scene that is surprisingly touching, which is a welcome break from the growing tension. Two of Yellowstone’s most loved ranch hands—Colby (Denim Richards) and Teeter (Jennifer Landon), talk on the phone in a sweet way. Even though they live far apart— their conversation shows a softer side to the rough life they both lead. Colby awkwardly tells Teeter he loves her, and she returns the feeling. This is a rare moment of happiness for both characters and viewers.
This sweet conversation sets the stage for a shocking turn of events that quickly turns the episode darker. After the murder of John Dutton (Kevin Costner), the bunkhouse at the Dutton Ranch is full of uncertainty. Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) and Carter (Finn Little) talk about how bad things look for the ranch’s future. Lloyd is worried that they won’t be able to make a living. When Rip (Cole Hauser) walks in, he brings bad news: the ranch needs to sell off its horses and other animals to avoid going bankrupt.
Business Decisions in Texas
After Rip makes his hard news, he calls Travis Wheatley, who is overseeing the ranch’s prized horses in Texas and is played by the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan. Jimmy (Jefferson White), who is now training with Travis, still doesn’t know that John has died. Rip tells Travis to tell everyone the terrible news. Jimmy is devastated by the death of his mentor, John. He turns his grief into his work, determined to honor John’s memory by continuing his training.
Jamie’s Noose Getting Tighter
At the same time, the episode goes back to Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) whose life is quickly falling apart. Police officers, led by Detective Dillard (Rory Cochrane), arrive to look into the death of Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), which was first reported as a carjacking. But Dillard thinks there is something wrong and starts asking Jamie about his relationship with Sarah. As Jamie’s vague answers and defensive behavior make people suspicious, the pressure builds. When Dillard asks to look through Sarah’s things, Jamie says no and asks for a warrant.
After the police leave, Jamie quickly destroys private papers that have to do with Sarah and the Market Equities project. His actions put him in more danger, but he is still focused on protecting himself.
The Duttons Plan Their Move
Back at the ranch, Dillard calls Kayce (Luke Grimes) and tells him that Sarah’s death wasn’t an accident; it was planned. Kayce comes to the conclusion that Jamie is deeply involved in the plot after putting together the links between Sarah, Jamie, and John’s murder. After telling Beth (Kelly Reilly) what he found, she gets very angry and is ready to confront Jamie. Beth tells Kayce that Jamie might betray the family to save himself, which could mean that their deepest secrets, like the famous “train station,” are revealed.
Kayce gets information from a former military friend, and that friend tells him who Grant Horton (Matt Gerald), the man Sarah hired to kill Dutton. Now that Kayce has this important information, he starts to plan his next move.
A terrible loss
Just as things are getting really bad between the Duttons, the episode pulls a surprise gut punch. Carter meets a wild horse at the ranch that is known for acting in strange ways and is called “Maneater.” Carter is attacked while he is trying to fill up the animal’s water bowl. He is hurt and scared. Colby comes quickly to the scene and grabs the boy to protect him. Sadly, the horse turns its anger on Colby and kills him by trampling him and kicking him in the chest.
Teeter, who loves Colby and is left to mourn his death, is the one who feels the worst about the bunkhouse crew’s loss. Carter blames himself for Colby’s death, and Rip tries to comfort her while he deals with his own feelings of guilt over what happened. In a touching moment, Beth tells Carter that he is a part of the Dutton family, which helps him feel better during this terrible time.
Beth and Kayce’s paths split.
As the ranch deals with Colby’s death, Beth keeps making plans. She gets together with Lloyd to pack up Colby’s things and make sure Teeter gets his hat. At the same time, Kayce decides to do something about it himself. After a heartfelt talk with Monica (Kelsey Asbille) in which he promises to go back to his family, Kayce goes to talk to Grant Horton.
Grant is tracked to a suburban neighborhood by Kayce, who watches the hired killer play with his young daughter after a soccer game. At a tense moment, Kayce sneaks into Grant’s car and holds him at gunpoint in front of his daughter. Although Kayce wants to kill Grant, she decides to give him a scary warning instead. He tells Grant to cut all ties with the Dutton family and watches out that they don’t get hurt again.
Grant is pistol-whipped by Kayce before she leaves. This is a symbolic act called “counting coup.” Native American customs say that this action means taking a piece of an enemy’s soul without killing them. Mo (Moses Brings Plenty) picks up Kayce as he walks out the door, and the two of them talk about how important it is to count coup. Kayce thinks the message has been sent, and Mo agrees. This is the end of this part of the Dutton family’s story for now.
The Legacy of Dutton at a Crossroads
The Duttons are left to deal with their losses and get ready for what’s to come at the end of the episode. Kayce has changed his priorities because he now puts his family ahead of the ranch. Because Beth wants to protect the family name, she is ready to go after Jamie herself. Rip, on the other hand, knows that he has to make some tough choices soon in order to keep the ranch alive.
To set the stage for an exciting series finale, Counting Coup skillfully weaves together scenes of heartbreak, revenge, and strength. Even though there are only a few episodes left, the Duttons’ fight for their legacy is still going strong.
Yellowstone airs on Paramount Network every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Watch out for the last few episodes of this exciting show, where the drama keeps building.
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