Dutton Ranch Sets Its Official Rip Yellowstone Replacement Down A Much Darker Path

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Dutton Ranch. The Yellowstone story continues with Dutton Ranch, but it’s taking a noticeably grimmer turn, especially regarding the future of Rip Wheeler’s role. While Luke Grimes’ Marshals kicked off this new phase of Taylor Sheridan’s world, the CBS series feels quite different from the original Yellowstone. It’s structured more like a standard police show, which makes sense given it’s airing on regular television. But for fans who prefer the style of the original, Paramount+ has launched Dutton Ranch, focusing on the storylines of Beth Dutton, played by Kelly Reilly, and Rip Wheeler, played by Cole Hauser.

Following the end of Yellowstone and the sale of the ranch, Dutton Ranch picks up with the family as they start a new chapter in Texas. After briefly finding peace on a quiet ranch in Montana, they’re forced to relocate and try their hand at cattle ranching. The series also follows their adopted son, Carter, and the development of his own compelling story.

Carter’s Dutton Ranch Arc Explained

Finn Little, the actor who plays Carter, has acknowledged that his character is often seen as a younger version of Rip Wheeler – a comparison made ever since Beth brought Carter to the Dutton Ranch. While Hauser’s character was initially wary of Carter, he eventually warmed up to him and even pointed out their shared traits to John Dutton III. However, as the series continues, it’s becoming apparent that Carter faces a tougher journey than Rip did, despite currently being treated more like a son than an assistant.

Carter is clearly loved by Beth and Rip, but his life gets complicated by romance, especially since he’s now attending school as an older student. There, he meets Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) and a love story begins. However, Oreana has a difficult situation – she’s in a troubled relationship and comes from the powerful Jackson family, as the granddaughter of Beluah Jackson (Annette Bening) and daughter of Rob-Will (Jai Courtney). Despite a strained relationship with her grandmother, Oreana is set to inherit 10-Petals Ranch, which poses a major obstacle to Beth and Rip’s dream of building a legitimate cattle ranch in Texas.

How Carter’s Dutton Ranch Future Is Darker Than Rip’s Journey In Yellowstone

Both Carter and Rip face challenges in their relationships due to their partners’ backgrounds. Rip’s main hurdle with Beth was navigating her family’s power and earning the approval of John Dutton. Carter’s situation is more complex: he has to win over Oreana’s family, who are enemies of the Duttons, and convince his own parents that a relationship with her is worthwhile. While Rip primarily needed to prove his worth to John, Carter faces a double challenge of gaining acceptance from two opposing sides.

The show Dutton Ranch is enhancing Yellowstone by creating a more intimate and relatable story. A great example is how they’re developing Little’s character, giving him more depth beyond just supporting Beth and Rip. It’s notable that in just two episodes, Dutton Ranch has progressed Carter’s storyline more effectively than the entire 10-week run of Marshals with Tate. Although Carter faces challenges, his journey is proving to be captivating.

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2026-05-18 19:30