After 5 Episodes, Dutton Ranch Officially Became A Yellowstone Reboot

In Dutton Ranch, Rip finally had his own outfit after 25 years of loyal service to the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Meanwhile, Beth turned her back on her career as a corporate raider and banking executive after finding a peaceful life with her rancher husband. Beth was setting up a Dutton Ranch farm-to-table beef business before foot-and-mouth disease claimed their cattle. To pay their bills, Rip had to return to his old job and offered his services to Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening) as the 10-Petals Ranch’s new foreman. Meanwhile, Beth hatched a grander scheme to bring the Dutton Ranch to eventual solvency. To accomplish their goals, Dutton Ranch became a new version of Yellowstone.

Beulah Jackson Hired Beth To Do What John Dutton Wouldn’t Let Her Do In Yellowstone

Dutton Ranch episode 5 ends with Beth Dutton talking herself into a job as Beulah Jackson’s partner. Beth isn’t playing the role of fixer, which remains Joaquin Reyes’ (Juan Pablo Raba) domain. Instead, Beth is representing Beulah and 10-Petals Ranch in a new business endeavor.

Essentially, Beth pitched Beulah on the same farm-to-table steak business plan she had for the Dutton Ranch. Monetizing the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch was something Beth urged John Dutton (Kevin Costner) to do, but her father chose preservation over profit. “And it killed him,” Beth grimly tells Beulah. Under Beth’s plan, she will represent the 10-Petals Ranch, which will provide premium cuts of steak to major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Las Vegas, which Beth calls “recession-proof.” Beth’s cut is 20% of the profits, and she wants to be out in five years, but Dutton promises results in one year.

One of Beth’s ultimatums is that the Dutton name is off-limits because she wants to preserve her brand for when the Dutton Ranch is up and running again. However, the 10-Petals must invest in their own black angus cattle, because Beulah’s “Mexican crossbreed” cows won’t cut it. It seems like Beth is using Beulah, but the Jackson matriarch sees it the other way. Beth and Beulah are now allies of convenience, but both women have secret plans to cut the other’s throat if and when their alliance fractures. However, this means Beth Dutton will be spending more time in business suits like she did in Yellowstone.

Rip Is 10-Petals Ranch’s New Foreman

Rip charmed Beulah into getting hired as 10-Petals’ new foreman, immediately replacing Chet (Hart Denton), who took over when Beulah’s violent son, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), went to rehab. Rip’s mandate is to do “whatever’s necessary” to set the 10-Petals’ bunkhouse in order. The sight of Rip Wheeler striding into the 10-Petals’ bunkhouse and intimidating the cowboys to fall in line was eerily reminiscent of Yellowstone. Rip reverted to his cold, fearsome style, barking orders, but also letting Chet and Austin (Sterlin English) brawl as he familiarized himself with the bunkhouse’s rivalries.