It’s time for the spring gathering! This week on Yellowstone: Beth & Rip enjoy freedom. Summer learns more about why John is the way he is. A death occurs on the gathering, and Jamie conspires with Sarah in his quest for power.
The scenery of the ranch is a huge focal point in this episode, and it’s beautiful to see. The ranch is as much a character of the show as the cast and I love seeing it get a moment to shine. John attempts to appreciate the view, much to the chagrin of Beth who ruins his moment to ask if anyone packed any vodka. Classic Beth.
Beth explains to Rip that she finds the view too big to appreciate, but should they find a meadow with a little lake that they can have all to themselves – this would be beautiful to her. I get it, as Beth and Rip probably miss the peace they had in the cottage. Now that they live in the main house, they don’t get as many peaceful moments alone.
In strange plot twist, the President of the United States will suddenly be visiting the reservation – blindsiding Mo & Rainwater, who have no idea. Love seeing these two get more screentime though, as we don’t see fan-favorite Mo enough. Just seems a weird time to suddenly throw this plotline in during the gathering when we’ve hardly seen Mo, Rainwater or the reservation this season. Mo clashes with Secret Service officers who begin shooting “stray” dogs roaming the reservation, and I truly felt for him here.
Jamie continues to be the family embarrassment, spending the whole episode in bed with the enemy. Market Equities shark Sarah Atwood continues to draw Jamie into her web, using her body and charm to extract family secrets that will soon be used against the Dutton family. I honestly thought Jamie was smarter than this. He tries to confront Sarah, but she gaslights him and twists his words so he feels bad about doubting her intentions. If Jamie gives Sarah enough ammo to get John impeached, it might finally be the thing that gets him taken to the train station.
While everyone else is out for the gathering, Summer spends her time flipping through family photo albums and wandering the Dutton graveyard. Monica ropes her into helping peel potatoes for the branding. I think Summer expected to find an ally in Monica, but Monica sticks up for Beth. Love seeing solidarity between the sisters-in-law! Beth has come to Monica’s aid in the past, so it’s great to see her remind Summer of this. We later see Margaret Dutton’s headstone in the Dutton graveyard, a neat nod to Yellowstone prequel 1883.
Meanwhile, Kayce has found some happiness out on the gathering trails with Tate. This is the happiest we’ve seen him all season, and with that said: Kayce needs more to do. His storylines have been smaller this season, and regular viewers are missing his Livestock Agent adventures and ranch work. I’m so glad John invited him on the gathering.
Beth seems right at home on horseback, despite being scared of horses in the past. It made me smile to see a huge grin on Kelly Reilly’s face as she circled the cattle mob with Cole Hauser, the two playing the idyllic southern ranch couple. The cattle herding scenes must have taken some days to film, but it looks like the cast and crew had a blast out there. The picturesque mountains really complete these shots.
Rainwater arrives and finds out who organized the whole President-on-the-reservation event: Angela Blue Thunder. “Presidents don’t see us even when they’re standing in front of us,” the Chairman points out, but Angela clearly has her own motives for this event. She reveals to Rainwater that she’s the Director of Native American Affairs, which seems to have come out of nowhere. An odd plot to throw in, but I’m intrigued to see if it goes anywhere.
As the bunkhouse finds a place to camp for the night, Emmett takes Tate fishing while Beth has a cowgirl nap, hat pulled down low. She seems to be fitting right in with the crew, and I’d love to see this more often. Rip wakes her to take her to a place he found some time ago, when the two discussed getting married in a place only they knew. Beth and Rip ride through a stream to an open meadow.
This is my favorite scene of the episode, the emotion evident on Beth’s face as she takes in a place she’d only dreamed of. The two set up camp with under a large tree in their meadow, and Rip surprises Beth with a flask of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes. “Fuck! You’re a good man!” Beth cries. Rip Wheeler truly is the perfect husband, y’all. Always a fun little wink to the fans when a character says the episode title, as Beth does here when she wishes the two could live there in peace.
John and Emmett set up their own spot to camp for the night, and John is dealt a blow the next morning when he finds his friend has passed away in his sleep. What a way to go for a cowboy though, after a hard days work, laying out under the stars, a smile on his face. The bunkhouse, Beth, Kayce and Tate bring the herd in to the Yellowstone yards for branding while John waits for Emmett’s body to be picked up by an EMT helicopter, before galloping back to the ranch to inform Emmett’s wife. Perhaps Emmett’s death will make John reconsider what’s really important in his life right now.
A beautiful scene by Kevin Costner as John comfort’s Emmett’s wife. She asks how her husband died, and John answers “Like a good cowboy should. Head resting against the saddle, staring at the stars.” The news crews present happen to catch and broadcast this moment, endearing John to some.
The unnecessary John/Lynelle/Summer love triangle provides some good laughs in this episode, as Lynelle points out how bad it looks for John to have commuted the sentence of his “environmental advisor” and invited her to live with him. “John, there’s politically incorrect and then there’s politically illiterate. You are the latter” Wise words from a wise woman. Lynelle warns John that he should attend the meeting with the President in Helena, but he brushes her off. I feel he’ll regret that.
In return, Summer labels Lynelle John’s “MILF senator” and turns down John’s request for a two-step after she saw him talking to Lynelle. Returning to the Senator with his tail between his legs, Lynelle gently teases him before joining him for a dance. Lynelle is a much better romantic partner for John than Summer, who really doesn’t serve much purpose in the show besides antagonizing Beth.
Meanwhile, Ryan (Ian Bohen) and Abby (Guest star Lainey Wilson) continue their flirtation throughout the branding. Gator serves up food for everyone, and a good time is had by all. Even Carter meets a young local girl who offers to teach him how to dance as Walker (Ryan Bingham) takes a turn on the stage to allow Ryan and Abby to share a dance.
Beth and Rip sip their beers on a nearby hillside, watching over the crowd and taking the opportunity to rest after a couple of days hard work. “Sure won’t sing like that for me,” Rip comments toward Walker, a hint of jealousy there referring back to the time Walker sang for Beth. “You’re so sensitive,” Beth says to Rip, who finds the suggestion of this appalling for a big tough cowboy. These two truly are the best couple on Yellowstone, and it’s been nice to see them happy this season.. for now.
The preview for episode 7 is ominous: It seems Jamie and Sarah have been scheming to impeach John while spending their days in bed. In the lead-up to the midseason finale, it seems the Dutton family will soon have a fight on their hands once more.
