For a man who doesn’t particularly like change, John Dutton’s family has been instigating a whole lot of it this week yellowstone. “Tall Drink of Water” is more action-packed than usual for the show, as writer and showrunner Taylor Sheridan clears the board of complicated storylines that have run their course (bye, Market Equity’s lawsuit against the Duttons) in favor of more compelling ones (Beth gets arrested). While John is on hiatus for most of the episode, his plan as governor to do what is good for both Montana and his family is put to the test.
Here’s what happened
Actually quite a lot.
Last week’s two-part premiere seemed to strongly suggest that Rip’s mishap with the GPS collars of the sheltered wolves that were killing his ranch hands was going to cause him and the Duttons a bigger headache this week. Instead, Rip uses his knowledge of the ranch and its wilderness to easily delay an investigation by two somber Game and Wildlife Officers. A detour from their quest only prolongs the inevitable, but Rip has bigger problems when a night out at a bar ends with his wife, Beth, handcuffed in the back seat of a police car.
Before that, Beth takes a trip to Salt Lake City to clear up some unanswered questions about the lawsuit brought by Caroline Warner (Jacki Weaver) and Market Equity over their stalled airport and casino-hotel deal to turn your head. And Susan sinks her manicured claws into Jamie’s suggestible skin while performing phase one of Operation: Turn John’s Duplicate Son Against Him.
Big Moment #1
Here’s a bell that can’t be undone: Beth smashes a bottle into the head of a drunk woman who was flirting with Rip. The brawl ends with a bouncer putting a stranglehold on Beth, Rip violently defending his wife, and two Montana officers threatening the Yellowstone Ranch crew with charges of aggravated assault. Despite Rip’s warnings that nothing good can come of reading the governor’s daughter her Miranda rights, one of the cops arrests Beth anyway. It’s a good thing that the brother Beth hates is the Attorney General, but it’s a bad thing for her to owe him.
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Big Moment #2
Kayce finally reveals what his “vision” entailed: He must choose between his immediate family or his law enforcement job. He chooses his family when they need him most while his wife Monica mourns the loss of their deceased newborn son. She wants to have a traditional Native American funeral for him at John’s ranch. It’s a haunting beat when a helpless Kayce can only watch as his wife sobs on the kitchen floor. It’s a brief but significant moment in their relationship – and the most emotional scene of the episode.
This week’s MVP is…
Rest in peace.
Beth gets a break this week, though she’s breathtakingly badass as she reveals her right-wing plan to save her father’s ranch by torpedoing Warner’s business interests. However, her husband earns All-Star status for keeping his cool under pressure in the face of officers dispatched to find the missing wolves. Especially if he lures her away from the crime scene while standing only a few yards from where he buried the evidence.
He also went in at the bar, defending his wife without hesitation when it came to facing a cop. His compelling mix of arrogance and confidence never gets old, but not even his patented 1,000-foot vision can stop the legal shitstorm his wife and family are hitting.
The award for the best line goes to…
“Evenings are for forgetting. But in the morning… I can remember.”
– John Dutton.
Dawn reflections are kind of John’s thing. This week’s Deep Thoughts segment features Beth just before she sets out to ruin Walker’s livelihood. It’s ironic that John’s line above partly concerns the job he doesn’t want and the memory of the deceased wife he would like to still have. The only thing John can do about it is accept that both are his reality – albeit after finding out Beth is getting full street househe will wish they weren’t.
What do we do now?
Straight to Jamie and John’s offices. The former will no doubt have to bend the law to protect his sister from being subjected to it further. And the latter? Well, John must fend off this potential scandal while dealing with the aftermath of Rip’s wolf killings. (Rip’s Wolf Kill is actually the name of my favorite speed metal band).
Oh, and Walker? Her bosses dropped the lawsuit. Beth outsmarted her. And the Home Office wants Walker back in New York immediately. So she is drunk. We have never seen her so upset. So what exactly does she mean when she orders Sarah released to speed up her vendetta against the Duttons – especially Beth?
John and Beth will definitely regret finding out.