Back in the saddle.
Beth and Rip’s hotly anticipated “Yellowstone” spinoff show is here, “Dutton Ranch,” and after some growing pains in its muddled series premiere, it’s a winner.
It’s not the most enticing show – it’s a crime-soaked cowboy soap opera with clunky writing – but that’s what “Yellowstone” was too, so it is a great sequel series.
It delivers exactly what’s advertised: more of brassy Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and her husband Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) supporting each other, issuing threats, and committing felonies, in between mundane chores on their ranch.
Executive produced by “Yellowstone” mastermind Taylor Sheridan (but created by Chad Feehan, who was let go three weeks before premiere), “Dutton Ranch” follows Rip and Beth after the events of “Yellowstone,” as they’ve moved to a ranch in Texas.
Their troubled yet sweet adopted son, Carter (Finn Little), is along for the ride and finishing high school.
They go about their daily lives operating their new ranch. And, they run into more interesting problems like possible arson, murder, and hostile new neighbors (led by a tough matriarch played by Annette Bening, and her volatile son, played by Jai Courtney).
Carter also gets a sprinkling of a “young love” plot.
Ed Harris is another new heavy-hitter cast addition, playing the local vet with the perfect amount of gruff, world-weary charm.
“Yellowstone” (which drew over 16 million viewers) aired on Paramount from 2018 to 2024, following the Dutton family in Montana. There was patriarch John (Kevin Costner), his sons Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Jamie (Wes Bentley), daughter Beth, and son-in-law, Rip.
John and Jamie didn’t survive the show.
Kayce is still alive, but he’s busy on his own show (CBS’ “Marshals”). That’s more of a procedural, so, although “Dutton Ranch” is the second “Yellowstone” spinoff, it’s the main successor show with the same spirit and tone.
“Dutton Ranch” has plenty of “Yellowstone” flavored scenes. After Beth informs Rip that they have a problem with one of the locals, he drily tells her, “I’m glad you’re making friends, honey.”
There are fights in parking lots, and more than one dramatic fire. There are business meetings dripping with veiled threats, and sweeping shots of horse riding. Characters give speeches about land, legacy, and the life of a cowboy.
It’s playing the greatest hits.
Costner’s shadow still looms large; John Dutton gets mentioned several times.
The locals have elaborate names that sound like they’re from pulpy ‘80s novels, like Beulah (Bening), Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) and Rob-Will (Courtney).
The series premiere feels like a patchwork cluster of disconnected “Yellowstone” tinted scenes, rather than a coherent story. The second episode smooths it out, but “Dutton Ranch” has a weirdly meandering start before it gets going.
It’s also about as subtle as a sledgehammer. It has lines of dialogue like “God loves cowboys,” and one of the villainous characters literally runs a slaughterhouse.
The writing ranges from middling to clumsy (there’s faux-profound dialogue about how the Texas sky stretches on forever. Ah yes, nobody’s ever made that observation before!).
But then again, most “Yellowstone” viewers weren’t tuning in for subtly and elevated writing, they were showing up to watch cowboys kick ass and take names. There’s plenty of that in “Dutton Ranch,” along with strong performances.
It’s got great actors like Harris and Bening chewing scenery, a few compelling story threads – and of course, plenty of Beth Dutton’s tough-talking antics.
The 16 million people who tuned into Yellowstone” will likely enjoy “Dutton Ranch.”
“Dutton Ranch” premieres May 15 on Paramount at 8 p.m. and Paramount+.
