Dutton Ranch, like a lot of Paramount+ dramas, makes me feel like it should begin with Bill Murray standing in front of the camera, saying, “Well, it’s Yellowstone time… again”.
I haven’t seen a massive amount of Yellowstone, but it’s clearly one of the big success stories, although when it comes to Taylor Sheridan series, I’m more partial to Lioness and Landman, respectively to see Zoe Saldana kicking ass, and Billy Bob Thornton being cool, care-free and sweary.
This time round, there’s a huge fire on the plains and animals are trapped. It’s a bad time all-round, but the existence of flames do seem to just creep up on the pair, as if they couldn’t see it in the distance. Still, it’s a drama, not reality.
Fast-forward 6 months and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly – Under Salt Marsh) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser – Olympus Has Fallen) are in Rio Paloma, and like the aforementioned Sheridan shows, seeing established stars chew the scenery is what we’ve come to see, and there’s plenty of that.
When Beth needs some cattle to be slaughted, since she and Rip have now bought the titular ranch, once it’s renamed with her surname, the woman to call is hard-ass Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening – The Bride!), and when horses are injured, Everett McKinney (Ed Harris – How To Make A Killing) is the man to call; and I think I’d rather have him on the early evening reality vet shows than the usual incumbents.
Jai Courtney can be hit-or-miss as an actor, but he’s reasonable here, as the hot-headed Rob-Will, who gets himself into a bit of bother, early on. Still, when I saw him take a punch to the face at one point, I thought, “That’s for Terminator Genisys!” 😀
Meanwhile, amongst the younger cast, Beth’s adopted-ish son, Carter (Finn Little – The Surfer), finds young love isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, although maybe he’ll find solace in the lovely Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind – Pet Sematary: Bloodlines)?
As is the way with a Taylor Sheridan show, Dutton Ranch is a very cosy type of TV drama, like a comfy pair of slippers, and this does what you’d expect. Yes, it’s quite predictable at times, but that’s not an issue.
Thanks to our friends at Paramount+ for the screener prior to release.
Dutton Ranch is not available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but is on Paramount+ from tomorrow.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 45 minutes per episode (9 episodes. First 2 in week 1, then one each week)
Release date: May 15th 2026
Studio: Paramount+
Format: 2.00:1
Series Directors: Christina Alexandra Voros, Phil Abraham, Jessica Lowrey, Greg Yaitanes
Producer: J Todd Scott
Creator: Chad Feehan
Writers: Chad Feehan, Hayley Tibbenham, Hilary Bettis, Jacob Forman, J Todd Scott, KC Scott, Sean Conway
Music: Brian Tyler, Breton Vivian
Cast:
Beth Dutton: Kelly Reilly
Rip Wheeler: Cole Hauser
Everett McKinney: Ed Harris
Beulah Jackson: Annette Bening
Rob-Will: Jai Courtney
Oreana: Natalie Alyn Lind
Carter: Finn Little
Carol: Morgan Wade
Zacariah: Marc Menchaca
Austin Lewis: Sterlin English
Tommy: James Eddie
Sheriff Wade: Josh Stewart
Chet: Hart Denton
Cassie: Jessica Belkin
Delilah: Neyla Cantu
Anna Dupree: Dale Dickey
Margot Tyler: Isidora Goreshter
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.