6 details you might have missed in the ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 midseason finale

Jimmy, a character who has not been seen since season four, made a return during the episode.

After being heavily foreshadowed in episode seven, there was a lengthy segment in which the show crossed state lines to catch up with Jimmy Hirdstrom (Jefferson White) who is now working and living on the 6666 Ranch.

Viewers saw that Jimmy has finally settled into life as a ranch hand – even if he does occasionally miss breakfast so that he can spend more time in bed with his vet-tech fiancée, Emily (Kathryn Kelly).

Their loved-up bubble will perhaps burst when Yellowstone cowboys Ryan (Ian Bohen), Teeter (Jennifer Landon), Walker (Ryan Bingham), and Jake (Jake Ream), led by ranch manager Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), arrive, although it’s not exactly clear yet where this storyline will take audiences.

Carter’s exchange with his new love interest Halie mirrors that of Rip and Beth in the first episode of the season.

There are many ways in which we’ve seen Carter (Finn Little) parallel Rip’s (Cole Hauser) own journey as a ranch hand.

Both were taken in at the ranch as orphans and transformed from rebellious teens into hardworking and respected members of the team that keep the Yellowstone ticking.

However, in a sweet nod to Young Rip (Kyle Red Silverstein) and Young Beth’s (Kylie Rogers) first date, which was shown in the season five premiere, the latest episode saw Carter land a date of his own with a young girl who seems just a free-spirited and strong headed as Beth.

When Halie (Orli Gottesman) approached Carter after the work day ended, she asked him if he wanted to get out of there and head into town.

“I don’t have a truck, I’m just a dumb cowboy,” he told her.

As viewers will recall, Rip found himself in a similar position when asked on a date by Beth before she left for college, although we saw that she let him “play man” and drive them to Bozeman for their disastrous bar date.

There’s a tongue-in-cheek mention of Travis, the cowboy played by series cocreator Taylor Sheridan.

While Rip (Cole Hauser) prepared the trucks of cattle for their relocation to the 6666 ranch, John Dutton asked him if there was a crew to receive them at the other end.

“Travis says he’s got one,” Rip answered with a chuckle.

As longtime fans will recall, Travis Wheatley is a horse trainer and rodeo competitor from the 6666, who was last seen on-screen in season four when he took Jimmy with him as a favor to the Duttons down to his ranch.

The role is quite a meta one for Sheridan, as the 52-year-old actor-turned-filmmaker is an accomplished horse rider in real life, and has competed in western horse-riding competitions throughout his life.

We wonder whether Travis will make an on-screen return after the midseason break.

Kayce actor Luke Grimes’ debut country song “No Horse To Ride” can be heard during the episode.

“Yellowstone” has become known for shining a spotlight on up-and-coming artists via its country-leaning soundtrack, and this episode turned that spotlight back on one of its own with the inclusion of a new song from cast member Luke Grimes.

The actor, 38, released his debut single “No Horse To Ride” in mid-December. With lyrics that include “all hat and no cattle and some tumbleweed boots,” it fits perfectly into the show during the montage showing the cowboys from the ranch preparing for their big move down to Texas.

Audiences might be interested to know that Grimes’ love for music came arguably before his love for acting, having grown up playing music in church as the son of a Pentecostal pastor according to a release by Universal Music Group Nashville.

Kayce revealed more details about the vision he saw in the season four finale.

Before the episode closes out, Kayce finally confirms what he saw while on his narcotic-laden hallucinogenic journey in season four which made him utter the ominous words: “I saw the end of us.”

“In my vision, the choice that I saw was between this place and you,” he told Monica (Kelsey Asbille) in the latest installment.

Up until now, it had been heavily speculated that this was indeed the impossible choice he had seen when presented with two paths at the end of his spiritual journey: to either live as a Dutton on the ranch or live with Monica as a member of the Broken Rock Indian Reservation.

Although the couple seems hopeful that their move to East Camp may give them the ability to bypass having to choose between the two, it looks like this is a storyline that will continue into the second half of season five and beyond.

The episode ends with a dedication to someone close to creator Taylor Sheridan and connected to the 6666 Ranch.

As the screen fades to black after Kayce and Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) prepare the final trucks of cattle to be moved away from the ranch and down south, an in-memoriam message appears on the screen before the credits start rolling.

“In loving memory of Dr. Glenn Blodgett,” it reads, explaining that he was Horse Division Manager at the 6666 Ranch, which viewers may or may not know is a real ranch located in Texas and currently owned by “Yellowstone” cocreator Taylor Sheridan.

According to an obituary on the ranch’s official website, Blodgett — affectionally known as “Doc” to all who worked with him — died at the age of 73 on November 20, 2022, due to a complication from surgery.

He had worked for Burnett Ranches, which is a part of the historic 6666, for 40 years.

In-memoriam tributes are the way that television shows typically honor someone who has had a significant impact on the work, whether directly or indirectly. Viewers have seen “Yellowstone” previously pay tribute to crew, cast, and even legends of the country world such as musician John Prine.

Given that scenes set on the 6666 Ranch are filmed on location and that a significant amount of horses are featured in the Paramount Network drama, it’s likely that Blodgett played an important role in ensuring animal welfare on set – although he is not credited for his contributions – and was familiar to those who worked on the show.