"What was the name of the emperor that played the fiddle while Rome was burning?" Rip asked Beth, expressing his concern about John forgetting the ranch after becoming the governor. He spoiled the upbeat mood of the explosive start of the fifth season of Yellowstone, but in a romantic way, which is why fans just can't have enough of him. While Rip and Beth spread pessimism and keep everyone on edge, John Dutton gives hope, giving the show a balanced mood.
Everyone in the show's stellar cast has something that fans love, including villains like Jamie, whose actions are often justified by circumstances. The show has two sides to all of its main characters, giving the fans a gray area to tread as they choose their favorites. From the despicable Beth Dutton, who is still amazing, to the scary Caroline Warner, the most memorable characters aren't always the most likable.
13 Caroline Warner
Caroline Warner didn't know just how badly Beth and John Dutton would fight for Yellowstone Ranch when she recruited her to work for Market Equities. Being a villain, Warner isn't expected to have many likable traits, but even as a person, she is difficult to be around. She is selfish with her decisions and doesn't care about other people's opinions.
When she bullied the Duttons into leasing the land to her, she never took the time to understand their reasons for wanting to keep the ranch undeveloped. Warner assumes that as long as she throws money around, everyone will bend to her will and doesn't care about those that get hurt in the process, even if they are part of her own team like Carter.
12 Jamie Dutton
Despite being an adopted son, John Dutton and his wife treated Jamie as their own child, but Jamie betrayed the family the moment he met his biological father. Jamie was also a terrible brother to Beth because he failed to comfort her when she blamed herself for her mother's death. Jamie also lied to Beth about a hysterectomy causing her to lose the ability to have children without her consent.
For a person that is always trying to do the right thing, Jamie's actions seem to result in pain and suffering for others too many times. He is still a smart lawyer and more approachable than any of the Duttons, though. He just doesn't know how to be his own man and do something good without hurting everyone in the process.
11 Thomas Rainwater
Thomas Rainwater always claimed to be fighting to preserve the land, but when John Dutton canceled the development projects, Thoms spoke against his usual character and said it was good for the land but not for him. It exposed his selfishness which he would always hide behind the interests of the tribe.
He is a shrewd leader that doesn't care about what is actually good for his people, which is why Monica Long said life on the reservation is only getting worse. Rainwater was one of the reasons why the developers came in the first place, but even after they desecrated his ancestors' burial site, he was still angrier at John Dutton than he was at them.
10 Monica Long
As a lecturer and a mother, Monica is an intelligent person, but when it comes to fighting for the things that matter, she is too detached from reality. When Monica called Kayce about her cramping, he told her to stay put as he called an ambulance, but she chose to drive herself to the hospital leading to the accident that killed the baby.
She is stubborn and rarely listens to Kayce. Despite being a Dutton by marriage, she has never embraced the family and even called Kayce's father and family evil which was unfair to him. She has never tried to understand the family's struggles as her self-righteousness clouds her judgment.
9 Lloyd
Loyd is so nice to people that even Rip has a soft spot for him. He is the father of the bunkhouse, having been so close to Jimmy that it felt as if he was his father. He is the understanding father figure that all the younger cowboys can look up to. He is more patient than Rip, which is why he makes a better father figure for Carter.
Lloyd is also the funniest character in the bunkhouse, with an air of positivity around him that makes even the most intense moments feel easier. He made a mistake when he stabbed Walker, though, because he was mature enough to do better.
8 Mo
Mo is John Dutton's right-hand man who actually cares about the reservation, unlike his selfish boss. When Kayce was arrested by the reservation police after killing the kidnappers, Mo helped him get released and didn't insist on the legality of his situation as Rainwater did.
Mo also helped Kayce with his quest to find his path to life despite Kayce being a Dutton. He understands that living peacefully with the Duttons serves the reservation better than bringing in outsiders to develop the land and erode its values. He still needs to find a way to liberate the tribe from Rainwater's influence, though.
7 Tate Dutton
Tate Dutton represents the future of the Duttons. Despite his mother's objections, he has embraced his grandfather and the ranch. He was the perfect Dutton until after his kidnapping, when he started acting out and making life difficult for Kayce and Monica, but he came back older and wiser in the fifth season. He is the reason why Monica and Kayce didn't get a divorce after their separation because he reminds them of why they are better off as a family.
Tate is also smarter than his age, always asking the right questions with a sense of humor that would make anyone fall in love with him. The best thing about the little man is his bravery and resourcefulness around danger. He was smart enough to cut the seat belt in the crashed car and call an ambulance for his mother, all while nursing a broken arm.
6 Lynelle Perry
The former governor is the only person that gives John Dutton reliable advice on politics. Perry and John made a great couple during the summer camp after John was heartbroken when Summer went to jail. She practically made John the governor, which means her loyalty to him is real.
When Jamie advised John against revoking funding to the developers, Lynelle seconded it telling John Dutton that he would have to "play the game" to survive as governor. She always knows the right battle to pick up, which is why she helped save the ranch while she was in office. Perry is also the only person that agrees when Jamie says the right thing as the rest of the Duttons dismiss him.
5 Teeter
Having a cowgirl in the bunkhouse made it a more interesting part of the show as it became more balanced since Lloyd didn't have to be the only sensible person. Teeter arrived in style, doing everything the cowboys did better than most of them and defending her skills to prove that she was no pushover.
She is brave but funny and always speaks her mind, which includes telling Colby how she actually has feelings for him. Her relationship with Colby is one of the best things to come out of the bunkhouse. She was the first person from the bunkhouse to stand up to Rip and boldly defend her place, something even the cowboys don't do.
4 Rip Wheeler
Rip Wheeler is the main reason why Yellowstone feels like the Wild West, and the ranch just can't survive without him. He puts the family's interests first, always keeping a clear head and doing the right thing. The best of his leadership skills was expressed when he took a backseat to allow Kayce to take over the leadership at the ranch. He keeps a mean face, always scaring the cowboys into doing the right thing, including Lloyd when he lost his head and stabbed Walker.
Rip and Beth are a perfect match because they never lose focus of what is important. When it comes to handling threats to the ranch, Rip is always a step ahead, which is why bears and wolves from the park shot by cowboys don't become problems for John Dutton. He also has a dark sense of humor that makes him look dangerous while still endearing him to the fans.
3 Kayce Dutton
Kayce loves Monica and Tate, which is why he chose to live on the reservation away from the ranch to keep them safe. Besides being a good father, he is also the least-spoken Dutton, always swallowing the humble pie and helping the family whenever he can.
Being the livestock commissioner has also proved that he never lost his urge to serve people from his days in the military. He is never scared by the wild events on the Yellowstone Ranch and the rest of the state. He is also the only child of John Dutton's that actually listens when he speaks and doesn't let his ambitions cloud his judgment.
2 John Dutton
If keeping calm through a storm was a person, then they would be called John Dutton. Nothing ever seems to scare John Dutton even when his life is threatened because he always has measures in place to deal with the worst outcome in every situation. When Tate Dutton was kidnaped, John Dutton wasn't startled because he knew who to call to get the situation resolved.
He remained equally calm when he was diagnosed with cancer because the idea of dying doesn't scare him. John Dutton knows how to deal with everyone, from young Tate to the stubborn Beth. He is the engine that keeps everything running even when they are dealing with tough situations.
1 Beth Dutton
Beth Dutton doesn't know how to exchange pleasantries or make small talk as she presents herself as the blunt and wild farmer's daughter that she is. Her meanness makes her unapproachable, but it is also the reason why she is the perfect person to deal with the Duttons' many cunning enemies.
When Rip couldn't gather the courage to propose to her, she took the initiative and bluntly proposed to him and went ahead to plan an impromptu wedding. She is always straightforward about what she wants and always fights for the right thing, even though she doesn't coat it in nice words nor demand gratitude for the many good things she does.