Episode 4 brings us one of the most heart-wrenching chapters of Dutton Ranch so far. The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is spreading and Rip is becoming increasingly sure that the recently purchased auction bull is responsible for the disaster unfolding across the ranch.
Things quickly go from bad to worse, and the Duttons are faced with difficult choices that will change the course of their future forever.
Beth Confronts Carter’s New Relationship
The ranch is fighting for its life and Beth finds out that Carter is spending more time with Oreana than he is at the ranch helping with the growing crisis. Beth’s attempt to save him from the bleak fate of their cattle, finds him instead in a private moment with Oreana.
The encounter just builds Beth’s distrust. On the tense ride home, she informs Oreana that she does not approve of her influence over Carter, and not to make trouble.
The tension builds further when Beth arrives at the Jackson property. Beulah tries to make amends, inviting Beth for drinks in a friendly manner but Beth will not play along. Beulah hints that Rio Paloma is a small town and reputations count, but Beth is unmoved and leaves without giving an inch.
Proof of a Larger Plot
Beth starts digging into the bull’s paperwork, intent on finding out what’s happening with the outbreak. Her investigation takes her to Dr. Poole, the veterinarian who is supposed to be responsible for the animal’s health inspection and testing.
And what she discovers is shocking.
Dr. Poole is unaware of the sale in any capacity. The revelation confirms Rip’s increasing suspicion that someone deliberately manipulated the transaction. The ranch might have been the victim of outright fraud rather than an unfortunate accident.
Carter tests out ranch life
Meanwhile, Carter starts looking for a job and meets a local rancher, Danny Ray.
Danny Ray quickly takes him under his wing, and introduces him to what he proudly refers to as “the school of life.” Carter spends his day learning practical ranch skills, drinking and practicing with a lasso.
Danny Ray also has a strange companion, an African leopard named Xena, which makes the experience even more memorable.
Meanwhile, Beth tells Carter to take Oreana out for the evening and not worry about a curfew. What he doesn’t know is that Beth’s idea has another motive: to keep him from the ranch while the grownups handle the escalating crisis.
Everett and Beulah Remember the Past
Everett gets a call to help with a mare that is supposedly pregnant on the Jackson ranch, and that is another separate story line.
But when he gets there, he finds that there is no emergency.
The call was just Beulah’s excuse to be with him.
They reminisce over drinks about their shared history, about aging, retirement and the turns their lives have taken. At some point, their discussion moves on to more delicate subjects, such as Chet’s shortcomings and Rob-Will’s continued attempts at rehabilitation.
The reunion is a quieter, more personal moment of nostalgia and lingering feelings amidst the larger conflicts of the episode.
The Worst Call
The emotional high point of the episode comes when the ranchers decide that the infected cattle cannot be saved.
With heavy hearts, they drive the herd away from the ranch, and then gather around a large pit dug for what is to follow. As they are led into place Rip and the others begin the grim task of killing the animals.
It is a scene of tragedy and unforgettable.
Rip’s last words before he pulls the trigger show the sadness of the moment. The cattle are innocent casualties, but the outbreak allows no alternative.
One day, the Dutton Ranch loses almost everything.
Beth Finds Out the Truth
As if losing the herd wasn’t bad enough, Beth finds the final piece of the puzzle.
The veterinary records of the bull had been entirely fabricated.
The ranch had been fooled right from the start.
The betrayal enrages Rip, who goes to the cattle broker who sold him the bogus herd. This confrontation is not a matter of negotiation. Rip ensures the message gets through by blowing up the man’s trailer before leaving town. The broker is forced out of Rio Paloma immediately.
There is a certain satisfaction in the act, but it cannot undo what has already been done.
The Bad News for Everett is
The herd is gone, and the future of the ranch is uncertain, so Rip makes one last call:
He calls Everett and breaks the bad news.
The truth is inescapable. The Dutton Ranch is now embroiled in a financial and emotional crisis like never before.
Review
Episode 4 is the most emotional episode of the season so far. The destruction of the cattle herd is a major turning point for the series and raises serious questions about the future of the ranch and the people who depend on it.
The outbreak storyline may be what is driving the episode but the supporting characters are still being developed. We are concerned about Carter’s developing relationship with Oreana, and his time with Danny Ray suggests influences that may impact his future in ways we cannot anticipate.
The episode also does a good job of making clear how alone Carter is in the face of the ranch’s crumbling condition. Meanwhile, as the foundation of his home crumbles quietly about him, he focuses on personal relationships and new experiences.
Rip gets the final moments. His face is a picture of exhaustion, far more eloquent than words. He understands what has been lost and that the hardest challenges may still be in front of us.
The Dutton Ranch has been stripped of its livelihood, and every decision is made with uncertainty, leaving viewers wondering how the Duttons could ever recover from such a devastating blow.