5 Most Important Moments In ‘Yellowstone’ Season 4, Episode 4 (2024)

In Yellowstone Season 4, Episode 4 entitled “Winning Or Learning,” the Dutton family and their extended crew are doing a lot of talking. From John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) gently counseling Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) to help Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate (Brecken Merrill) heal to Rip Wheeler’s (Cole Hauser) tough love speech to Carter (Finn Little) about making the most of his second chance at the Yellowstone (“Life is a lesson, boy—one lesson—but you’ve got to look to learn them and you ain’t f*cking looking.”), co-creator/writer/star Taylor Sheridan’s lean, but impactful dialogue really shines in this thoughtful episode.

After some convincing from John, Kayce seeks Jamie’s help in finding out the identity of the man who ordered the attacks on the Duttons. Jamie (Wes Bentley), settled on his own personal ranch now, feels like he can finally start living for himself, with his biological father, Garrett Randall (Will Patton), by his side. While Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) goes to dance with the devil (Caroline Warner), tensions flare in the bunkhouse (after a delightful meal cooked by Teeter!) between Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) and Walker (Ryan Bingham). Mia (Eden Brolin) decides to leave the ranch for rodeo season while Jimmy (Jefferson White) and horse trainer Travis (Sheridan) near the Four Sixes ranch. Also, Beth and Rip enjoy a sweet moment when Beth uses Rip’s birthday to have just another reason to celebrate him (let’s make September 28th a national holiday!). The Duttons’ peace is threatened once again when Jamie makes a disturbing discovery. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Let’s break down the 5 most important moments from Episode 4 that will have repercussions throughout the rest of the season.

CAROLINE MAKES BETH AN OFFER

Fans love nothing more than to watch Beth Dutton go up against a formidable foe, and she’s found one in Market Equities CEO Caroline Warner (Jackie Weaver). Clutching a double Titos with three olives, Beth listens calmly as Caroline tells her: “I came up at a time where the corporate ladder was greased to keep women off it. I climbed it anyway, stepping over some little bitch like you on every rung. The big dog is off the porch now, Beth, and I will tear you to f*cking pieces.” Yikes!

Caroline gives Beth two options: they can go to war and she’ll launch an SEC investigation into Beth for market manipulation and insider trading or they can find common ground. Beth tells Caroline that she will do anything to protect her father’s land: “His dream is my Alamo and I will die on the f*cking wall defending it.” Caroline then makes her an offer: “Come and work for us and I’ll help you defend it. You’re a corporate raider; come and raid for Market Equities.” Caroline wants Beth to help her commodify and commercialize Montana for financial gain. She boldly challenges Beth: “You want to save your ranch? Find me something better. Build me Aspen. Build me Breckenridge. I want a destination town in every valley of Montana.” In return, all Beth wants is Caroline’s controlling piece of Schwartz & Meyer so she can take her revenge on her former mentor, Bob Schwartz (Michael Nouri). Simple enough ask, right? We’ll see how this uneasy alliance turns out as the season progresses.

JAMIE AND KAYCE HAVE A TALK

John tells Kayce to ask Jamie for Riggins’ prison records and set up an interview between Kayce, Riggins and the Sheriff to test Jamie’s loyalty. John believes that if Jamie stalls or resists, they will have their answer. Kayce dutifully goes to Jamie’s Attorney General office. Kayce is the only Dutton who believes Jamie to be innocent, but he still goes in with plenty of questions. Jamie is cautious of Kayce at first, but concludes that he comes in peace.

Jamie reveals to Kayce that while he hasn’t contacted the Duttons, he has been working hard to protect them. Jamie was responsible for police protection for John during his two-month hospital stay, and he was the also the reason there was no investigation into the Duttons’ bloody retaliation against the militia. Jamie lays it out, plain and simple: “I couldn’t visit. I couldn’t call. That would be labelled collusion and everything I swept under the rug would be out on the f*cking floor for the whole world to see.”

When Kayce asks for Riggins’ prison records and a chance to talk to him, Jamie doesn’t hesitate to help. However, he does insist on doing things by the book and agrees to doing the interview himself as the Attorney General. After months of questioning, the Duttons can now be certain that Jamie didn’t order the attacks.

LLOYD VS. WALKER

After months of animosity towards each other due to the fact that Walker stole Lloyd’s girl, barrel racer Laramie (Hassie Harrison), tensions between Rip’s right-hand man and the rascally musician finally came to a head. The two quarreled over how to handle the spread of pink eye throughout their cattle, and Lloyd was reprimanded by Rip and John for his choice to run the affected cattle in the arena and through the shoot to treat them. Lloyd ignored Walker’s advice to treat the cattle in the field.

As Lloyd sulked in his bunk, Walker brought over a bowl of Teeter’s special stew as a peace offering. Instead of taking his dinner and making nice, Lloyd kicked Walker in the chest and they two began to fight. As fans know, Rip has a rule of no fighting in the bunkhouse, and Rip was forced to knock Lloyd out to teach him a lesson and end the fight. Something tell us this quarrel between Lloyd and Walker isn’t over…

TRAVIS MENTORS JIMMY

One thing Yellowstone fans know for sure is that Jimmy still has a lot of growing up to do. Late at night on their way to the Four Sixes ranch, Jimmy and Travis debate the merits of the cult classic, Road House, and Travis reveals that growing up he “wanted to be Sam Elliott with Patrick Swayze’s hair.” After Travis gives Jimmy some grooming tips, he asks about Jimmy’s love for the rodeo. When Jimmy reveals he only does rodeo for the lights and the cheers from the crowd, not for the horses, because he’s scared of them. Travis doles out a sage piece of advice: “To be any good at this game—ranching, rodeo, show horses—you gotta do it for the horse, right? Where you’re going, a horse is your only f*cking friend, and you two are gonna have to figure it the f*ck out. That’s all cowboying is. It’s you and the horse doing a job, trying like hell not to let the other down.”

Travis cautions Jimmy further: “I’ll say this. When the Sixes is done with you, you will either spend the rest of your life on horseback or you will never get on another one.” Jimmy takes note of his warning and before he knows it, they have arrived at the Four Sixes ranch. Is this the last Yellowstone fans will see of Jimmy before the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff, 6666? Only time will tell.

AND THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACKS ON THE DUTTONS IS…

Garrett Randall, Jamie’s biological father, which also explains why Jamie was the only Dutton not targeted by the militia. Jamie discovers this alarming piece of news when he receives Riggins’ prison records and sees Garrett listed as one of his former cellmates. Shocked, all he can do is mutter, “oh my God.” He better hope God is on his side as he plots his next move.

We’ll have to wait until next week to see what Jamie decides to do.

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