Dutton Ranch continues to spark conversation across social media, with Taylor Sheridan's latest Yellowstone spin-off drawing plaudits for feeling closest stylistically to the original series. The hit show stars Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) as they leave behind the mountains of Montana for the plains of Texas.

Unlike Luke Grimes’ Marshals, which follows a more procedural format like 9-1-1, and The Madison, which explores a brand new family and storyline that's only loosely connected to Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch features the explosive drama and simmering tension that Sheridan and Kevin Costner laced into the hugely popular original.

However, following the latest episode of Dutton Ranch, fans started noticing worrying headlines online suggesting that the beloved character, Rip Wheeler, is being replaced.

But don't fret, because rather than hinting that Hauser will be departing the show altogether, this potentially misleading narrative is actually just a reference to the fact that Rip finds himself in a new role. He's spent his life as a ranch foreman, but when the Dutton Ranch cattle succumb to Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Rip and Beth are forced to join the neighbouring 10-Petal Ranch to make a living.

Rip quickly establishes himself as the controller of the operation, a notable step-up from his previous role as the problem-solver and ‘fixer’ for John Dutton's Yellowstone.

As a result of his new position, Rip is - in effect - being ‘replaced’ as the foreman of Dutton Ranch, with Azul (played by J.R. Villareal) and Jeremiah (played by Marc Menchaca) taking over the reins while Rip has his hands full over at 10-Petal Ranch.

We won't give any more spoilers as to the details of the latest episode, which aired on Friday, June 19th, but we suspect that, eventually, Rip will return to take over Dutton Ranch once again and continue the legacy of his mentor, John Dutton (Kevin Costner).

The next episode of Dutton Ranch goes out on Friday, June 26th, ahead of the finale the following week. So far, it has captured the spirit of Yellowstone in a way that only the prequels, 1883 and 1923, have been able to, and we hope it gets renewed for Season 2.

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