Yellowstone viewers have taken to social media to discuss the show ahead of the final few episodes, which air next month on Paramount Network and Paramount Plus.

Ahead of the neo-Western drama’s finale on November 10, fans have been looking back at the show’s various characters and unresolved storylines.

Before Yellowstone Season 5 wraps up the story for good, fans have been wondering about a group of characters: the Branded Wranglers.

This intimidating group, which also includes Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), is forever sworn to the Dutton family farm, with a duty to protect the land.

However, some fans have pondered the fate of the Branded Wranglers after seeing a flashback to Rip’s childhood.

Via Reddit, a viewer with the username @EntertainmentAny4368 shared the following: “Question about the branded wranglers…

“I’m sure the answer to this is just lazy writing, but when you’re branded, you’re supposed to stay on the ranch forever, right?

“Well, in the flashbacks, when Rip is a kid, there are a lot of cowboys, but besides Lloyd, none of them are there anymore. So where are all the old wranglers?? (sic)

Fans quickly took to the comments section to share their theories – and some of them are pretty dark.

Some viewers referred to “the train station,” a rural ravine area beyond the Montana border into Wyoming, where the Duttons and their loyalists clear out their enemies.

“At the train station,” one fan replied ominously, while another replied: “Oh s***! That would make John Dutton a mass murderer.”

A third fan theorized: “Dead. That life is incredibly dangerous without all those gunfights and intrigues.”

However, other viewers argued that a simpler solution is that not all wranglers are branded and therefore not tied to the ranch forever.

“Not every cowboy gets branded, just the ones with a dark past,” one noted, and another agreed, “They didn’t all get branded. Only those who needed a second chance at life.” (sic)

Another fan gave a rather nuanced answer, writing: “Not everyone has a brand. We’ve also seen him release people from their responsibilities before, like Jimmy. It is not difficult to imagine that there was a regular outflow, some ended up at the train station, perhaps one or two were allowed to continue.” (sic)

Season 5, Part 2 of Yellowstone debuts on Sunday, November 10 at 8pm ET on Paramount Network, with the premiere episode also airing on CBS the same day at 10pm. UK fans can also watch on Paramount+.