Dutton Ranch starts with a bang and quickly announces itself as one of the best shows of the year. At times, you’ll think you’re watching a sixth season of Yellowstone but as the series progresses, its own identity becomes apparent with its sudden change of direction and pace.
Beth and Rip are my favourite characters in this universe and when it was first announced they were getting their own show, this time in Texas, I was more than excited. Apprehensive of the fact that Taylor Sheridan did not write the show, the passion and dedication of both Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly for their characters make this shows evolution seem effortless.
The series starts unbelievably well, tying up loose ends and connecting the dots from the ending of Yellowstone. Beth and Rip find themselves in Rio Paloma, with their beautiful new ranch, rich in history and all is seemingly going to plan. But as we know with these two, peace with have to wait.
Annette Bening and Ed Harris are fantastic additions to this show. Bringing such raw and meaningful performances that keep you guessing where there loyalties lie.
As far as first seasons go, especially sequel series’s this is up there with the best. Keeping it familiar, with a fresh, beautiful new location, conflict, drama and is so Western is bleeds out of the TV.
Season 1 overall is a worthy successor. The new threat is develops into something we’ve not dealt with, with these characters and sets up Season 2 brilliantly. I eagerly await Season 2.
Review by Joe
After nine episodes, Dutton Ranch Season 1 has sadly come to an end, and what an intense finale it delivered.
The latest chapter in the Yellowstone universe follows Beth, Rip, and Carter as they leave Montana behind for a fresh start in Rio Paloma. While familiar faces remain at the heart of the story, it’s the new additions that truly elevate the series. Annette Bening and Ed Harris are outstanding, while Natalie Alyn Lind’s Oreana and J.R. Villarreal’s Azul quickly becomes two of the show’s most compelling characters. None of which are pushed to the sidelines in fact, they’re developed so well that there are times Beth and Rip almost take a back seat, and that’s a huge compliment.
Carter’s journey of self discovery is another highlight, with his relationship with Oreana becoming one of the season’s strongest storylines. It all builds beautifully towards an emotional and intense final ten minutes.
I was slightly worried heading into the finale, unsure how everything would be wrapped up, but it exceeded my expectations. It was intense, thoroughly entertaining, and set up Season 2 perfectly.
There was always going to be pressure on Dutton Ranch following the enormous success of Yellowstone, especially after the more mixed reception to The Marshals. Thankfully, this first season feels like the perfect balance. It captures everything that made Yellowstone great while carving out its own identity through compelling new characters and storylines that constantly leave you wanting more. And of course BETH AND RIP
The stakes heading into Season 2 might just be the highest we’ve seen in the Yellowstone universe, and I genuinely can’t wait to see what happens next. But now I’m sad as my Fridays have just become boring.
Review by Luke
After what felt like the end of Yellowstone, the highly anticipated first season of Dutton Ranch has finally come to an end, and it’s a brilliant continuation of Beth, Rip, and Carter’s story.
From the very first episode, I knew Dutton Ranch wasn’t going to feel much different from Yellowstone, delivering the same pain, hardship, and emotional storytelling as Beth and Rip leave Montana behind for the dry landscapes of Texas. With a new ranch and plenty of fresh faces, the show remains intense throughout. However, for a series centred around Beth and Rip, they surprisingly take a back seat in their own story.
This season focuses more on Carter’s journey this season as he struggles with his education, friendships, and relationships. His romance with Oreana is one of the strongest parts of the season, even if her character shares more than a few similarities with Beth. On the friendship side of Carter’s story, we’re introduced to Dwight White, who has to be one of the strangest additions to the Yellowstone universe. Despite only knowing the characters for what feels like a matter of days, he somehow has a huge influence on their lives, making his role feel a little forced.
My favourite addition to Dutton Ranch has to be the 10 Petal Ranch and its characters, especially Beulah, played by Annette Bening, who is easily the standout of the season. Following this family who somehow have even more internal conflict than the Duttons themselves, adds a whole new dynamic to the story. Their storyline expands the world in an exciting way and lays a strong foundation for Season 2.
As much as I enjoyed Dutton Ranch, I couldn’t help but feel that parts of it were incredibly predictable. Several characters feel like echoes of ones we’ve already seen, with clear parallels between Rip and Carter, Beth and Oreana, Joaquin and Jamie, particularly in their relationships with their birth fathers and even Lloyd and Zachariah. That’s why Beulah stands out so much; she feels like one of the few genuinely fresh and original characters introduced this season. The predictability also extends to some of the major story beats, with Joaquin’s father’s return feeling obvious from a mile away, as did the death of the season’s antagonist, Rob Will.
Overall, Dutton Ranch is a fantastic addition to the Yellowstone universe and opens the door to plenty of exciting possibilities for Season 2. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was missing the heights of Taylor Sheridan projects where I was constantly hoping for more original characters and less reliance on familiar archetypes. Even so, it’s an engaging first season that leaves plenty to look forward to.
Review by Eccy