Yellowstone's fifth season proved to be one of Paramount's most anticipated shows when the trailer alone received a record 14 million views. Fans are waiting for more drama to unfold in Montana as John Dutton struggles to keep the ranch from Market Equities and also keep his squabbling children in the family.
The show navigates a complicated world in which only the straight-minded characters survive and the slightest mistake gets punished heavily. From Jamie who doesn't know who to trust to Beth that is a step ahead of everyone but always makes people angry, every character in the show seems to be one bad decision away from damnation. If only the smartest of them are to survive, then this is how each of them would rank.
12 Caroline Warner
When Caroline Warner recruited Beth to work for Market Equities, she described her as the "monster" that Montana needed to transform into her dream city. Beth Dutton had already proved to be a difficult person to work with after backstabbing her previous employers, but Warner believed her anyway.
The first mistake she made was to believe that threatening Beth with an SEC investigation would be enough to make her a prisoner to Market Equities. She also underestimated the depth of Beth and John Dutton's influence over the state and how hard it would be to push them around. The Duttons' will to survive was way stronger than she imagined.
11 Thomas Rainwater
Chief Thomas Rainwater loves his people, but he is not serving their interests by bringing corporate sharks to develop the land and increase land rates. He was one of the reasons why Market Equities came to Montana, and they ended up desecrating one of his ancestors' burial sites, something John Dutton would never do.
From the flashbacks in Yellowstone, it is clear that the Duttons have always respected the American Indians, and now they are family because of Kayce's marriage to Monica. There is no way for Rainwater to take over the Yellowstone ranch without hurting his people and the sooner he realizes that the safer the reservation will be.
10 Jimmy Hurdstrom
Despite being one of the most likable characters on the show, Jimmy isn't one of the smartest, partly because of his low self-esteem. Despite Rip and John Dutton treating him as family, Jimmy wasn't willing to fight for his place in the bunkhouse.
He had a similar problem with his relationships including breaking Mia's heart despite Mia being the most loving person he ever met. He took his time in Texas seriously though and became a cowboy. He also started loving himself more and knew how to make mature decisions that were positive.
9 Lloyd Pierce
Lloyd, being the oldest cowboy on the ranch and the sense of reason in the bunkhouse whenever Rip is not around, has done a great job keeping the bunkhouse together. He isn't without his faults though because he gave into the confusion when the girls came to the bunkhouse and nearly killed Walker.
Whenever Rip and the other cowboys need a wise old man to give them advice, Lloyd is always excellent. He is also a good fighter as he has proved in different instances when the cowboys had to fight off intrusion into the ranch.
8 Jamie Dutton
When the show started with Jamie in the courthouse protecting the Yellowstone ranch, he stood out as a smart lawyer, but he is not very smart when it comes to making important life choices. He is by far the least helpful of John Dutton's children and following his murderous biological father and backstabbing the Duttons only made him worse.
He lied to his sister causing her to have a hysterectomy without her consent which was the worst thing a brother can do. He also did nothing when he discovered that his father had sent assassins after the family that raised him which was very ungrateful of him.
7 Mo
Despite being in Rainwater's shadow for most of the earlier seasons, Mo was one of the characters fans wanted to see more of in season 5 as he proved to be wiser than his chief. He has never openly expressed hatred for the Duttons and despite being an Indian, he treats Kayce like family.
When Tate Dutton was kidnaped, Mo was one of the first people to help in his rescue. He also helped Kayce with his quest despite him not being an Indian and also being a Dutton. Mo only works for the people on the reservation and understands that the Duttons are more of family than enemies.
6 Teeter
When Lloyd lost his head as the leader of the bunkhouse, Teeter became the new fan-favorite character redeeming the glory of the bunkhouse. She was the only cowgirl that survived Rip's purge after the ladies caused divisions in the bunkhouse.
Apart from being an excellent cowgirl, Teeter is also brave and intelligent, having proved herself in real battle multiple times. She knows what she wants for herself which is why she protested when Rip wanted to fire her and also made her feelings for Colby clear even when Rip had banned relationships in the bunkhouse.
5 Monica Long
Many fans don't like Monica because she is the reason why Kayce's role on the show has been so limited. She assumes that the Duttons are evil and therefore wouldn't approve of Tate living on the ranch.
She is also overprotective of Tate and has so far failed to notice that the boy learns more on the ranch that when she hides him from the Duttons. Monica is still a reliable voice of reason for Kayce and Tate. She represents everything good about the reservation, with the embodiment of everything a caring person should have.
4 Kayce Dutton
Having chosen Monica over his biological family, Kayce's position as a Dutton has been questionable. He is a smart person that understands how to behave when faced with deadly situations which is why he was able to save Monica and Tate when the assassins attacked and also when Tate was kidnapped.
Kayce is also a good father that protects his son and understands when the boy needs to be hugged as well as when he needs a tough lesson. He has more similarities to John Dutton than any of his siblings, including his ability to show mercy when he needs to like he did with Walker.
3 Rip Wheeler
Rip is not John Dutton's biological son, but Rip has always been loyal to the brand and never stopped proving his worth to the Duttons. He knows how to keep his head down and let the bosses have their way which is how he survived Kayce taking his place for a while.
Rip also manages the bunkhouse and knows every cowboy and cowgirl personally. His crimes in relation to the train station have resulted in some of the wildest moments on the show, but he never does anything that doesn't help the ranch.
2 Beth Dutton
While she is impulsive and often too arrogant for her own good, Beth Dutton is one of the best characters in the show. She has had to endure a lot of pain since her mother died and her brother betrayed her, but she understands the need for a family and always protects those she loves.
She sees Jamie for who he really is, and her blackmail is the only thing that prevented him from taking down the ranch. Beth'swild personality also helped to protect the ranch from corporate sharks like Caroline Warner whom John Dutton could never defeat on his own.
1 John Dutton
Shrewd but wise are the two sides that have kept John Dutton going all those years despite the many threats to his ranch and life. He knows how to keep the right people close to him and keep events within his control so that nothing gets out of hand.
His foresight and leadership ability are enviable which is why he deserves to be the governor. John Dutton always has an eye for the future and always makes plans for what his children can't see coming. By the time Jamie left and betrayed him, John was already a step ahead. He wasn't surprised when Beth married Rip either.
Source:gamerant.com