If you’ve been trying to keep track of the Dutton family’s chaotic timeline, you aren’t alone. It’s been a mess. Honestly, between the behind-the-scenes drama with Kevin Costner and the massive strikes that shut down Hollywood for months, the release schedule for this show has been anything but normal. If you’re asking how many episodes are there in season 5 of yellowstone, the short answer is 14.
But there is a catch. Or really, a few of them.
Usually, Taylor Sheridan sticks to a 10-episode rhythm. Seasons 2, 3, and 4 all followed that pattern like clockwork. Season 1 was the outlier with nine. Then came Season 5, which was designed to be this "super-sized" farewell. Paramount decided to split it into two distinct chunks, and that’s where the confusion started. People were waiting for years—literally—for the second half to drop.
The Great Divide: Part 1 vs. Part 2
The first part of the season kicked off way back in November 2022. It felt like a lifetime ago. We got eight episodes in that first run, ending with "A Knife and No Coin" on New Year’s Day in 2023. At the time, we all thought the rest of the episodes would show up a few months later.
Life had other plans.
Production ground to a halt. There was the whole "will he or won't he" saga regarding Kevin Costner returning as John Dutton. Then the writers' and actors' strikes happened. Suddenly, that "mid-season break" turned into a nearly two-year hiatus.
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When the show finally came back in November 2024, it returned for Part 2. This final stretch consists of 6 episodes. When you do the math—8 from the first half and 6 from the second—you get the total of 14 episodes.
How many episodes are there in season 5 of yellowstone and why it matters
This season isn't just long; it's the end of an era. Or it was supposed to be. Lately, there has been a ton of chatter about a potential Season 6, but for now, Season 5 is officially the "final" season of the main series.
Because the episode count is higher than usual, the pacing feels different. The first eight episodes spent a lot of time on John Dutton’s reluctant transition into the Governor’s office. It was slow. Kinda political. Some fans felt it dragged a bit. But the back six episodes? They had to move at breakneck speed.
Why? Because they had to write off the lead character.
The Episode Breakdown
If you're looking for a specific list to see if you've missed anything, here is how the 14-episode run looks:
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The First Half (Part 1)
- Episode 1: "One Hundred Years Is Nothing"
- Episode 2: "The Sting of Wisdom"
- Episode 3: "Tall Drink of Water"
- Episode 4: "Horses in Heaven"
- Episode 5: "Watch ’em Ride Away"
- Episode 6: "Cigarettes, Whiskey, a Meadow and Fog"
- Episode 7: "The Dream Is Not Me"
- Episode 8: "A Knife and No Coin"
The Final Stretch (Part 2)
- Episode 9: "Desire Is All You Need"
- Episode 10: "The Apocalypse of Change"
- Episode 11: "Three Fifty-Three"
- Episode 12: "Counting Coup"
- Episode 13: "Give the World Away"
- Episode 14: "Life Is a Promise"
Each of these later episodes carries a huge emotional weight. By the time we hit the finale, "Life Is a Promise," the body count had risen and the fate of the ranch was essentially sealed. It’s worth noting that Taylor Sheridan wrote every single one of these. Love him or hate him, the guy is a workhorse.
Why was Season 5 so disjointed?
It’s impossible to talk about the episode count without mentioning the elephant in the room: the two-year gap. Most shows lose momentum when they go dark for 22 months. Yellowstone, somehow, just got bigger.
The delay changed the story. Reports from insiders like Matt Belloni at Puck News suggested that the original plan for Season 5 might have been different if Costner hadn't exited. When he left, the "final six" episodes had to pivot. They shifted the focus heavily toward Beth and Jamie’s "scorched earth" sibling rivalry.
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Basically, the 14-episode structure wasn't just a choice; it became a necessity to wrap up the plot lines of Kayce, Monica, and the bunkhouse crew while dealing with the sudden absence of the patriarch.
Where to watch all 14 episodes
This is the other thing that trips people up. If you go to Paramount+, you won't find the main Yellowstone series. I know, it makes no sense. Paramount+ has the spinoffs like 1883 and 1923, but the flagship show belongs to Peacock.
- Peacock: This is the exclusive streaming home for all 14 episodes of Season 5.
- Paramount Network: If you have cable or a live TV streamer like Philo or Fubo, you can usually find marathons or VOD versions of the episodes here.
- Digital Purchase: You can buy the full season (all 14 episodes) on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV. This is honestly the best way to avoid the "which app has it" headache.
Is there a Season 6?
Now, here is the "what most people get wrong" part. For a long time, the 14th episode was billed as the series finale. But after Part 2 started airing, the branding started to shift. Paramount began calling the finale a season finale in some promos.
Rumors are swirling that Kelly Reilly (Beth) and Cole Hauser (Rip) are in talks to keep the story going. Whether that's under the name Yellowstone Season 6 or a new title like The Madison, the 14 episodes we have now are the only ones officially under the Season 5 banner.
Making sense of the Dutton Legacy
If you’re just starting your binge, pace yourself. The transition between episode 8 and episode 9 is jarring. The world feels different. The lighting is different. The stakes are higher.
What you should do next:
- Check your Peacock subscription. Ensure you have the "Premium" tier if you want to watch without the annoying commercial breaks that ruin the cinematic vibe Taylor Sheridan goes for.
- Watch the spinoffs. If 14 episodes aren't enough, 1883 provides the necessary context for why the Duttons are so obsessed with that specific piece of land.
- Ignore the "Part 1" and "Part 2" labels. Just treat it as one long, messy, 14-episode descent into chaos.
The Dutton family story might be expanding, but the answer to how many episodes are there in season 5 of yellowstone remains a solid 14. Go watch them before the internet spoils the ending for you.