Yellowstone’s Heartbreaking Series Finales Ranked: The Best and the Worst You Need to See

The Yellowstone franchise, created by Taylor Sheridan, has delivered three gripping series with unforgettable finales—each leaving a unique mark on fans.

From the original Yellowstone to the prequels 1883 and 1923, these endings have ranged from deeply satisfying to disappointingly abrupt. Here’s a ranking of all three series finales, from worst to best, and why you need to see them.

3. 1923 – A Disappointing Conclusion

The finale of 1923 season 2 left many fans unsatisfied. While the show’s sprawling narrative about the Duttons in the early 20th century was ambitious, the ending struggled to deliver an emotional payoff.

Spencer Dutton finally returns home to the Yellowstone ranch, but the much-anticipated reunion with his wife Alex is short-lived. Tragically, Alex dies from hypothermia soon after arriving in Montana—a grim twist that, while fitting the harsh themes of the era, felt unbalanced and abrupt given her harrowing journey throughout the series.

The finale’s pacing was also criticized. Key storylines, like Spencer and Alex’s romance and the ranch’s ongoing battles, felt rushed and lacked the emotional depth fans expected.

Even though the story wrapped up with Spencer’s death and the Duttons facing financial hardship and range wars, many viewers felt the conclusion was heavy on drama but light on true resolution.

2. Yellowstone – Predictable but Satisfying

Yellowstone’s original series finale, which aired in December 2024, provided closure for most of its central characters. Though some fans found the ending predictable, it managed to tie up long-running storylines in a way that felt cathartic.

The most significant moment comes when Kayce Dutton sells the Yellowstone ranch to the Broken Rock tribe, fulfilling a prophecy established in the prequel 1883. This callback to the show’s roots gave the finale a sense of destiny and closure.

However, not all elements landed perfectly. The climactic conflict between Beth and her brother Jamie felt underdeveloped, with their feud resolving too quickly after being built up as a major plot point.

Similarly, the “war” over the ranch was wrapped up faster than expected. Still, Yellowstone’s finale succeeded in giving fans the endings they hoped for, especially by honoring the promise made generations earlier.

1. 1883 – The Most Emotional and Cohesive Ending

The prequel 1883 stands out as the most powerful and satisfying finale in the franchise. The story follows the Dutton family’s perilous journey across the American frontier, culminating in the heartbreaking death of Elsa Dutton.

After being struck by a poisoned arrow, Elsa’s fate is sealed, and her father James rushes to bring her to Paradise Valley. Elsa’s death in her father’s arms is both tragic and meaningful, as she reunites with her husband Sam in the afterlife.

What sets 1883’s ending apart is its emotional resonance and sense of purpose. The finale also wraps up the stories of other wagon train survivors, providing closure for characters like Shea, Thomas, and Joseph.

Elsa’s death not only justifies the Duttons’ settlement in Montana—setting the stage for Yellowstone—but also delivers a poignant message about love, loss, and the cost of westward expansion.

Taylor Sheridan wrote 1883’s story around Elsa’s journey, resulting in a tightly focused and emotionally charged narrative. The finale’s balance of drama and payoff makes it the best conclusion in the Yellowstone universe, leaving viewers with a lasting sense of both sorrow and fulfillment.

In Summary

While each Yellowstone series finale brought something different to the table, 1883’s conclusion stands as the most moving and complete, followed by the solid—if predictable—ending of Yellowstone, and the somewhat disappointing close of 1923.

For fans of the Dutton saga, these finales are essential viewing, each offering a unique perspective on legacy, sacrifice, and the American frontier.