The Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 premiere opened with a moment that viewers have dreaded yet anticipated: the tragic death of John Dutton.

“Desire Is All You Need” navigates the shockwave that ripples through the Dutton family and those closest to them.

Yet, instead of embracing the intense fallout with unflinching focus, the episode intersperses scenes from both the present and events six weeks prior, a choice that ultimately diluted the impact of John’s death.

(Courtesy of Paramount Network)

From the beginning, there’s a clear divide between what Taylor Sheridan aims to accomplish with Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 9 and what resonates with the audience.

John’s death, framed as a suicide by the ruthless Sarah Atwood, dominates the episode’s present-day scenes. But the interlaced flashbacks to cowboy life and Rip’s crew settling into life on the 6666 Ranch feel like a distraction rather than an essential part of the story.