Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 11 has one of the most shocking endings in the entire series. It caught many fans by surprise. And now, episode director Christina Voros has disclosed that she “gasped” when she first read the script.

Christina Voros says Sarah Atwood’s death scene ‘is supposed to be a shock’

During a new interview, director Christina Voros noted that the death of Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) was “supposed to be a shock.” Toward the end of Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 11, Sarah speaks to Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) when a seemingly unassuming suburban couple pulls up beside her and asks for directions. One of them subsequently asks if she is Sarah Atwood. Albeit surprised, she confirms and is immediately shot to death with Jamie still on the other end of the call.

When asked about the episode’s structure and how the narrative eventually led to the death scene, Voros credited series co-creator Taylor Sheridan for it while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter. She added, “In terms of the execution, it is supposed to be a shock. It’s supposed to come out of nowhere. It is, I think, testament to Wes and Dawn’s talents as actors and the relationship they’ve created together on this show that you are so wrapped up in the ferocity of the argument that has just transpired beforehand that you don’t see it coming. She doesn’t see it coming. He doesn’t see it coming. So, it was all there in the writing.”

Voros revealed that she “gasped” when she read the scene. Further, several members of the post-production team reacted the same way when they watched it. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to get that kind of response from the audience,” she elaborated. “It means you have drawn them into a place where they are so committed to something else being the reality that it comes out of the blue and knocks the breath out of you, and that was always the intent,” Voros further stated.

The director also lauded Bentley and Olivieri for their performance in the Season 5 Episode 11 scene. Notably, Yellowstone Season 5 only has a few episodes left, which are scheduled to premiere on Sundays on Paramount Network.