‘Yellowstone’ Has a Bella Hadid Cameo, Hints at How It Ends

He is drawn in.

Paramount Network’s hit ranch drama “Yellowstone” is on its penultimate episode — reportedly.

And for some reason, the episode spent most of its time with creator Taylor Sheridan writing a sequence focused on himself.

Spoilers ahead for the thirteenth episode of Season 5, “Give the World Away.”

“Yellowstone” follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana. There is the late patriarch John (Kevin Costner), who was also the governor, and his grown children Kayce (Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley), Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Beth’s husband, Rip (Cole Hauser).

Amid rumors of a feud with Sheridan, Costner left the show after the first half of season 5. The series dealt with his absence by killing off John – in a hitman’s murder that was originally staged to look like a suicide.

Not only does Sheridan create and write the series, but he also plays Travis, the horse trainer. In this episode, Travis dates Sadie, a woman played by supermodel Bella Hadid.

During class, Beth visits Travis and Sadie opens his door. Beth soon finds Travis in a scene worthy of the late Hugh Hefner, partying with a crowd of younger women.

When Beth asks why Sadie is dating Travis—pointing out that he’s a smug idiot 25 years her senior—Sadie replies, “Have you seen him ride?”

The camera then cuts to Sheridan riding, which is supposed to dazzle us.

So to recap: When “Yellowstone” star Kevin Costner left, creator Taylor Sheridan apparently decided to fill his absence by writing more scenes for himself. He shows off his riding skills and turns Travis into a ladies’ man in a long, unnecessary, self-indulgent sequence. Sheridan even writes Beth a line where she tells his character, “You’re such a——king asshole, it’s almost attractive.”

This is how “Yellowstone” uses its penultimate episode. It is definitely a choice.

Eventually the plot moves on to more important matters.

The FBI raids Sarah’s (Dawn Olivieri) old office after her death via hitman. Sarah had booked a hit on John, so the police are closing in on how John died.

Jamie, who was romantically involved with Sarah, visits the mother of his child, Christina (Katherine Cunningham). Now that John’s death is being investigated as a murder and Sarah just died suspiciously, Jamie is sweating and living under a cloud of suspicion.

Christina, who was also Jamie’s campaign manager during his race to become Montana Attorney General, gives him political advice. She asks Jamie to eulogize her father in a speech, declaring his death to be “more than a murder … It was a murder of the citizens of Montana’s right to choose their representative … a murder of their freedom. And you will avenge them.”

Later, the ranch auctions off horses and cattle. Beth explains that they made $30 million through this move, which will pay off the ranch’s astronomical taxes and buy them “another year.”

Rip tells his oldest ranch hand, Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), to stick around and continue working the ranch. Lloyd is touched when he points out that the ranch has been his home for over forty years.

But he is also confused. “There’s nothing to go on,” he says.

“Yeah it’s there when we build it back,” Rip replies.

Meanwhile, “Yellowstone” also reminds us that John Dutton hasn’t even had a funeral yet. So it seems likely that the show will end with the melancholy scene.

Kayce reveals he has a secret plan to save the ranch. As he discusses money with Beth, she tells him that taxes are based on what you pay for something.

Beth has a light bulb moment when she finds out what Kayce is planning. He explains his plan by saying, “The only way to save this place – you’ve got to give it away.”

The episode ends with the cryptic line.

So as “Yellowstone” gears up for its season 5 finale next week — and maybe series finale — it looks like it will end with a funeral for John, a showdown between Beth and Jamie, and Kayce somehow saving the ranch by “giving it away.”

“Yellowstone” airs Sundays at 8pm on the Paramount Network.