Yellowstone enthusiasts have been lighting up social media with discussions about the show as it approaches its climactic final episodes, set to premiere on Paramount Network and Paramount Plus next month. With the neo-Western saga’s series finale slated for November 10, devotees are reminiscing over the show’s myriad of characters and dangling storylines.
As Yellowstone’s fifth season nears its conclusion, attention has turned to the fate of the Branded Wranglers, a topic that has piqued fan curiosity.
These formidable ranch hands, including the character Rip Wheeler played by Cole Hauser, have pledged their lives to the Dutton family’s ranch, vowing to defend it at all costs.
Yet, a flashback to Rip’s youth has prompted some viewers to ponder what became of the Branded Wranglers, reports the Express.
A Reddit user going by @EntertainmentAny4368 wrote: “Question about the branded wranglers…
“I’m sure the answer to this is just lazy writing but when you’re branded you are suppose to stay on the ranch forever right?
“Well in the flashbacks, when Rip is a kid there are lots of cowboys but outside of Lloyd none of them are still around. So where are all the old wranglers??” (sic)
This sparked a flurry of speculation in the comments section, with fans offering up various theories, some quite sinister in nature.
Among the speculations, some fans mentioned ‘the train station’, a secluded canyon beyond the Montana border into Wyoming, known ominously as the place where the Duttons and their allies dispose of those who cross them.
Fans are buzzing with dark predictions about the fate of John Dutton’s crew, with one ominously hinting: “At the train station.”
Another shocked fan then chimed in: “Oh s***! That would make John Dutton a mass murderer.” (sic)
A third eagle-eyed viewer observed: “Dead. That life’s dangerous as hell without all the gunfights and intrigue.”
Yet, some Yellowstone enthusiasts suggest a less dramatic outcome, noting not all wranglers bear the brand signifying a lifelong commitment to the ranch.
With insight, one fan noted: “Not every cowboy is branded only ones with shady dark pasts.” While another emphasized: “Not all of them were branded. Only those who needed a second chance in life.” (sic)
Offering a balanced take, a commenter added depth to the discussion, writing: “Not every one of them is branded. Also, we’ve seen him kinda release people from their responsibilities before, like Jimmy. It isn’t hard to imagine that regular attrition got some, some ended up at the train station, maybe one or two was allowed to move on.” (sic)
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 is set to debut on Sunday, November 10 at 8pm ET on Paramount Network, while the premiere episode will also air on CBS at 10pm that same day. UK fans can also watch on Paramount+.