It took Dutton Ranch basically all season to get going, but it upped the ante majorly with an explosive first season finale. With the entire status quo now shaken up and a major cliffhanger seeing things out, the already-confirmed second season has multiple avenues that it can explore, some obvious, some less so, and some a bit of a pipe dream. I’ve put together five realistic predictions in loose order of feasibility, but to be clear, I reckon all of these can happen, and most probably will.
Beth and Rip Are Going After Carter
This is pretty much a given. While I would probably have preferred Carter to be killed off, having him kidnapped by the Cartel is the next best thing. Mariano clearly plans to use Carter to lure Beth and Rip into a trap, and since he’s the closest thing they have to a son, they’ll both probably fall for it.
However, the big question is whether the fight will remain in Texas or whether Mariano will spirit Carter across the border to Mexico. If it’s the latter, his rescue could become a season-long plot as Rip and Beth attempt to form a posse and find a way across the border. It’ll also blessedly keep Carter out of the way for a while, which can only be a good thing.
Beulah Will Hit Rock Bottom
Even though Beulah has been complicit in the 10-Petal’s drug-smuggling operation, she’s not really the bad guy. She was trapped by her circumstances after conceiving Rob-Will, and Mariano clearly took advantage of her in order to secure control of the ranch, presumably after having been forced to take the blame for her actions and losing his wife at the border.
The finale was not kind to Beulah. Her connection to the Cartel was exposed, Beth and Rip turned against her, Everett sent her on her way, and at the end of the episode, she returned home to find her only biological son dead on the floor of their home, killed by her adoptive son. That’s not a recipe for mental stability.
Beulah must know that it was Kino who killed him, too. Sure, even we didn’t see it take place, and there may be a switcheroo about this down the line, but Beulah is going to know that Mariano was responsible, and that he or Kino pulled the trigger. And she’s going to want revenge.
Sheriff Wade Will Have A Bigger Role
Sheriff Wade didn’t have a great deal to do with the main arc of Season 1. It was implied that he was bought and paid for by the Jacksons, and he was seen killing Dwight and being generally unpleasant with Carter, but other than that, he has barely factored in. However, I’m generally of the opinion that you don’t cast Josh Stewart as a character called “Handy Wade” if you don’t intend to use him, and I reckon Season 2 will be where he comes into his own.
Even from a pure practicality perspective, Wade isn’t going to want Cartel violence crossing over into his territory. Since his allegiances are already with the 10-Petal, it stands to reason he’d become another ally for Beth and Rip. However, if he already knew about the drug smuggling, he may also become an enforcer for the Cartel. It could go one way or the other. Remember how great he was as a bad guy in Season 2 of The Punisher?
Oreana’s Pregnancy Will Be Her Driving Motivation
I also expect Oreana to have a bigger role in Dutton Ranch Season 2, especially given the fact that she’s pregnant with Carter’s child. Since she was planning to run away with him, she had clearly forgiven him for almost killing her grandmother, and so she’s going to take his kidnapping especially harshly, especially in light of Rob-Will’s death.
I suspect that Oreana’s pregnancy will essentially make her part of the family, as far as Beth is concerned, and she’ll be folded into the main group. Her loyalties to the Jackson clan are pretty shaky at the best of times, and her interactions with Beth have largely been cordial. If Carter remains missing for a good chunk of the season, it’ll be nice to see how Rip and Beth get on with another surrogate child.
There Will Be Cameos
Given the fact that we know several Yellowstone characters — including Travis, Jimmy, and Teeter — are all in Texas, it seems pretty much logical that Rip would reach out to some of them for help. He also has a phone book full of people who’re pretty good in a crisis, most notably Kayce. Could he find some time between extrajudicially killing people in Montana to come and help out in a Dutton Ranch/Marshals crossover?
In its first season, Dutton Ranch largely rejected the shared universe stuff, but I think with its stall having been laid out, now’s the time to start roping in some familiar faces to raise the stakes.
