Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 11's Shocking Death Explained By Director (2024)

Warning! Major spoilers ahead for Yellowstone season 5, episode 11.

Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, director Christina Voros goes into detail regarding that shocking character death. Delayed by the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Taylor Sheridan's hit neo-Western finally returned for season 5, part 2, in November, continuing the story of the Dutton family and the escalating conflict between Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly). After the premiere reveals the death of Kevin Costner's John Dutton, Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, ends with another shocking demise, this time that of Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri).

During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Veros does a deep-dive into Sarah's death in Yellowstone season, episode 11. The director shares praise for how Sheridan, who writes the show's scripts, structured the moment and made it a true shock. Veros also touches on Sarah herself and the vulnerability that shines through in her final moments, which only makes her death all the more powerful. Check out Veros' comments about the moment below:

The structure is all Taylor [Sheridan]. In terms of the execution, it is supposed to be a shock. It’s supposed to come out of nowhere. It is, I think, testament to Wes [Bentley] and Dawn [Olivieri]’s talents as actors and the relationship they’ve created together on this show that you are so wrapped up in the ferocity of the argument that has just transpired beforehand that you don’t see it coming. She doesn’t see it coming. He doesn’t see it coming. So, it was all there in the writing.

I will say, I gasped when I read it. I’ve had folks who have seen it on the team in postproduction who gasped when they saw it. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to get that kind of response from the audience. It means you have drawn them into a place where they are so committed to something else being the reality that it comes out of the blue and knocks the breath out of you, and that was always the intent.

What’s been so much fun about working with Wes and Dawn together is that, as actors, they are so well-matched. With their talent and nuance and what they have built in that relationship, it’s one of my favorite elements of the show in terms of Jamie’s story. Because he’s finally met his match. He’s met someone who is smarter than him, and there aren’t a lot of people who are smarter than him. So it’s really interested to see the characters raise the stakes for each other, but also the actors raise the stakes for each other.

This episode was such a canvas for Dawn, because of how much vulnerability she chose to play with in every take of their argument. And also, even in the phone call, up until the final moment, there were a million different ways you could have gone. And the difference take to take was her feeling out where to place that vulnerability, where to layer it in.

That’s part of what sets up the shock factor so much. You are already shocked because you’re going, “Wait a minute, Sarah has feelings? She’s emotional? Wait, maybe she does feel something for Jamie. I didn’t see that coming.” And then, boom! It’s tragic that the moment you think maybe they aren’t both being played, and the moment you leave room for that consideration, the opportunity is gone.

What Sarah's Death Means For The Rest Of Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2

Jamie Dutton Just Lost A Major Ally

Audiences have now said farewell to two major Yellowstone cast members in season 5, part 2, and the episodes thus far certainly suggest that more bloodshed could be on the way as the rest of the episodes air. While the full consequences of Sarah's death aren't yet clear, it's certain to have a major effect on Jamie. Sarah, after all, was Jamie's only close ally in his ongoing war against Beth, and losing her means that he'll now be on the back foot.

Sarah's death could be a sign for what's to come for Jamie himself. Now down a crucial ally, Bentley's character could see outside pressures increasing, and he could begin to lose his grasp on the power he does have. It's entirely possible that Jamie won't live to see Yellowstone season 6, which has been reported to be a possibility. Coupled with John's Yellowstone death, Sarah's loss signals that Sheridan could be preparing to wipe the chess board clean with season 5, meaning if the show continues, it could be very different.

Our Take On Sarah's Yellowstone Demise

Dawn Olivieri's Performance Elevates The Surprising Moment

Though Sarah has long seemed unlikely to make it through Yellowstone alive, her death in season 5, episode 11, was still shocking. Olivieri's performance during episode 11 was especially strong, and the emotion she shows at the end makes her death hit even harder. What will be most interesting, however, is seeing how Sarah's death impacts the rest of the characters and the conflict between Jamie and Beth. It remains to be seen what ripples Sarah's death will have on the rest of Yellowstone season 5, but audiences should probably expect more bloodshed.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Yellowstone

TV-MA

Western

Drama

Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner and centers on his character John Dutton. Dutton and his family live on a cattle ranch just a few hours away from Yellowstone National Park. The series chronicles the family’s struggle to defend their home from an Indian reservation and land developers. As if their life wasn’t complicated enough, the Duttons also have medical issues, political aspirations, and family secrets stacked against them.

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*Availability in US

Cast

Kevin Costner , Finn Little , Brecken Merrill , Gil Birmingham , Denim Richards , Ian Bohen , Danny Huston , Kelly Reilly , Forrie J. Smith , Cole Hauser , Kelsey Asbille , Wes Bentley , Jefferson White , Luke Grimes , Ryan Bingham

Release Date

June 20, 2018

Seasons

5

Network

Paramount

Streaming Service(s)

Paramount+ , Peacock

Franchise(s)

Yellowstone

Writers

Taylor Sheridan , John Linson

Showrunner

Taylor Sheridan

Creator(s)

Taylor Sheridan , John Linson