Available on Paramount Network, Yellowstone is a neo-Western drama series. The series focuses on the lives of cowboys and the dangers of working on a ranch. Yellowstone revolves around the Dutton family's Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and their neighbors, with whom they often get into conflicts.
The neighbors are the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, the land developers, a cattle ranch, and the Yellowstone National Park. The cast of the series includes Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham.
The five-season-long series is currently airing episodes from the second part of its final season. The series currently has multiple spinoffs. Spinoffs of the series that have been released are The Madsion, 1883, and 1923.
The latest episode of season five saw Kayce perform Counting Coup. For those wondering what Counting Coup means, it is an Indigenous custom used to humiliate your rivals instead of killing them.
What does Counting Coup mean in Yellowstone?
In season 5, episode 12 of Yellowstone, titled "Counting Coup," audiences see Kayce go to great lengths to get more information on John's killer. He does this so he can avenge John's death.
An Indigenous custom, Counting Coup is a method used by many tribes to humiliate their adversaries instead of fighting and killing them. The person performing Counting Coup touches their enemy with a coup stick and hits them repeatedly. Those who count a coup successfully are considered courageous.
Why is Counting Coup important in Yellowstone?
Counting Coup is an important part of season 5, episode 12. Mo encourages Kayce to count the coup as he believes John's killer is beyond unworthy and does not deserve to be killed by Kayce.
Despite the occasional conflicts between the Indigenous population and the ranchers, Mo still respects John Dutton, which is why he wishes to get revenge for John's death.
In the series, Kayce is a white man married to an Indigenous woman and often struggles to make sense of his identity. Mo offering his help and guidance signals to Kayce that the former accepts the latter as an honorary member of his tribe.
In the episode, Kayce finds out who killed his father from one of his Black Ops. Kayce tracks the killer down and travels to Texas overnight with Mo. He tails the killer and threatens him and his daughter at gunpoint.
Kayce then begins counting the coup. He performs the Native tradition as a ceremonial gesture to avenge his father's death without causing fatal harm. Mo, who also serves as the series Native affairs coordinator in real life, helps Kayce perform counting coup.
While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Christina Voros, the director of the series episodes, spoke about how Kayce avenging his father's death through counting coup sees both the soldier in him and the family protector in him clash. Voros stated,
"It is him choosing his family and him choosing to battle for his family, and him choosing to battle for his family in a way that is true both to his own history and to the history of the family that he has married into. So, it feels destined."
Voros also spoke about the significance of Mo helping Kayce. Voros further added,
"Counting Coup is deeply symbolic. It's not just about vengeance it's a statement of intent, of drawing a line in the sand. For Kayce, it's about choosing the family and finding a way to honor both his past as a soldier and his present as part of Monica's world."
Trending
Yellowstone is available to watch on Paramount Network and CBS. For more stories on the latest shows, soaps, and films, stay tuned to SoapCentral.
Reply
