'Yellowstone' Shows the Power of Beth

Grade: B+

Just looking online at all of the merchandise related to Beth Dutton is amazing. There’re mugs, and t-shirts reading “Beth Dutton is my Spirit Animal.” She rules this episode. While some might call it white woman privilege, she begins the episode by showing some of her cleavage prepared to get away with speeding in her Bentley. Instead, she is met with a female officer who essentially gives her a warning and a kind word for Rip. She knows “what it takes to get the steak on her plate” and isn’t ashamed to let Beth know about it.

Flash before all of this, there is a major shake up in the teepee camp as a rattlesnake rests on Teeters chest. At first she is admonished for not keeping her teepee tight, but then Rip soon realizes that the whole camp had been constructed on a rattler nest. Then comes Beth the next day. She brings with her plans like a tough as spurs Santa Claus promising Rip a time in an “air-conditioned” hotel suite. She offers similar accommodations to the other cowboys and the only cowgirl.

To think of the Beth, Rip dynamic as the A team now that John Dutton is (potentially) out of the picture and Beth essentially rid herself of Summer, Team B is Kayce and Monica. They form a strong bench compared to the other far distant Team D Jamie and Sarah. Of all the moments that stick out the most it’s the snakes and the power of Beth. She rules this episode especially with her brashness and bravura. Those feathery lips and the scar still showing on her face and the hair swept just so all combine to form a picture of a formidable woman.

Rip continues to be the alpha male out of the whole bunch. The fact that the pair bounce ideas off of one another and can show love and respect tells a tale that is as old as a sad cowboy song. This romance they share is something that is the fuel to this entire series. That Beth is even able to engage in sexual congress with Rip shows her vulnerability and strength at the same time around the circumstances of her father’s alleged death.

As far as the B Team is concerned, Tate has aged considerably and is aware of the chemistry between his mother and he who have made out multiple times in his presence. Sure, he’s about to be a grown up but he doesn’t want to throw up looking at his parents playing tonsil hockey. In the moments that lead up to the part where the family is seen fixing up a house, Tate is concerned with painting pieces to go onto it. He seems well-adjusted, a far-cry from his testy aunt. That’s the beauty of Beth, though. She knows her power and flexes it whenever she possibly can. There is a brain to this whole operation and it must be her. Kayce kind of just falls in line as a quiet, strong type but kind of inverts this cliché. He is proud and ready to find anyone who will do the job of finding his father’s supposed killer(s). Though not flashy or brazen like his sister, Kayce exhibits in this episode a greater sense of who he is and what he’s about. He enlists the aid of an apparent hit man who may have just come home from a job.

Beth, in an act of sheer defiance and comeuppance, enters into Jamie’s office, the secretary seeing that she should under the “circumstances.” As Jamie enters, Beth sits at his chair behind his desk. She smokes a cigarette and then extinguishes it on said desk. She then rises to her feet and slaps him three times. Then Sarah comes in and laughs at the whole affair after Beth puts hands on her. This is the secret spice to this show. Mr. Sheridan and Co. show the might of a woman who is slight in build but staggering in absolute power and delivery. As she exits the office she never minds the glass vase that broke and only hears the frightened laughter of Sarah echoing as she walks down the hall.

In all, the episode shows more of the different scenarios and lays out a promise for an exciting and engaging finale.

Objective Observations:

The rattlesnakes found in Texas seem just about as aggressive as those in Montana.

The 6666 liquor seems to be some top shelf stuff if Beth shows that she felt some way about the double of vodka in her drink.