During the two-episode premiere of Dutton Ranch, we learned a lot about the new world where Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) find themselves.
We learned some about how they acquired their ranch in Rio Paloma, the challenges with the large 10 Penny Ranch in the region, and about the people who call the region home.
In Dutton Ranch episode 3, “Act of God Business,” we learn that the challenges are just beginning, but there are new friendships along the way.
Blossoming romance
We’ve seen Carter (Finn Little) have quite the series of ups and downs in the romance department in Texas. He seemed to make a connection with Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) in the premiere and then followed up with a second outing in the second episode. That ended with her affirming she has a boyfriend and seemingly putting him in the friend zone. And that's not the only potential complication.
Oreana is the granddaughter of Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening). She’s a wild child like her father Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), which has Beulah working overtime to remind the new sheriff (Josh Stewart) of the debt he owes her, which includes keeping Oreana out of trouble and keeping her informed. That’s not going to be easy—nor is she really content to leave Carter in the friend zone.
In episode 3, she arranges another date. She’s fed up that her boyfriend, Hoyt (Kyle Dondlinger), has stepped out on her again. So, she cajoles Carter into a little menace. Sometime around the moment Carter jumps into the bed of Hoyt’s truck for a pee and they defy the sheriff, it seems her feelings toward him change.
Things escalate quickly. Oreana is helping herself to one of Carter’s t-shirts and inviting herself over for a sleepover. It is a new romance for Carter, but it could be fraught with peril. Oreana’s wild side and family connection won’t make any of this easy.
Selling the choice cuts
Meanwhile, Beth and Rip each have their own work cut out for them. For Beth, that means putting on her old work uniform and taking a drive to Dallas. Along the way she stops off at Claudio’s (David DeLao) to pick up her choice cuts. They are as good as promised, leaving Beth with top-quality merchandise to make her sales pitch. It’s something she needs, but that Claudio needs, too. He shares that many of his top-quality work partners have shut down, sold, or struggled.
Beth heads to a high-end Dallas restaurant and works her magic. She gets one of her choice cuts of beef in front of Giles Moore (Sebastian Arcelus). He’s duly impressed, helping her secure bigger meetings and possibly lucrative deals. It’s a spot of good news, which is quickly dashed by a call from Rip to return home as quick as possible.
A terrible day
For Rip, things aren’t smooth. First, he discovers he has a problem with the herd. He puts down a sick cow and calls on Everett (Ed Harris), who confirms the worst—hoof and mouth disease. It’s a big threat that could undo the whole herd. So, with the help of Everett, he springs into action, calling on Azul (J.R. Villarreal) and Zachariah (Marc Menchaca) to gather supplies for a quarantine.
But before they can finish loading up, a car comes tearing on to the ranch. Anna Dupree (Dale Dickey) is driving the car, racing up to the ranch and hopping out with a gun trained on Zechariah. The reason he was in prison was his hand in the death of Anna’s daughter. She’s bent on revenge, but Rip uses his negotiating abilities to get her to stand down.
Later, around the quarantine campfire, Zechariah shares his story. It’s a sad tale, but it was the impetus for him getting his life together. He’s trying to turn the page, and he may have found a fresh start at the Dutton Ranch. That’s if the herd and the ranch survive the outbreak.
As the episode ends, Beth returns from Dallas. Her feelings of triumph have long been left behind. As she pulls up and crosses to the field, she sees the problem. Without even a word exchanged between them, Beth and Rip are on the same page about the threat they are facing.
I can’t wait for Beth to meet Oreana, which doesn’t happen in Dutton Ranch episode 3 due to all the disparate storylines.
It will no doubt produce some fireworks, and that’s even before Oreana’s family connections become clear. It will be interesting to see how Carter’s new romance plays out, especially as it looks like Beth and Rip are in for a big fight to keep their herd alive and thriving.
Dutton Ranch streams Fridays on Paramount+. Check back next week as we recap all the action of this first season.
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