Dutton Ranch Is About To Make A Big Yellowstone Mistake With Its Best Character

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The following article contains spoilers for Dutton Ranch season 1, episode 4, “Start with a Bullet”.

Aside from Beth Dutton, Yellowstone struggled with its portrayal of female characters. While the show featured many intriguing and compelling women, they often fell into predictable and unfortunate story patterns.

The show Yellowstone frequently sidelined its female characters’ own ambitions and interests, instead focusing on their connections to the male characters. This was evident in choices like shifting Monica away from her work with Indigenous communities to focus on her husband Kayce, and completely removing the activist character Summer after John Dutton’s death. Ultimately, the women of the show were largely defined by their relationships with men, even if they had initially been presented as independent.

What really sets Dutton Ranch apart is its strong female characters. While some have pointed out similarities to Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch actually surpasses the original in this area. Beth is a leading character equal to her husband Rip, Oreana is a spirited and independent potential love interest for Carter, and Beulah Jackson might be the most compelling villain in the entire Yellowstone universe.

It looks like Dutton Ranch might be repeating a pattern seen with the women of Yellowstone, this time with the character Beulah. Episode 3 revealed that Beulah and Everett McKinney, the vet from Rio Paloma, used to be romantically involved, and episode 4, “Start with a Bullet,” expands on their past relationship.

I watched as Beulah managed to get Everett out to the 10 Petal Ranch, and she practically pleaded with him to share a drink with her. While they were having whiskey, they started talking about their families – Beulah opened up about her son, Rob-Will, and his struggles with addiction, and Everett shared memories of his son, Levi, who had passed away. It was clear they both understood each other’s pain and offered a comforting shoulder to lean on. But while Beulah seemed to want things to be more than friendship, to maybe recapture what they once had, Everett insisted they were just bad for each other.

Beulah is devastated when Everett dismisses her, leaving her in tears for the remainder of the fourth episode of Dutton Ranch. She’s emotionally overwhelmed and visibly upset when she talks to Joaquin later that day. This is a concerning development for such a strong character, and given what we’ve seen in Yellowstone, things likely won’t improve for Beulah Jackson anytime soon.

Beulah & Everett’s Connection Is Good Drama, But It Shouldn’t Weaken Her Character

Giving Beulah and Everett a shared history adds a compelling layer to the story, creating lots of opportunities for conflict. Currently, Beulah is the main obstacle for Beth and Rip, while Everett is their biggest supporter. If their ranches end up fighting, Everett will be in a difficult position, forced to choose between the woman he used to love and the ranchers he now believes in.

Adding a weakness to Beulah through her relationship with Everett could make her a more compelling villain, as great villains usually have emotional vulnerabilities. She already has potential weaknesses with her family, either through her unpredictable son, Rob-Will, or Oreana, who could fill the role currently held by Beth at the Dutton Ranch.

Being vulnerable isn’t the same as being weak. While it’s understandable that Everett’s harsh words hurt Beulah, the extent of her reaction – spending a whole day drinking alone while her ranch falls apart – feels forced. Unless the show intends to sideline Beulah’s story, similar to the character Monica, to solely focus on Everett’s arc, this level of distress doesn’t quite fit.

Beulah, even while intoxicated, insists she’s the only one who can manage the 10 Petal Ranch and refuses to give it up. This determination makes her very similar to John Dutton – a proud, unyielding ranch owner who prioritizes his family’s legacy over personal happiness – and ultimately, the kind of compelling, complex antagonist that both viewers and the Yellowstone universe need.

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2026-05-29 23:21