Ep 1. A Thundering

The episode "A Thundering" opens with a dramatic thunderstorm. We find John Dutton, patriarch of the Dutton family, on horseback amidst a herd of bison. The camera cuts to a split screen, showing Beth Dutton, John's daughter, getting dressed in her luxurious apartment, Jamie Dutton, his son, getting ready for the day in his law office, and Rip Wheeler, the family's faithful ranch hand, riding a horse to round up the herd.

As the storm grows more intense, all four of them are united in a single screen. The ranch's electricity is out, causing problems with the cattle troughs and forcing them to improvise to get the water to the thirsty animals. The bison are also spooked by the storm and are causing chaos, so John enlists the help of Thomas Rainwater, the tribal chairman of an Indian reservation bordering Dutton's ranch, to help corral the animals.

Meanwhile, Jamie, the family's legal counsel, receives a call from Governor Perry to discuss Senator Huntington's appointment. Perry wants to offer the senator's seat to Jamie, but Jamie is hesitant to accept the offer. He is concerned that accepting the political position would undermine his loyalty to the Dutton family.

Beth, who is the Dutton's strategist, meets with a wealthy businessman who wants to invest in the Dutton family's land developments. Though the man is offering a large sum of money, Beth sees through his schemes and fiercely defends the family's interests.

Later, we see Rip trying to teach a group of new cowboys the ropes. Among them is a young man named Colby who has a history with Wade, one of the ranch's foremen. The tension between Colby and Wade is palpable, and Rip senses it. The situation escalates when Wade punishes Colby for his mistakes, causing Colby to explode in anger.

Meanwhile, Kayce, John's youngest son, prepares for the day with his wife Monica and young son Tate. Kayce is a trained Navy SEAL and is attending college to become a teacher, but his past has come back to haunt him. He learns that his former SEAL team leader is in town and wants to meet up with him. Kayce is reluctant to see his old comrade, but his curiosity gets the best of him.

In the final moments of the episode, we see a group of masked men raiding a train carrying millions of dollars, owned by John's longtime enemy, Dan Jenkins. The scene is brutal, and the stakes are high. The episode ends with John and Thomas working together to contain the chaos caused by the storm, while the events on the train raise the stakes for the Dutton family's future.

Overall, "A Thundering" is an intense and action-packed episode that sets up the major conflicts and character arcs for the second season of Yellowstone. The episode showcases the strength and loyalty of the Dutton family while introducing new characters and tensions that will surely drive the plot forward.