Television’s biggest drama is also the television industry’s biggest drama.

Paramount Network’s hit Western Yellowstone should be on an easy ride into a record-ratings

sunset, but instead it’s more of a bucking bronco that can’t be tamed. Season 5, which has been on hiatus

since January 2023, will be the show’s final season, and while we always knew the end would be near, we weren’t expecting it this soon, and Paramount Network probably wasn’t either. Star Kevin Costner’s participation in the final episodes of the series is still up the air as the

actor moves on to a new passion project of his own — a series of Western films — which became the impetus for the series ending. But there is some good news from the ranch: Yellowstone Season 5 is gearing up to return to production, and in the meantime, it’s reaching a whole new audience now that it’s airing on CBS.

There’s a lot of unfinished business to take care of before the flagship series signs off. Civil war has broken out among the Duttons, with Jamie (Wes Bentley) and Beth (Kelly Reilly) at each other’s throats, John (Costner) at risk of being impeached, and a devastating illness spreading through Montana wildlife and endangering the Duttons’ cattle.

Below, we’ll go through what we know about the second half of the final season, including the latest release date, cast information, and recaps of the first part of the season to set you up for what’s to come.

Just because the writers and actors strikes are over, it doesn’t mean CBS is done airing Yellowstone. Season 3 of the Western will begin airing on CBS starting Sunday, Jan. 14, following the first two seasons’ impressive ratings on the network. The season will end with a two-night finale event on Sunday, Jan. 28 and Monday, Jan. 29.

Yellowstone will end with Season 5, Paramount has announced. At the time of the announcement in early May, the show’s final episodes were scheduled to premiere in November 2023, while a currently untitled sequel series was confirmed to be in the works and set to debut in December. However, the writers strike and the actors strike delayed both projects, and Season 5 is now set to return in November 2024.

The news that the show will be ending came after months of speculation surrounding the question of whether Kevin Costner would return for the remainder of Season 5 (and a report that claimed Costner would leave the show after Season 5, before the final season news was announced). It still remains unclear how involved Costner will be in the final episodes. But in an eye-opening interview with The Hollywood Reporter in June, Sheridan insisted that his intended ending is still in play, and The Hollywood Reporter says there are ongoing discussions with Costner’s camp to film more scenes to wrap up his character.