The director of Yellowstone’s Season 5B massacre has admitted that the “heartbreaking” deaths were necessary to help audiences understand the lives of cowboys.
Christina Voros is the executive producer for Paramount Network and has directed the four episodes of the Western show that have aired to date.
The final episode saw the killing of yet another character, marking the third death of a character in the show’s final four episodes.
The episode follows the shocking death of Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), who hired the company that assassinated Montana Governor John Dutton (Kevin Costner).
Although Sarah’s death was linked to John’s – since she hired the sinister company that made his death look like a suicide – this Sunday’s death was merely a tragic accident.
Colby Mayfield (Denim Richards) – who has been on the series since the beginning – was tragically killed after being kicked in the chest by a huge wild stallion they’ve been trying to break for the past few episodes.
Fans were devastated by the losses and took to social media to share their grief as they wondered why so many of their favorite TV stars were axed.
The outpouring of emotions prompted Christina to explain why the “very tragic” deaths were necessary.
The director of Yellowstone’s Season 5B massacre, Christina Voros, has admitted that the “heartbreaking” deaths were necessary to help viewers understand the lives of cowboys.
While you’re talking to The Hollywood Reportershe explained that the deaths were simple but unbearable for the viewers.
“For anyone who really understands the cowboy lifestyle and working with animals and the risks of the job – and Rip says it about himself – it’s a dangerous job, and this stuff happens and it happens in a split second.
“This death comes as a shock because it is so simple and so entrenched in the world in which all these characters work that it is deeply tragic… and the timing of it is just heartbreaking,” she said.
Although it was intended to crush viewers, social media users still struggled to come to terms with what happened to beloved character and cursed show creator Taylor Sheridan.
One person wrote, “There was absolutely no reason to kill Colby to further the damn plot. No reason at all. Taylor Sheridan is an asshole. #YellowstoneTV.” [sic]
Someone else said: ‘F***! Everyone’s getting killed!’ while another user added: ‘Didn’t see that coming.’
Another person added: ‘NOT COLBY TAKE ME INSTEAD. TAKE ME INSTEAD #Yellowstone. I wish he had suffered a little longer so I could say goodbye. BRO KILL ME NOW,” quoting what Teeter said after hearing about Colby’s death.
Someone else said: ‘I’m devastated right now! Actually Taylor Sheridan! #Yellowstone.’
Colby Mayfield (Denim Richards) – who has been on the show since the beginning – was tragically killed after being kicked in the chest by a huge wild stallion
Fans were devastated by the losses and took to social media to share their grief as they wondered why so many of their favorite TV stars were axed
Someone else commented: “Is everyone going off into the sunset then?” #YellowstoneTV.”
Another person wrote: What the hell #YellowstoneTV?!?!? UNNECESSARY!!!!!! #ColbyAndTeeterForever.”
One user said, “Colby gave his life to save Carter. F**k spoilers. This sucks. #YellowstoneTV.”
One user wrote: ‘Crying every episode is not fun.’
Someone else said: ‘#YellowstoneTV broke my heart,’
The episode tugged at the heartstrings from the start as it opened with Colby speaking on the phone with his girlfriend Teeter (Jennifer Landon), who was in Texas at the 6666 Ranch.
The outpouring of emotions led Christina to explain in detail why the ‘deeply tragic’ deaths were necessary (Colby seen during his death scene)
They both admitted their love for each other for the first time in the brief phone conversation before they both returned to work.
The last few episodes featured a wild stallion trying to break Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), but they didn’t know what to do with him.
Later in the episode, Carter (Finn Little) was cleaning out the stables and noticed that the animal had spilled its water.
When young Carter went to return his refilled water bucket, the horse knocked him down when Colby heard his cries for help.
Colby told him to run out of the stable as he ran in, trying to distract the horse, but it ended up kicking Colby in the chest with its hind legs and then started stomping on him with its front hooves.
Carter quickly ran to get a gun and put the horse down, with the gunshot taking Rip (Cole Hauser) and Lloyd to the barn, where they found Colby dead.
Elsewhere in the episodes, fans finally learned the identity of the man the late Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) met to have John Dutton (Kevin Costner) killed.
After gathering his military contacts, Kayce Dutton discovered the man’s name was Grant Horton (Matt Gerald) and tracked him down, threatening to kill his young daughter after her soccer game.
Although it was intended to crush viewers, social media users still struggled to come to terms with what happened to the beloved character and cursed the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan.
Kayce made it clear that if anyone in his family was harmed, he would kill Grant’s entire family, as he left the man and his young daughter both terrified, with Grant insisting he would not come after the Dutton clan.
Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) also acted strangely when interviewed by detectives about Sarah’s death, and he is now being treated as a suspect.
With only two episodes left, it remains to be seen how many members of the Dutton clan will be there when the series comes to an end in just two short weeks.
The penultimate episode of Yellowstone airs on Sunday, December 8, and the finale airs on Sunday, December 15 on Paramount Network.