This article contains spoilers for Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, “Three Fifty-Three”
That shocking death inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11, wasn’t the original plan. At the end of the episode, written by Taylor Sheridan, and directed by Christina Alexandra Voros, the consequences ofJohn Dutton’s staged suicidehave a devastating impact. Sarah Atwood (Dawn Oliveri), who planned the hitjob on Dutton, is on the receiving end of one. This happens as the truth of John’s murder starts to come to light, with the hired assassins looking to cover up their tracks. That includes getting rid of Sarah, the accomplice of Wes Bentley’s Jamie Dutton.
However, in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Oliveri explains that Sarah’s death inYellowstoneseason 5 wasn’t always the plan. Her comments come as a response to how the story shifted following the unexpected exit of former series lead Kevin Costner, with Oliveri revealing that certain storylines had to be accelerated. In the quote below, the actor talks about howSarah was originally meant to stick around for another season:
Taylor Sheridan had toldTHRthat John Dutton was always going to die in the end, but that Kevin Costner’s exit from the show accelerated the plan. Did you know when you were cast that you were going to be the person to kill him?
No. That I was going to be the most hated villain in all of the world? No, (laughs) I didn’t know that. I did know there was an exit strategy for him, but I don’t think I was supposed to go as soon as I did. I think that was going to happen [with John], but because we had to wrap this all up in lightning speed, I think it had to go down the way it went. I believe I was meant to go into the next season and continue on as a character. So I think because of the situation, everything got changed around. The storyline had to go full throttle to figure out how to tie up every end and move things along. I’m grateful. It’s a pretty monumental role that I think goes down in history in a way because of what happened and how it played out.
What Sarah’s Shocking Death Means For Yellowstone
The End Is In Sight
Oliveri might’ve ended her run with theYellowstonecastearlier than expected, but she gets a big exit. She gets anxious about the truth of the Montana governor’s murder coming to light, given her involvement. She even predicts her fate in her final scene with Jamie, bringing up the fact that several people connected to political figures routinely die under suspicious circumstances without anyone asking too many questions. In the end, Sarah ends up being one of those people.
Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 11 Review: The Staggering Ending Completely Changes The Show For The Better
Kayce’s investigation into his father’s death continues in Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, which finally sets the show’s final story in motion.
There are a lot of questions about what’s next for the Taylor Sheridan-created series, specifically whether there will be a season 6 or if the story will continue in the form of aYellowstonesequel show. Oliveri will be missed, at least for her enjoyable villainy portrayal of Atwood, but the Western has always been more about the Duttons. Sarah might have planned the murder, but the showdown with Jamie has yet to happen.The face-off between Jamie and Beth (Kelly Reilly), which is likely to happen soon, is the main event.
Our Take On Sarah’s Death
It’s Foreshadowing For Jamie
Although it’s not confirmed, there are plenty of signs that Jamie won’t make it to whatever the next stage ofYellowstoneturns out to be. He’s on the phone with Sarah when she is killed. He’s likely soon to realize, if he hasn’t already, that his end won’t be peaceful. The only question is whether this realization hardens him further or if he tries to make amends to save his own skin.
New episodes ofYellowstoneseason 5 part 2 air Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on the Paramount Network.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on August 05, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
