Yellowstone ends where Dutton Ranch begins. Blood may be thicker than water, but a family bonded by fire is unbreakable. From a rich Western universe that began with Taylor Sheridan comes the next saga about a family’s legacy rising from the ashes. Albeit less graceful than a phoenix.
Set one year after Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch follows Beth Dutton’s move to Rio Paloma, South Texas, with her husband Rip Wheeler and their adopted son, Carter. Life in their new home has been anything but smooth as they clash with rival rancher Beulah Jackson and her family. To make matters worse, the Dutton-Wheelers are placed at the center of controversy when they uncover a corpse.
Created by Chad Feehan, Dutton Ranch is the second follow-up series to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, after Marshals on CBS. Unlike those two, Dutton Ranch is based in Texas, not Montana. The spin-off stars Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Finn Little, back as Beth, Rip, and Carter, alongside Academy Award Nominees Annette Bening and Ed Harris. Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, J.R. Villarreal, Marc Menchaca, and Natalie Alyn Lind also star.
The Dutton Way
Like its predecessor, Dutton Ranch offers a narrative on a biblical scale, with the gospel according to Taylor, or Chad in this case. Duttons have been known for living by the “eye for an eye” principle more than anything, until now. While they practice their brand of justice occasionally, neither Beth nor Rip is out actively seeking retribution for their family. Their demons are behind them as far as they are concerned. Making an honest living on their ranch and protecting what’s theirs is all that matters to them.
Ultimately, Dutton Ranch is a character study of a resilient family in unfamiliar territory with compelling leads and a colorful Western atmosphere. Despite its pros, Dutton Ranch stumbles to live outside of Yellowstone’s shadow.
Resurrection in Rio Paloma
Montana saw Beth as a princess who never feared getting her hands dirty, as her father ruled until he met his maker. Rip has always been her knight, of course. Relocating from Montana to Texas was not only the right choice for these characters, but the series as a whole. Watching Beth, Rip, and Carter start from the bottom in a new world makes you realize how vulnerable they have become. Dutton Ranch is a smaller ranch than Yellowstone in someone else’s empire. Beulah Jackson is the one calling the shots in Rio Paloma. Her presence completely shifts the dynamics and presents frightening obstacles for our protagonists.
The Dutton-Wheelers’ problems do not begin when they uncover a dead body. They begin way before that on Dutton Ranch. Murphy’s Law is in full effect as everything that can go wrong goes wrong for this family. Without spoilers, Beth and her clan are hit with setback after setback from the first few minutes of episode one. There is rarely a dull moment in this show. Little time is allowed for rest, because Beth and Rip do not necessarily overcome the impediments in their way. They adapt, survive, and repeat.
The Faces of Dutton Ranch
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser carry Dutton Ranch as far as they can until Annette Bening shows up. Her Beulah Jackson is undoubtedly the most interesting character in the series. Weirdly, she is the “bizarro” version of the late John Dutton, mirroring him in every way while being the exact opposite somehow. She is charismatic, cunning, dangerous, and loyal to her family. There is no line she wouldn’t cross to protect them. Bening sells her character with range and nuance, giving a compelling argument on why she should lead the Yellowstone sequel. Her scenes with Reilly are especially fun to watch as they constantly duel with words.
Bening is a scene stealer, but at the end of the day, we can not forget whose show this is. Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser are as captivating as always, playing Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. Some couples live and die for each other. These two can make you believe that Beth and Rip will walk through Hell to shoot the Devil for each other. Although they are a package deal, each half is fully capable of standing on their own. Beth and Rip spend significant time apart strategically. She handles the corporate affairs while he is in the field taking care of cattle.
Their scenes apart highlight their independent journeys and make their scenes together more gratifying. When they’re together, their longing for home becomes clear. They are each other’s home.
Finn Little’s Carter is the perfect addition to their union, even though he is far from perfect himself. Then again, they’re all far from perfect. While Beth struggles to call him her son due to personal trauma, she loves him unconditionally, and so does Rip. Carter has come a long way from being the foul-mouthed juvenile delinquent introduced in Yellowstone season four. Now, he is an honorable young man, loyal to his family. Little has grown with his character in more ways than one. His talent synchronizes with Reilly and Hauser’s to complete the Dutton-Wheeler Trinity.
Dutton Ranch Holds Back
Academy Award-nominated Ed Harris feels underutilized as Everett McKinney thus far. He is a veteran with quiet confidence who takes pride and joy in working as a veterinarian. McKinney has limited screentime in the first four episodes, which is a shame, given the talent Ed Harris is known for. However, there is more to the character than meets the eye, as episode four indicates. Hopefully, we will uncover his memoirs in the coming episodes.
Another gripe with Dutton Ranch would be tonal inconsistency. While Dutton Ranch is both a sequel and a spin-off to Yellowstone, the series can seem unsure of where it stands. Sometimes, Dutton Ranch feels like a soft reboot of Yellowstone, as opposed to a spin-off. The premise is promising, the new setting is exciting, and yet, one foot is stuck in Yellowstone. Respecting the past and embracing the future is a rule of thumb, not only for long-running franchises, but also for life. Nevertheless, the future is out of reach when you’re stuck in the past. Dutton Ranch is essentially Yellowstone with roles twisted around, in both a positive and negative way.
Dutton Potential
Any casual fan of Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan, or the modern Western genre would likely appreciate Dutton Ranch for its acting, story, and setting. However, anyone hoping to see the series fully confident in its identity would find themselves wanting more.
Dutton Ranch premieres on May 15th, with new episodes every Friday on Paramount+ and Paramount Network.
