- For other pages with the same title see Counting Coup.
Counting Coup is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of Yellowstone. It first aired on December 1, 2024.
Plot summary[]
Kayce makes a bold move. Rip asks for help from a friend in Texas, while the bunkhouse contemplates their future. Jamie attempts to cover his tracks.
Trivia[]
Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 12 is titled "Counting Coup," which is not a traditional title or phrase, but one that could not fit the show better.
As mentioned, many Yellowstone episode titles directly foreshadow or even spoil what will happen in the episode without the viewer knowing, and "Counting Coup" did just that.
The term "counting coup" originated among the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains during intertribal wars. It was recognized as the absolute highest honor a Native American warrior could achieve in battle.
Counting coup was the tradition of showing the highest form of courage by getting close enough to an enemy to strike them or touch them with a hand, bow, or coup stick without dealing any real damage.
More than anything, it hurt an enemy's pride and made them realize that they were dealing with someone who was quite lethal on the battelfield.
This act was so prestigious because of how dangerous it was, and, if a warrior were to pull it off, their individual status among other warriors often rose dramatically.
In Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 12, counting coup is not only the title of the episode but also directly refers to Kayce getting in the car with Grant Horton, the man who orchestrated the hit against John Dutton. Kayce essentially performed the act of counting coup by getting close enough to Grant to get in the car with him and threaten him and his daughter. However, he took things a step further by finding out Grant's addresses, information about Grant's family, and everything else Kayce could know about his personal life. So, in terms of counting coup, Kayce performed it to the highest standard, and if he had been a warrior in the Great Plains, his actions would have granted him a lot of honor and respect among his peers.
What makes the term even more applicable to Yellowstone is the fact that Mo Brings Plenty's Mo helped Kayce carry out the act.
Mo Brings Plenty is a Native American himself, and also plays an Indigenous person in the series. Since counting coup is a Native American tradition and Mo helped Kayce perform it, using the term is even more valid. It is also worth mentioning that the term, "counting coup" was also used in dialogue at the very end of the episode. After Kayce got into the car with Mo, Kayce said, "I think he understands." Mo then asked, "Did you count coup?" and Kayce replied, "I counted coup."
Mo then simply stated, "Then he understands." So, it was made clear that Kayce's actions were put into motion by Mo, who probably told Kayce about the traditions of his people and how effective they could be.
Cast[]
Opening credits[]
Starring[]
- Kevin Costner (as John Dutton) - credit only
- Luke Grimes (as Kayce Dutton)
- Kelly Reilly (as Beth Dutton)
- Wes Bentley (as Jamie Dutton)
- Cole Hauser (as Rip Wheeler)
- Kelsey Asbille (as Monica Dutton)
- Brecken Merrill (as Tate Dutton)
- Jefferson White (as Jimmy Hurdstram)
- Ryan Bingham (as Walker)
- Finn Little (as Carter)
- Ian Bohen (as Ryan)
- Forrie J. Smith (as Lloyd Bridger)
- Denim Richards (as Colby)
- Wendy Moniz (as Senator Perry) - credit only
- Jen Landon (as Teeter)
- Kathryn Kelly (as Emily) - credit only
- Mo Brings Plenty (as Mo)
And[]
- Gil Birmingham (as Thomas Rainwater) - credit only
Closing credits[]
Guest Star[]
Guest Starring[]
- Taylor Sheridan as Travis Wheatley
- Matt Gerald as Grant Horton
- Jake McLaughlin as Cade McPherson
- Bella Hadid as Sadie - credit only
Co-Starring[]
- Jake Ream as Jake
- Ethan Lee as Ethan
- Gabriel "Gator" Guilbeau as Gator - credit only
- Cade McCutcheon as Cade McCutcheon
- Matt Mills as Matt Mills
- Jason M. Owen as Detective
- Quinn McCarthy as Ally
- Dusty Burson as Dusty Burson
- Zack Peters as Zack (6666)
- Don R. Brown as Don Brown (6666)
- Zane Davis as Zane Davis (6666)
- Colter Hampton as Colter Hampton (6666)
- Zane Herrin as Zane Herrin (6666)
Crew (and other credits)[]
Opening credits[]
- Casting by: John Papsidera, CSA, Emily Bohbrink, CSA
- Music by: Brian Tyler and Breton Vivian
- Edited by: Chad Galster, ACE, Brooke Rupe
- Production Designer: Yvonne Boudreaux
- Director of Photography: Christina Alexandra Voros
- Created by: Taylor Sheridan & John Linson
- Written by: Taylor Sheridan
- Directed by: Christina Alexandra Voros
Closing credits[]
- Executive Producers: John Linson, Art Linson
- Executive Producer: Taylor Sheridan
- Executive Producer: Kevin Costner
- Executive Producers: David C. Glasser, Bob Yari
- Executive Producer: Stephen Kay
- Executive Producer: Michael Friedman
- Executive Producer: Christina Alexandra Voros
- Co-Executive Producer: Hilton Smith
- Producer: Rajeev Malhotra
- Co-Producer: Jason Altieri
- Unit Production Manager: Brian Tanke
- First Assistant Director: Kether Abeles
- Second Assistant Director: Alex Salazar
- Second Unit Director: Robert McLachlan, ASC, CSC
- Music Supervisor: Andrea von Foerster
- Costume Designer: Johnetta Boone
- Key Costumers: Stacy Scarborough, Leo Castro
- Costume Supervisor: Conan Castro, Jr.
- Art Directors: Rachel Aguirre, Tarn Lerdjarudech
- Set Decorator: Suzanne Stover
- Art Department Coordinator: Ricky Romine
- Property Master: Ian Roylance
- Special Effects Supervisor: Garth Steinheimer
- Department Head Make-Up: Greg Moon
- Department Head Hair Stylist: Tim Muir
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Ardy Carlson, Turner Andritz
- Script Supervisor: Mellanie Bradfield
- Sound Mixer: Andrejs Prokopenko
- Boom Operator: Carlos Garcia
- Stunt Coordinators: Jason Rodriguez, Jordan Warrack
- "A" Camera Operator: Scott Dropkin
- "B" Camera Operator: Abby Linne
- "C" Camera Operator: Jed Seus
- Supervising Location Manager: Mitchell Jarrett
- Location Manager: Eleni Fleming
- Key Assistant Location Managers: Dan Hastings, Katy Martin, Evan Eastham, Nick Thomas
- Production Supervisors: Paula Kramer, Megan Selden
- Production Coordinator: Chika Helton
- Production Controller: Mary Jasionowski
- Production Accountant: Matt Dawson
- Assistants to Mr. Sheridan: Monica Bousa, Ann Scott
- Assistant to Ms. C Voros: Christian Wassana
- Assistant to Mr. Friedman: Rami Fritz
- Production Counsel: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter, Hampton LLP
- Casting Assistant: Daryl Baboulis-Gyscek
- Local Casting: Jeff Johnson
- Gaffer: John Gorman
- Key Grip: Craig Sullivan
- Second Company Grip: Alex Stein
- Location Coordinators: Nicole Nelch, John McBride
- Construction Coordinator: Lanny Henson
- Transportation Coordinator: Rich Bennetti
- Dailies by: Company 3
- Dailies Associate Producer: Matt Riera
- Dailies Colorist: Troy Davis
- Associate Producer: Cory Hubbard
- Post Production Coordinator: Morgan Tandy
- Supervising Sound Editor: Jay Nierenberg
- Re-Recording Mixers: Brad Zoern, CAS, Josh Sieh, CAS
- Music Editor: Kyle Clausen
- ADR Casting: Fabiana Arrastia
- Assistant Editors: Barry Murphy, Michael Goldberg
- Colorist: Bob Festa
- Online Editor: Jason Keehne
- VFX Editor: Jeff Beattie
- Dailies Coordinator: Abe Kurien
- Main Titles Design: Elastic
- 101 Studios Executive: James Allen
- Clearance Supervisor: Are We Clear Production Clearances, Mark Meloccaro
- Product Placement by: Stone Management, Inc.
- Product Placement Coordinators: Cat Stone and Adam Stone, Megan Soliah
- Production Financing Provided by: East West Bank
- Promotional Consideration Provided by: Ram Trucks, Frito-Lay North America, Inc. (C) 2024, Buffalo Trace
- Filmed in Montana
Images[]
Episode guide[]
| Yellowstone - Season 5 episodes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 - One Hundred Years is Nothing | 06 - Cigarettes, Whiskey, a Meadow, and You | 11 - Three Fifty-Three | |||||||
| 02 - The Sting of Wisdom | 07 - The Dream Is Not Me | 12 - Counting Coup | |||||||
| 03 - Tall Drink of Water | 08 - A Knife and No Coin | 13 - Give The World Away | |||||||
| 04 - Horses in Heaven | 09 - Desire Is All You Need | 14 - Life Is A Promise | |||||||
| 05 - Watch ‘Em Ride Away | 10 - The Apocalypse of Change | ||||||||
Note: episode guides may only be visible on the desktop version of the site. Click here for an overview of all season 5 episodes.