Why Dutton Ranch Is Better Off Without Taylor Sheridan

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While Yellowstone launched Taylor Sheridan into the spotlight, it’s unusual for TV show creators to become household names. Typically, only those within the industry and dedicated fans know who leads a series creatively. However, Chad Feehan, the creator of Dutton Ranch – the new Yellowstone spinoff focusing on Beth and Rip – has also gained recognition with viewers.

The new series launched with a two-part premiere on Paramount+ this Friday, but news earlier in the week focused on the firing of actor Forrie J. Feehan from the show. While details are limited, reports suggest the dismissal stemmed from ongoing conflicts with series creator Taylor Sheridan, co-stars Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly, and 101 Studios executive David Glasser.

Although Feehan, the creator and showrunner of Sheridan’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves, has been let go, the first season of Dutton Ranch will still air all nine episodes as planned. This change does raise questions about who will lead the show if Dutton Ranch gets a second season, and whether Sheridan will be involved.

It’s unlikely that will happen. Taylor Sheridan’s contract with Paramount finishes at the end of 2028. While Dutton Ranch might still be available on their streaming service after that, Sheridan will be moving to NBCUniversal. Plus, he’s currently very busy with several other TV shows and is planning to return to making movies.

It’s probably a good thing Taylor Sheridan isn’t more involved with the Dutton Ranch spinoff. The show is already facing criticism for being too much like Yellowstone, and having Sheridan heavily involved would essentially make it feel like another season of the original. Beth and Rip are already working hard to establish their own ranch, and they don’t need to be overshadowed by Sheridan’s presence.

Dutton Ranch Puts Story & Character Before Taylor Sheridan’s Brand

Taylor Sheridan’s hit show, Yellowstone, completely changed television, and he’s earned all the praise it’s brought him. But as the series went on, it felt like he was more focused on building his own reputation as a Westerns expert than on delivering a truly satisfying conclusion to the story.

Before creating Yellowstone and becoming a screenwriter, Taylor Sheridan was a skilled actor. It’s fitting, then, that he also appeared in the show as Travis Wheatley. While Travis’s boastful personality could be annoying, that was intentional. Unlike John Dutton, who focused solely on land and family history, Travis offered viewers a different perspective on cowboy life.

However, the show Yellowstone damaged a character in its next-to-last episode. It was frustrating enough that so much time focused on Travis—with scenes of him playing strip poker with models and inappropriately touching his younger girlfriend (Bella Hadid)—instead of building towards a strong finale centered on the Dutton family and their fight.

Travis went too far when he pressured Beth Dutton into a strip poker game and filmed her as she began to undress. This behavior is deeply disrespectful to women, and it was especially upsetting because Beth was still mourning the recent loss of her father. While a director on Yellowstone claimed the scene was meant to be comedic, it’s difficult to believe anyone actually found it amusing.

Although Dutton Ranch could benefit from some humor, the show definitely doesn’t need more of the character Travis Wheatley. If Taylor Sheridan becomes more involved with Dutton Ranch, the main concern would likely be when Travis will appear. Considering how important Travis is to the Yellowstone storyline, it would seem strange if Sheridan didn’t include him, especially if he’s already working on the show.

Travis Wheatley is a confident performer, and he easily blends in with the powerful figures at Yellowstone Ranch. However, Beth and Rip are currently vulnerable and struggling for survival against the ambitious Beulah Jackson, making Travis’s presence in the story unnecessary.

Even though some people dislike Dutton Ranch, the new show does a better job developing its characters than Yellowstone did. While Beth and Rip still have their strong relationship that fans love, they’re now able to live the lives they want without being held back by the weight of John Dutton’s history.

Beth is now more relaxed and at peace, though she remains incredibly intimidating. What makes watching Dutton Ranch so compelling is her newfound vulnerability. Though Taylor Sheridan created both Beth and Rip, the story rightfully centers on them, and it should continue to do so.

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2026-05-16 19:39