‘Yellowstone’ Claims Another Body

Grade: B-

As the death count continues to rise, this current episode of Yellowstone is all about guilt. To be particular, it is about Jamie’s guilt for Sarah. His sense of responsibility for her death devolves soon as he seeks to destroy evidence.

On the range in Texas, Teeter (Jennifer Landon) gets an emotion-filled call from her lover, Colby (Denim Richards). This sets in motion the idea that they might meet, but it’s not meant to be….

In the stable, Carter (Finn Little) replaces a bucket of water kicked over by a bucking stud. He had been instructed not to enter the stall alone by Rip (Cole Hauser). His disobedience, albeit with righteous intentions, leads to the death of Colby.

This is when guilt is further instituted in the episode. It's Carter who says he shouldn’t have been in the stable in the first place. Then, it’s Rip who claims that the guilt should be on him.

Once the word travels to Teeter ( Landon) she is obviously distraught and must take on some guilt for not being present when Colby is struck down by the horse.

All of this points to creator/writer/director/producer/actor Taylor Sheridan. He felt he had to kill off his only black cowboy as a sacrifice to all the black cowboys in real life who have saved white cow hands from certain death. This white guilt is unwarranted, though. Colby didn’t sacrifice. He saved Carter’s life as an act of moral courage and selfishness.

He knew that the boy wouldn’t be able to match up with the beast. Colby’s quick thinking spared Carter his life. It’s too bad that Colby had to perish in the process, but that is the life of a cowboy. In fact, the term cowboy has a storied history. It has been said that it originates from low ranking black hands on the ranch who received the order to “Get those cows, boys!”

The name transformed and soon it evolved to include anyone who worked with cattle and tended to horses. With Colby’s demise, it casts a pall over the episode with a season so full of death already. The voice of God which talks about the upcoming episodes, among other things, notes that this is part of a “season finale” not a “series finale.” These shocks to the system of the show only point towards the darkness that overshadows the events.

The white guilt, again, expressed by the cowboys is unjust. Colby chose to save Carter because that is the integrity baked into the ethical code of cowboys. He saw danger and acted upon it. This is not selflessness but a clear and utter example of displaying a backbone for a value.

Richards always seemed cool and wise and playful. The romantic union with Jennifer Landon’s character seemed fun and wild and liberating. Yellowstone creator Sheridan wanted to show a black and white interracial relationship, something that classic Westerns would normally show in whites mixing with Indians. Here we viewed Teeter and Colby, two star-crossed lovers who found similarities in their disparate roles on the ranch.

As all of this guilt is expressed, Kayce makes his way to one of the figures hired to assassinate his father John Dutton (Kevin Costner). With a pistol held to the head of the daughter of Grant Horton (Matt Gerald), a key figure in the assasination, he threatens to pull the trigger if he doesn’t do exactly what he demands him to do. It’s a bit jarring to see Kayce put a gun to a little girl’s head, but he has to show that he is deadly serious.

Horton complies with all of the directions Kayce launches at him. Thoroughly shaken, his compliance saves his daughter’s life as well as his own. It seems like Kayce overstepped a boundary, but at the same time he is on a mission to find those vermin who took his father’s life.

Objective Observations:

The bond between Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Monica (Kelsey Asbille) always seems special. They are like fire and ice, but somehow they forge a firm bond as sisters-in-law.

Meals on the Dutton property always highlight the closeness of the clan. The idea of Beth never wanting to go in the dining room is somewhat sad.

When Beth asks Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) if the cowboy hat on the pillow meant bad luck, it seems kind of off in a way. She’s grown up with cowboys her whole life. She should have responded with something like, “I know what that’s all about….”

When Kayce “counts coup” he only gives a snippet behind the real meaning of the act. It is steeped in honor for Indian culture and has survived generations.

Colby’s demise may have come earlier, but he manages to hold out until this episode.

Salute to the fallen.