Yellowstone “A Knife And No Coin” Episode Recap: RIp’s Branding Flashback, Jamie Impeaches John, and Beth Goes To War With Jamie

Yellowstone “A Knife And No Coin” Episode Recap: RIp’s Branding Flashback, Jamie Impeaches John, and Beth Goes To War With Jamie

From revealing flashbacks to government legal action to blackmail, here is everything that happened in Yellowstone’s “A Knife and No Coin”.
Yellowstone’s “A Knife and No Coin” is filled with so many twists and turns, as it not only establishes the main conflicts that will drive Yellowstone season 5, part 2 but also leaves many wondering who will survive till the end. A neo-Western drama, Yellowstone follows the Dutton family and other supporting characters who get involved in a series of conflicts with the Yellowstone National Park and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation. The show primarily follows John Dutton (Kevin Costner), though his character may not appear in season 5, part 2 since Kevin Costner announced he was leaving Yellowstone.

Yellowstone season 5 turned up the drama, as John Dutton was sworn in as the Governor of Montana despite not wanting the position. Monica (Kelsey Asbille) almost died in a car accident while on the way to the hospital, though sadly, her unborn baby did not survive. John’s adopted son Jamie (Wes Bentley) engages in an affair with Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), a representative from Market Equities who manipulates Jamie into going against his father for the benefit of the company. All these vital story threads ultimately lead to the events of Yellowstone season 5, episode 8, “A Knife and No Coin”.

Rip’s Branding Flashback

“A Knife and No Coin” begins with a flashback in which a young John (Josh Lucas) and Rip Wheeler (Kyle Red Silverstein) bury Rowdy (Kai Castor) at the train station. Rip explains to John that he killed Rowdy because of an insulting comment he made towards Beth (Kylie Rogers). While it’s not exactly clear what exactly Rowdy had said that upset Rip so much that it drove him to kill the man, John seems to know the exact details. However, John also explains that from now on, the next time Rip fights someone, it will be against those who wish to harm the ranch and its inhabitants.

After a series of questions, John offers Rip the chance to be branded with the iconic Yellowstone Dutton Ranch Y symbol as he believes that the young cowboy is now worthy of such an honor. John explains that if he chooses to be branded, he can always call the Dutton Ranch his home and the Duttons his family, but in exchange, he must dedicate his life to protecting and taking care of the ranch. Rip says yes, and so the two return to the ranch where Lloyd (Forrest Smith) brands Rip’s chest with the Dutton Y symbol. Rip is reborn as an official member of the Dutton family.

John Offers Monica And Her Family A Home On The Ranch

Before John goes to work, he has a brief conversation with Monica. Monica thanks John for being supportive of both herself and her family after surviving the car crash and losing her baby. John knows that Monica has a lot of strength inside her, despite all the loss and pain she has suffered throughout the show. Therefore, he offers Monica and her family their own house on the ranch and asks if she can help Kayce take care of everything while he’s out governing Montana and Rip goes on his trip to Texas with the cattle. Monica gladly accepts both offers, and John smiles, happy with her response.

Meanwhile. Teeter (Jennifer Landon), Rip (Cole Hauser), and Kayce (Luke Grimes) are loading up some cattle onto trucks. John himself was originally supposed to transport the cattle to an area he leased in Texas, but because of his governing duties, Rip will be taking on this crucial task instead. John briefly speaks with Kayce and asks if he can help load up the rest of the cattle onto the trucks tomorrow, which he gladly agrees to. Then, for possibly the first time in the entire show, John hugs Kayce and tells him that he loves him before heading to work, which completely catches Kayce by surprise.

Jamie Impeaches His Own Father

At a press conference, John introduces Broken Rock Reservation Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), and announces that he firmly supports Rainwater’s cause to stop the construction of a pipeline, promising to use all his powers as Governor to help. After John’s introduction, Rainwater then gives his speech in which he expresses his strong opposition to the pipeline’s construction as it will negatively affect his tribe’s well-being. However, Rainwater’s speech is cut off when news breaks out that Jamie Dutton had filed articles of impeachment in the legislature against his father, Governor John Dutton, for violating several state laws such as reckless spending that cost Montana billions.

John tells the press to continue focusing on the pipeline and ignore Jamie’s impeachment charge against him before returning to the capital. John’s assistant Clara (Lilli Kay) believes that John will overcome this impeachment charge since he didn’t do anything wrong and that he will continue his role as Governor. John, however, is not convinced because regardless of whether or nothe did anything wrong, he believes that his enemies in the legislature will use Jamie’s impeachment as an opportunity to get rid of him. Therefore, John tells Clara that it’ll take a “menace” to win his fight against Jamie.