The original Yellowstone series ended on an abrupt note after John Dutton’s sudden death, but the Dutton Ranch spin-off has the unique

opportunity to correct some of the mistakes that made the finale such a disappointing experience. It’s evident that after Kevin Costner

departed from the show, Taylor Sheridan hurried the plot, resulting in poor character development, a lack of realism, and obvious plot

 

 

holes. The last episode sees the remaining characters moving on from the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in a cheesy ending that doesn’t really do justice to the journey of the family.

Rip and Beth, specifically, purchased a smaller land to put their own ranch. The Dutton Ranch series will continue to develop Beth and Rip as they presumably work on their new ranch and try to protect it from enemies and competition. While some viewers love the power couple, many fans were highly disappointed with the ending for this couple and didn’t even feel like watching their show. However, they should recognize the unique opportunity the spin-off has to delve into the characters’ twisted psychology, the actual consequences they should face for their actions, and the scars from their unique backgrounds. Clever writing and consistency could genuinely bring the Dutton family business to a satisfying close after the terrible Yellowstone finale.

 

 

There is no doubt that there are four characters in Yellowstone that carry the emotional weight of the show: John, of course, and then Kayce, Beth, and Rip. Kevin Costner’s John died in the last season of the series, but Kayce, Beth, and Rip remain to continue the Dutton legacy for good or for worse. Luke Grimes’ Kayce Dutton will star in his own spin-off, Y: Marshals. Since this is primarily a procedural following the main character as a U.S. Marshal, it falls mostly on Rip and Beth to continue what Yellowstone left unfinished.

Much of Yellowstone explores how cycles of violence reproduce among the family, and this is especially true when it comes to John’s only daughter, Beth, and his pseudo-adoptive son, Rip. Unlike others in the show, these characters remained loyal to both the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and John, which prevented them from questioning or defying the patriarch’s ways. With terrible family backgrounds, both characters carry the wounds of their trauma and learned to cope in toxic ways, making them the true Duttons of the future.

Beth was John and Evelyn’s only daughter, and she never managed to live up to her mother’s expectations. With an emotionally absent father and living under Kayce’s shadow, Beth was a lonely kid who suffered the heavy criticism of her mother. One day, while riding along the land, Evelyn was critical of her daughter’s fear of horses. The confrontation and Beth’s lack of riding skills led to an accident where Evelyn fell off her horse. Kayce offered to go looking for help, as he was faster, but Evelyn, blaming Beth for her injury, forced her to go. By the time help came, Evelyn was dead, and Beth blamed herself.

This moment marked Beth’s personality, who developed an irrationally tough persona to try to right her mistake. Things got much worse when Jamie subjected her to an involuntary hysterectomy, pushing her to the hyper-independence she displays in the series and the untrustworthy personality she developed. This also explains why Beth needs so much approval from her father, the only parent figure who would give it to her.

Rip, on the other hand, suffered violence and neglect at the hands of his father. When Rip’s father brutally murdered Rip’s mother and little brother, he finally killed him. Rip ran away from the law and ended up taking refuge at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch under John’s care. However, far from a father figure, John offered Rip plenty of work and little opportunity to develop his life. Rip never went back to school and could never even leave the ranch, as he didn’t have any legal identification. John and the ranch were everything Rip had, and he would have died to protect them, going as far as becoming John’s muscle and personal assassin.

Their unique trauma shaped both Beth and Rip, turning them into the abusive John’s greatest allies. It’s no wonder that the two found solace in each other, given that they were both lonely people who craved John’s approval. Their situation led to a twisted romance filled with drama, cruelty, and co-dependency. Yellowstone’s finale made it look like Rip and Beth are the perfect couple, but it’s time for the Dutton Ranch spin-off to delve into these characters’ hurtful ways and to add realism to their relationship.