Yellowstone Season 5 Premiere Sets Ratings Record Amid Kevin Costner Controversy

Yellowstone’s Record-Breaking Return: A Closer Look

This past weekend, Yellowstone made a triumphant comeback, setting an impressive ratings milestone for Paramount Network. Notably, this surge in viewership occurred despite the absence of lead actor Kevin Costner, who recently exited the series.

A Rocky Road to Redemption

The series has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including the prolonged delay of Season 5’s second half and the public fallout following Costner’s departure from his iconic role as John Dutton. The impact of these developments has been substantial, garnering widespread media attention.

Controversy Meets Success

The latest episode, which premiered last Friday, shed light on John Dutton’s fate. While this episode sparked a wave of backlash and discontent from some fans, it ultimately delivered incredible ratings for Paramount, marking the network’s largest premiere night in history.

Staggering Numbers

According to Variety and projected figures from VideoAmp, the Part 2 Season 5 episode attracted a staggering 16.4 million viewers. This figure encompasses numbers from CBS along with eight cable networks airing both the premiere and its subsequent encores.

For comparative context, the premiere of Season 5 Part 1, which debuted in November 2022, attracted only 8.8 million viewers on the Paramount Network, showcasing the significant growth in audience engagement for this latest installment.

Costner’s Reaction

Interestingly, Kevin Costner was not part of the 16.4 million viewers tuning in. In a candid interview with SiriusXM on Monday, he admitted, “I’m going to be perfectly honest, I didn’t know it was actually airing last night.” As for the manner in which his character exited the series, Costner commented, “They’re smart people; whatever they’re doing, they’ll figure it out. I had come up with two possible endings back when it wasn’t going to go as long as it did… I heard it’s a suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush to go see it.”

He added, “Maybe it’s a red herring. Who knows? They’re very good, and they’ll figure that out.”

What Lies Ahead

Fans can look forward to the next episode of Yellowstone, which is scheduled to air on November 17 on the Paramount Network. For those interested in diving deeper into the series, check out our curated lists, including the most shocking deaths in Yellowstone and guides covering various characters and plot points.

Source & Images