Dutton Ranch Review: Yellowstone’s Beth and Rip Spinoff Is the Sequel Fans Wanted

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As a big fan of the original show, I was really disappointed with Marshals. It felt like someone had just taken the basic idea and run with it, but without any of the things that made the original so great – that gritty, Western feel and the constant tension. Honestly, it even hurt my opinion of Kayce Dutton, and it made me worry they’d ruin Beth and Rip too. It just didn’t capture what made the show special in the first place.

Beth and Rip aren’t going to give up without a fight. As Beth famously said, she’ll be the one carrying on even through the worst catastrophes. This new series, Dutton Ranch, is the second spin-off from Yellowstone, but it’s the first one that really captures the spirit of the original. It explores the harsh realities of pursuing the American dream, and the high stakes create genuine drama.

Yellowstone is back, baby.

Dutton Ranch Takes the Fight to Texas

Following the events of the previous story, Dutton Ranch shows Beth and Rip building a life on their own Montana ranch, raising their son, Carter, in an unconventional family. After a devastating fire, they’re forced to rebuild and start fresh with a new chance in South Texas.

In Texas, Beth and Rip find themselves in a completely different situation than they were in Montana. There, Beth had the powerful Dutton name and Rip was known as a loyal enforcer. Now, they’re the newcomers, trying to succeed in a world dominated by established families. It’s ironic – they’ve become the very people they used to oppose on Yellowstone, outsiders trying to break into an industry controlled by those with deep roots. This role reversal creates a compelling and dramatic premise.

The family moves to a small town in Texas, close to the border, and takes over a well-loved ranch. Right away, the three main characters feel like they don’t quite fit in. Rip stands out as the only ranch hand who doesn’t speak Spanish, which could hinder his relationships with his cowboys, Azul and Zachariah. Beth quickly clashes with a powerful opponent while trying to make connections. And Carter, at 19, finds himself stuck in high school with much younger students.

Beulah, the ranch owner, is facing trouble with her sons. Rob-Will is reckless and damaging to the family’s image, and Joaquin quietly tries to seize control of the ranch. The situation strongly echoes earlier seasons of Yellowstone, with Beulah acting much like John Dutton – protecting her flawed children even when their actions are illegal.

Beth and Rip Face New Challenges on Dutton Ranch

Paramount+ gave reviewers access to only the first four of the nine episodes, but Dutton Ranch gets straight to the point. The characters are complex, and feel consistent with the style of writing from Taylor Sheridan (who created the series with former showrunner Chad Feehan). Beth and Rip face challenges not just from their rivals, but also from the harsh Texas landscape and the demands of life there.

Beth and Rip’s incredibly strong relationship faces challenges. Though deeply in love and seemingly unbreakable, hints of vulnerability suggest potential conflicts ahead. A little drama is expected – and welcome – for such a central couple, keeping the story engaging.

This spinoff is a rare example where bringing characters from the original show actually works well, and it allows for further exploration of their stories. Beth’s character in Dutton Ranch is less abrasive than in the main series; she’s still strong, but approaches situations with more nuance instead of immediately resorting to insults. The actress playing Beth does a fantastic job of showing both her vulnerability and toughness. It might seem like the character has been softened, but it’s really a natural progression after experiencing so much loss, finding love, and trying to change her approach to life in this new phase.

Rip faces a lot of challenges this season as he takes on a leadership position previously held by his mentor and Beth’s father. While he’s excited to be his own boss, the responsibility feels heavy. Hauser excels at pushing Rip when he’s forced to make tough choices, especially when those decisions take an emotional toll.

Dutton Ranch Is Practically Yellowstone Season 6

Annette Bening and Everett McKinney deliver powerful performances, which isn’t surprising given their talent – having Academy Award nominees in the cast is a huge benefit to the show, and the writing generally does justice to their skills. Meanwhile, actor Little gets a chance to shine through Carter’s coming-of-age story, though the writing limits his character to connections within the ranching community, ultimately making him feel even more isolated.

Rob-Will and Oreana aren’t particularly compelling characters, even though the show attempts to make them seem that way. Jai Courtney’s portrayal of Rob-Will as the troubled son feels overdone, and Oreana falls into the familiar Sheridan trope of the attractive, assertive blonde.

The initial four episodes of Dutton Ranch offer a compelling story where the characters face real challenges. This is a refreshing change from Yellowstone, where the Dutton family often avoided serious consequences for their actions. Here, the stakes feel genuine. The show also benefits from a lack of the preachy, judgmental commentary about outsiders that was present in some of Taylor Sheridan’s other work, although that might reappear if the show gets a second season.

Similar to Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch is visually captivating. While the scenery has changed from the mountains of Montana to the wide-open fields of Texas, the beautiful cinematography and direction by Christina Alexandra Voros make it a pleasure to watch. Episode 4, directed by Greg Yaitanes and written by Hilary Bettis, is especially dynamic and feels like a seamless continuation of Yellowstone.

You can start watching Dutton Ranch on Paramount+ with the first two episodes on May 15th. It will also air on the Paramount Network starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time the same day.

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2026-05-14 10:08