Dutton Ranch review: The Yellowstone story continues in this soapy spin-off

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

It’s become confusing lately to figure out which shows are actually connected to the original “Yellowstone.” Creator Taylor Sheridan first gained recognition with five seasons of the show, which centers on the Dutton family and their Montana ranch. He then created “1883” and “1923,” prequels that explored the stories of earlier Dutton generations. It all seemed simple enough at first.

This year brought us two new shows connected to Yellowstone. Marshals brings back Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, but his character wasn’t a standout in the original series, and the spin-off feels like a somewhat predictable action-police drama. It’s also not written by Taylor Sheridan, and that shows. The other new show, The Madison, is written by Sheridan and keeps the beautiful Montana scenery that was key to Yellowstone, but it follows a completely different set of characters.

The new show, Dutton Ranch, brings back beloved Yellowstone characters Beth Dutton, played by Kelly Reilly, and Rip, played by Cole Hauser, continuing their storyline. While it doesn’t quite measure up in all areas – the lead writer is Chad Feehan instead of Taylor Sheridan, and the setting moves to Texas – it feels more like the original Yellowstone than any of the other spin-offs have so far.

I’m so invested in Beth and Rip’s story! It’s heartbreaking to see them forced to leave their home after everything that happened – there’s this amazing scene of Rip riding through a wildfire, it’s intense. They’ve started over with a new ranch near Rio Paloma, close to the Mexican border, but you just know the Duttons aren’t going to be content staying low-key. They’re already butting heads with the family that owns the neighboring, much larger ranch, and honestly, I’m bracing myself for a full-blown war. Someone’s about to get seriously upset, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to end with a lot of gunfire.

Honestly, the tension in this show is all about Beth and Beulah. Beth is just…a force, the kind of woman who’d pick a fight even if she was alone! And then you have Beulah, played by Annette Bening, who is incredible. Their first scene together, arguing over how many animals to process, immediately showed you what this show is about – neither of them is backing down. It’s amazing watching Annette Bening and Sarah Paulson (who plays Beth) go head-to-head; they’re both so powerful, neither one lets the other steal the scene. It’s a battle of wills, and it even shows in their style! Both wear these huge belt buckles with their jeans, and they’re not messing around. Beth’s could probably knock someone out, but Beulah’s is seriously heavy-duty – it looks like it could hold down a whole barn in a storm! You almost wonder how they even manage to stand up with all that weight!

Beulah is a strong-willed and intimidating mother figure in her family, and her story is a familiar one. She has two sons: one who struggles with addiction and constantly relies on her support, and another who tries his best to manage things but always seems to fall short. Beulah consistently makes excuses for the former, despite his flaws.

After just the first episode, things are already seriously messy for the Duttons. John’s men, Rip and his adopted son Carter, have a habit of quickly resolving disputes with their fists, and that’s gotten them deeply involved with the Jackson family. Meanwhile, Beth seems to have found an unlikely friend in Everett, a no-nonsense but kind old vet who looks after the horses. He’s definitely someone you don’t want to cross, though!

While the new show doesn’t quite reach the dramatic heights of Yellowstone, it still offers plenty of compelling storylines, leaning more towards a glamorous soap opera. Thankfully, it retains the sharp, down-to-earth dialogue and authentic feel typical of creator Taylor Sheridan’s work. It does stick to some traditional ideas about men and women, but manages to do so without feeling overly judgmental or harmful.

Reilly and Bening are in charge, and there’s something here for them to work with.

Dutton Ranch will air from Friday 15 May on Paramount+.

Authors

Jack Seale

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2026-05-15 10:39