Yellowstone Officially Confirms Rip’s Replacement in Dutton Ranch

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Taylor Sheridan’s popular Western series is continuing with a new show featuring Rip (Cole Hauser) and Beth (Kelly Reilly). Following the conclusion of Yellowstone in 2024 after five seasons, this spinoff follows the couple as they move to Texas and start a new life running a ranch called Rio Paloma.

Dutton Ranch has perfectly captured what makes the series so compelling, earning a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show builds upon the foundation laid by Yellowstone, focusing on Beth and Rip as they take on larger roles in managing the ranch. We now see them running things themselves, alongside some fresh faces from the Yellowstone universe.

Yellowstone Replaces Rip With Chet And Azul In Dutton Ranch

Rip is now in charge of the Dutton Ranch. He’s moved beyond simply managing the day-to-day operations and handling problems for John Dutton – he’s officially running a cattle ranch. To help him, he’s already hired two ranch hands.

At the Dutton Ranch, Azul (J.R. Villarreal) and his friend Zachariah (Marc Menchaca) are now working with Rip, as Wheeler builds his own team. This is much smaller than the crew John Dutton used to have at the Yellowstone Ranch, but Azul has quickly become a leading foreman.

Azul shares many of the positive traits Rip showed while working for John Dutton on Yellowstone, like loyalty and a strong work ethic. But unlike Azul, who hasn’t proven himself yet, Chet (Hart Denton) – now running the bunkhouse at the 10-Petal Ranch – has already stepped up as a leader.

After seeing Beulah Jackson’s son, Rob-Will, kill a cowboy named Wes, Chet begins overseeing the ranch hands at Beulah’s 10-Petal Ranch and shows a harsher side of himself – similar to Rip Wheeler. Like Rip, he’s fiercely loyal. In Season 1, Episode 2 of Dutton Ranch, Beulah encourages Chet to be more aggressive, leading him to severely beat two cowboys, one of whom ends up in the hospital.

Neither Azul nor Chet fully captures the complexity of Rip Wheeler from Yellowstone, but together they serve a similar purpose. Though the original Yellowstone Ranch is no longer featured, the spirit of that place lives on through Dutton Ranch – specifically Beulah’s ranch and Beth and Rip’s work – preserving all the elements of the world we loved in Yellowstone.

Dutton Ranch Officially Changes Rip’s Yellowstone Role

Beth and Rip initially expected to spend their lives on the Dutton ranch, but the end of the Yellowstone series altered their plans. They purchased a ranch in Dillon, giving them independence and ownership of their own business, free from the restrictions John Dutton had previously placed on them.

Following a devastating fire that destroyed their Montana home, Beth and Rip start fresh by purchasing the Edwards Ranch in Texas, laying the foundation for what will become the Dutton Ranch. The first two episodes of Dutton Ranch showcase the couple’s ability to succeed, combining Rip’s practical ranching skills with Beth’s financial expertise.

Beth and Rip have always been capable, but they have potential beyond just working for John Dutton. The new show, Dutton Ranch, allows the characters from Yellowstone to grow by giving them different roles. Despite being a spinoff, it feels like a natural extension of Yellowstone and has resonated with viewers – unlike another Yellowstone sequel, Marshals, which didn’t receive as much positive attention.

Even though Rip doesn’t work directly for John Dutton anymore, he’s still helping out on Beth and his new ranch. When he discovers Wes’ body buried there, he puts it in a freezer to hide it. This keeps the couple safe for the moment, but could cause trouble down the road.

Rip is now making his own decisions and doesn’t rely on John Dutton’s instructions anymore. Instead, Chet and Azul, who oversee the main operations at Dutton Ranch, remain fiercely loyal to Rip, continuing the strong tradition established by Hauser. However, Chet seems to carry more responsibility and weight than Azul, even though both are devoted to Rip.

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2026-06-18 16:45