Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe just got its biggest update in months as Rip and Beth’s upcoming spinoff series finally gets a title. The neo-Western television franchise is in a state of limbo since the flagship series concluded last year with its fifth season, marking an early ending made necessary by Kevin Costner’s abrupt exit. With another series, the prequel 1923, also finished after two seasons, the future of Yellowstone was partly murky, with several new shows on the horizon, but with very few details known to the public. Now, things are looking clearer for one very exciting spinoff.

Of the numerous Yellowstone spinoffs on the way, Rip and Beth’s upcoming series is the most exciting. The show is set to take place after the final season of Yellowstone, depicting the continuing adventures of one branch of the Dutton family. Now, the spinoff finally has an official title, Dutton Ranch. As obvious a name as this is, it does offer some important insights into what viewers should expect from the series and how Rip and Beth will move forward after the world-shattering events of the Yellowstone finale.

Rip and Beth Are Starting Their Own Ranch
The Duttons Will Start a New Ranch After the Events of Yellowstone
Beth (Keily Reilly) rests her head on Rip’s (Cole Hauser) shoulder as they look out in YellowstoneImage via Paramount.

The title Dutton Ranch offers a few key hints about what audiences should expect from Yellowstone’s next spinoff. As hinted in the Yellowstone finale, the spinoff will follow Rip and Beth as they start a new ranch apart from the land that her family owned for over a century. Beth and Kayce were forced to sell the land to avoid the overwhelming inheritance tax that followed their father’s death. While Kayce managed to finagle a deal in which his family kept the small tract of land known as East Camp, Beth and her husband chose to go elsewhere, remaining in Montana but leaving their home in Jackson County behind. Dutton Ranch confirms that they will kick off a new operation, which is sure to be much smaller than the one headed by John Dutton. Nevertheless, they and their new employees will work hard to kick off a new legacy that can hopefully be passed down to other generations of Duttons to come.

Another interesting facet of Rip and Beth’s spinoff series is that the couple is leaning into the legacy of the Duttons. Assuming the series title correlates to the name of their ranch, the fact that they choose to name the land after the Duttons is significant. They could just have easily named the ranch after Rip’s surname, Wheeler, but instead stick with the name Dutton. This is surprising for Beth, who has often struggled under the weight of the Dutton legacy, which hasn’t always been kind to her. Rip, while not a Dutton, was raised by John and Evelyn, making him an honorary member of the family despite not sharing their last name. The choice to name the new ranch after the Duttons suggests that Rip and Beth wish to continue the family’s legacy even after its centerpiece, the Yellowstone Ranch, escaped their grasp. However, they may find that the Dutton legacy is far more complicated than they realize.

Lloyd from Yellowstone in front of an image from the show’s opening.
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Will Beth Dutton Make the Same Mistakes as Her Father?
The Duttons Have a Bad Relationship With Ranches
Beth Dutton ponders her next move on the porch of her father’s house with a shotgun on her lap in Yellowstone.Image via Paramount Pictures
The Dutton family legacy isn’t all sunshine and roses; all too often, the family loses sight of the important facets of life and buckles under the pressure of defending its honor. This is never more apparent than with John Dutton III. Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone character inherited the Yellowstone Ranch from his father, becoming the fifth Dutton to own the land. He, more than any of his ancestors, felt the weight of the family legacy to protect his land at any cost. In a lifelong lapse in judgment, John raised his children each with a specific purpose in upholding the family ranch. Lee, his eldest, would follow in his footsteps as the next proprietor of the Yellowstone. Beth, a businesswoman, would use her corporate contacts to destroy any opposition the Duttons face in the business world. Jamie, an attorney, would use his legal prowess to obscure any shady activities the Duttons may commit to protect their land. And Kayce, the youngest, would follow in his father’s footsteps as the next Livestock Commissioner. A terrific plan in theory, but not in practice, John Dutton sacrificed the love of his children to uphold the family ranch. By the end of his life, John had lost one son, alienated another, and maintained a distant relationship with Kayce. Beth, while always loyal to her father, was emotionally broken by John’s relentless strategy. In the end, John’s unending devotion to the Yellowstone Ranch destroyed his family. It now falls on Beth’s shoulders not to make the same mistakes as her father.

By starting a new Dutton ranch, Beth opens up the possibility of continuing her family’s most toxic trait. The Dutton blood runs hot through her veins, threatening to push her closer to becoming her father. Hopefully, Beth can find a way to break the cycle of abuse, forging a new legacy for the Dutton family. She can prize her ranch, but it doesn’t have to be above her family. Beth has seen enough from her father and brothers to know not to make the same mistakes as they did. With Rip at her side, Beth can forge a better future for the Dutton family, beginning with their adoptive son, Carter. If the couple can find a way to maintain a ranch without letting it consume them, they can rewrite the Dutton family’s future in a fresh and hopeful new light.

Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) stands outside smirking in 1923
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What To Expect From Rip and Beth’s Spinoff
Rip and Beth Are Making a New Start
Rip (Cole Hauser) and Beth (Kelly Reilly) embrace in Yellowstone.Image via Paramount.
Dutton Ranch will be a key part of the Yellowstone franchise’s future. The spinoff will most likely repurpose storylines from Yellowstone’s planned Season 6, which were ultimately scrapped when the series came to an early conclusion following Kevin Costner’s exit. As such, Dutton Ranch will be the primary Yellowstone series moving forward and the most important in continuing the story of the Dutton family. Viewers can also expect Dutton Ranch to include some crossovers with Kayce’s as-yet-untitled spinoff, creating a more cohesive television universe.

Rip and Beth’s spinoff, Dutton Ranch, is the show to watch for any fans of the original Yellowstone. It’s simple, a two-word title reveals all fans need to know about the show’s direction and the mindset of its two lead characters. Hopefully, Beth and her new husband can find a way to honor the Dutton legacy without making the same mistakes that have plagued the family for generations.