‘Dutton Ranch’: The ‘Yellowstone’ Universe Moves To Texas With Ed Harris and Annette Bening

Alci Rengifo

Most big franchises develop a set formula that provides a template for everything else that spins out of the original hit. “Dutton Ranch” is the latest expansion of the world Taylor Sheridan fist created with “Yellowstone.” The latter became a bonafide hit, the type where fan bases form around certain characters and endless types of merchandise get released. Along with his other slate of shows released since, “Yellowstone” established Sheridan as the definer of the modern TV Western. “Dutton Ranch” is an attempt at preserving some of the spark of the original series’ beloved characters. After the departure of original star Kevin Costner, how much of it could be maintained was left up in the air. Though Sheridan is executive producer, it is creator Chad Feehan who attempts to now steer the focus to Dutton heir Beth (Kelly Reilly) and her husband, Yellowstone foreman Rip (Cole Hauser). The result isn’t groundbreaking but more of an adequate fix.

The new series wastes no time in kicking off with grand melodrama. Just as Beth and Rip seem to be living the life on their Montana ranch, riding under the stars and sharing big romantic statements, a sudden forest fire tears through the land, destroying everything. Rip barely makes it out of the flames carrying a calf. What caused the fire? Who knows? Now the couple’s best financial option is to move with adopted son Carter (Finn Little) to the fictional town of Rio Paloma, Texas. This places them close to the border and fresh trouble. The couple purchases a sprawling new ranch, to be renamed Dutton Ranch, with what’s left of their resources, complete with a nice count of Black Angus steer to get started. Alas, there can be no peace in these parts. The disappearance of a ranch hand who worked for local land-owning powerhouse Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening) is creating tensions, not least because Beulah’s son Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) is a hothead with secrets. Beth, being the daughter of the late John Dutton (Costner), can smell instant competition and danger. 

The melodrama of “Dutton Ranch” is pure formula, designed solely to keep you waiting for the next episode. At this point it is the values of the show and its attitude which are more important. With the Sheridanverse having branched out to other, even richer territories with shows like “1923,” “Landman” and the procedural “Marshals,” this series is more concerned with giving fans more of what they love about Beth and Rip. The first episode features plenty of swooning cowboy lingo beneath the stars, or brisk words of wisdom when times get tough (“Sweetheart, you can’t chase peace. You gotta live it”). Beth’s classic, no-nonsense demeanor shines when she first faces off with Beulah over the latter’s control of the local slaughter trade. When Rip picks up a new hire for the ranch, ex-con Zachariah (Marc Menchaca), all it takes is the phrase “God loves cowboys” for the two men to bond. 

The talents running “Dutton Ranch” are no fools and know that such old-fashioned TV has wide appeal. In a clear move to expand its audience, this series also has more Latin features. Rip’s foreman is Azul (J.R. Villareal), a Mexican who gets bullied by the idiot racist Rob-Will. Rip of course walks over, punches out Rob-Will and states that he “hates racist assholes.” Beulah also has a Mexican surrogate son, Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba), who knows what happened to the missing ranch hand. Sheridan and company clearly don’t care if they lose anyone from the anti-immigrant wing of the MAGA crowd. Plenty of Spanish is even sprinkled in everyone’s dialogue, to the point where Rip starts picking up phrases. We are in Texas now, after all. There is also the commendable, anti-ageist casting of renowned actors like Annette Bening, who is fantastic as the steel-willed Beulah and Ed Harris as Dr. Everett McKinney, a Vietnam veteran and veterinarian. Everett bonds with Beth when she insists they save a horse injured in an accident instead of putting it down. Harris is a natural at evoking small town charm and the wisdom of a man who has seen it all. 

As for the actual plotting of the show, it’s all entertaining fluff. Some of it starts too quickly and feels overly calculated, like Rip discovering a shocking secret on his new property and keeping it from Beth for unknown reasons we need to keep watching to find out. Then there’s enjoyable but predictable cheese, such as Carter struggling to fit in at school because he’s cursed with being too nice. He soon meets Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind), a lively pretty blonde who, of course, likes to shoot, drives a jeep and leaves Carter smitten. Rip’s advice is, “to just listen.” If only he takes that advice, but poor Carter keeps chasing after this girl even after she tricks him into buying beer for her and some guy friends who leave him hanging at the rodeo, and later informs him she has a boyfriend. Oh, and she is Beulah’s rebellious granddaughter. Then again, without such flourishes, this would not be a “Yellowstone” good time.

“Dutton Ranch” is a snack for fans. You get Rip, Beth, a new antagonist played by a great actor and those sweeping wide shots of wide open spaces (though, not as gorgeous as Montana). Brian Tyler’s theme song is a shadow of the grandiose “Yellowstone” theme, but might suffice in the absence of the original. As expected, there are also plenty of big trucks. Is this great TV? No, but it isn’t aiming to be anything other than another extension of its hit predecessor. Boring it most certainly is not. Cole Hauser sips his coffee on the porch and Beth stares down anyone she doesn’t like in town. In other words, it is just what we expect and probably want out of this world if the studio powers that be insist on not letting these characters ride into the sunset.

“Dutton Ranch” season one begins streaming May 15 with new episodes premiering Fridays on Paramount+.