The 2-episode premiere of Dutton Ranch will be here before we know it, but fans can’t contain their questions or anticipation surrounding the Beth and Rip spinoff in the interim.
Ever since the news dropped earlier this year that Dutton Ranch would swap its Montana mountain backdrop for the never-ending skies of South Texas, fans everywhere wondered why. While Taylor Sheridan’s adoration for all things Fort Worth and the Permian Basin is clear as day from Jimmy’s transfer to the Four Sixes and Landman’s entire plotline, the Southern destination doesn’t make sense for the continuation of the Yellowstone universe—or so fans think. After all, the Yellowstone series finale suggested that Beth and Rip moved to a ranch in Dillon, Montana, not to be confused with Dillon, Texas (the fictional town from Friday Night Lights). This all begs one prominent question…
“Does anyone know the storyline as to why they relocated to Texas? After Kayce sold the Yellowstone back to the Broken Rock Tribe, Beth had bought another ranch in Montana,” one fan commented on the official Dutton Ranch trailer.
As of right now, it’s unclear why Beth and Rip uprooted their lives in Montana to move to Texas with Carter in tow. What we do know is that they bought a ranch in Texas, where new drama seems to be waiting to unfold. So, if their goal was to escape their storied past and infamous reputations in Montana, a move alone might not do the trick. While that’s unfortunate for them—a couple in love, just trying to build a future together—it’s a blessing for viewers near and far. Who knows what kind of chaos awaits!
“It has the best parts of what I loved about Yellowstone,” director Greg Yaitanes told Collider back in March. “…A lot of the people involved with Dutton Ranch really felt like they were making Yellowstone Season 6.”
Considering Beth is seen toting a rifle, Rip stumbles upon a buried body, and there are multiple fiery montages (both figuratively and literally) in the trailer, it’s safe to say we’re all in for an attention-grabbing 2-hour television event on Friday, May 15.