The release of a new Taylor Sheridan project is usually met with either excitement or curiosity about how many shows the famed TV creator will give us, particularly in quick succession. After the success of Yellowstone, we now have the spin-off series, Dutton Ranch, starring Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler.

Last month, it was revealed that showrunner Chad Feehan would not be returning to the series if it continues beyond its first season, with Deadline reporting that he “ faced challenges handling the bold-faced cast, a key component of showrunner’s job.” But what’s clear from the first four episodes provided for review is that Feehan certainly tapped into the formula that Sheridan has set and fans have adored.

Dutton Ranch release date: May 15 at 3:00 a.m. ET on Paramount+
Number of episodes: 9
Cast: Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Ed Harris, Annette Bening, Finn Little, Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, J.R. Villarreal, Marc Menchaca, Natalie Alyn Lind

What is ‘Dutton Ranch’ about

Leaving Montana, Beth, Rip and Carter (Finn Little) move to Rio Paloma, Texas, after their ranch burns down in a fire. They now have to start fresh without the weight of the reputation of the Dutton name.

The family purchases land and comes to the attention of Beulah Jackson, played by Annette Bening. The Jacksons are the biggest players in the ranching industry in the area, and they’re not particularly welcoming to new competition. It also doesn’t take long for Beth to be irritated by Beulah.

But just as we explored the Dutton family dynamics and their complexities, there’s a lot to learn about Beulah’s family, particularly her reckless son, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), and his brother, Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba).

For Carter, we also get to explore his new high school life, including his relationship with Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind).

Newcomers to the ‘Yellowstone’ universe steal the show

If you come to Dutton Ranch because you love Yellowstone, you’ll certainly be satisfied with the storytelling in the series, but you’ll also be completely captivated by the show’s new cast members, particularly Bening. Her performance quickly makes you feel invested in exactly what demons Beulah has, and may be trying to hide.

While Beth and Rip are still very much the characters we met in Yellowstone, and their dynamic together continues to be endearing, with the couple out of Montana, there’s room for more exploration of all the different layers of these characters, from their most fierce characteristics to softer sides.

In looking at just four episodes of the show, once Beth and Rip make the move to Texas, the pace slows as we learn more about the new players in this world. So we’ll be waiting to see if things pick up later in the season, but it does seem promising. You just have to stick it out through some flatter moments.

For Carter and Oreana, hopefully there’s some juicy character and story development coming for them, how their budding romance will evolve, how much turmoil will be involved, but they certainly hold their own to start the show. If Natalie Alyn Lind’s name sounds familiar, her mom is the iconic Barbara Alyn Woods (One Tree Hill, Honey I Shrunk the Kids) and her sisters are Emily Alyn Lind (We Were Liars) and Alyvia Alyn Lind (Wayward), so being incredibly captivating on screen may be a unique family trait. But Lind’s character is particularly intriguing for how the Dutton Ranch story could continue.

Leaning into its high drama, emotional moments and the wit of many of its characters, Dutton Ranch provides enough of a foundation to keep us watching the new addition to the Duttonverse.