There’s no denying that Rotten Tomatoes is the go-to metric for many critics and viewers alike when it comes to judging a series’ or movie’s overall appeal. Although Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone has set records with its popularity, the neo-Western drama is no exception to that rule. Currently, Yellowstone‘s four and a half seasons boast an aggregate 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a pretty solidly reviewed and well-executed program. Nonetheless, that very same Rotten Tomatoes score explains why Yellowstone season 5, part 2 will mark the end of the original show.

Yellowstone centers on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch — one of Montana’s largest cattle ranches, which borders both the Broken Rock Reservation and Yellowstone National Park. With everyone from land developers to casino mogul Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) vying for the Dutton family’s land, patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Coster) is tasked with not just keeping his family together, but ensuring his ranching legacy endures. As portrayed in the Yellowstone prequels, 1883 and 1923, the Dutton family has long clung to the ranch land. After Yellowstone ends, a sequel spin-off tentatively titled 2024 will continue the franchise.

Yellowstone’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Lower Than Its Two Spinoffs

1923 Has The Highest Rotten Tomatoes Score Of The Yellowstone Franchise

While Yellowstone‘s first four seasons and the incomplete season 5 have run the gamut in terms of critical reviews, the series’ overall Rotten Tomatoes score is a strong reminder of the series’ success. With an 84% certified fresh rating, Yellowstone makes a strong case for its popularity and acclaim. On the other hand, the original show is also the lowest-rated entry in the Yellowstone franchise, with both of the series’ prequels boasting superior reviews from critics. The first Yellowstone spin-off, 1883, holds an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the second franchise spin-off, 1923, has an impressive 90%.

Rotten Tomatoes’ aggregate scores are not the end-all, be-all metric for any given show’s success, but the platform definitely serves as a widely acknowledged pop-cultural litmus test. That said, going by the critics’ Rotten Tomatoes scores, the Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren-starring 1923 is the best entry in the franchise so far, followed closely by 1883, which chronicles the Dutton family’s journey westward to what would become the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Of course, viewers wouldn’t be so invested in 1883 and 1923 without the success of the original series, so it’s hard to rank the Yellowstone shows in a clear-cut way.

Making More Yellowstone Spinoffs Is Better Than Season 6 Happening

Kevin Costner’s Apparent Exit & Other Changes Mean Yellowstone Can End On A High Note

Given the behind-the-scenes changes happening ahead of Yellowstone season 5, part 2, it’s likely for the best that the beloved show is ending on a high note. Still, fans of Yellowstone were shocked when Paramount announced that the fifth installment would be the show’s last. After all, Yellowstone‘s fifth season premiere broke a ratings record, garnering a staggering 12.1 million viewers. With droves of viewers subscribing to Paramount+ to stream Yellowstone, it’s hard to imagine the company ending such a lucrative program — but that’s where Yellowstone‘s future spin-offs come in.

From Kevin Costner’s reported Yellowstone exit to production delays, the fact that Yellowstone season 5 will conclude the epic series is for the best. The show’s Rotten Tomatoes score — in comparison to the scores of its spin-offs — only reiterate that notion. Judging by the trend started by 1883 and 1923, the spin-off route is a much better idea than green-lighting Yellowstone season 6. The spin-offs allow the Yellowstone franchise to deepen its history and lore without stretching its story or characters too thin, making it a great way for the property to endure.

RT’s Audience Scores Tell A Different Story For Yellowstone’s Shows

Audiences Feel Almost The Opposite Of Critics When It Comes To Ranking Yellowstone, 1883 & 1923

Interestingly, the audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes tell a much different story when it comes to the ranking of Yellowstone and its spin-off projects. Across its four and a half seasons, Yellowstone has garnered a 76% aggregate score from audiences. While that’s lower than the critics’ score, it does land Yellowstone in the second position, falling behind 1883, which boasts a solid 83% aggregate score from audiences. The real outlier is 1923: While critics scored the second Yellowstone spin-off the highest, audiences’ average scores saddled 1923 with a rotten 55% rating.