Warning! Spoilers ahead for Yellowstone season 5, episode 9.
Rip’s trip to Texas inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 9, entitled “Desire Is All You Need,” sets up the future of the Dutton family ranch.Rip has always had a special connection to the Duttonsbecause John Dutton took him in when he was a scared teenager who ran away after killing his abusive father. His place in the family was subsequently solidified when he married Beth. Rip’s loyalty to the Duttons makes him one of the most important characters in theYellowstoneseason 5 cast, especially considering John’s fate.
During the first moments of “Desire Is All You Need,” Beth and Kayce learn that John is dead inYellowstone.John’s death will have repercussions for the Dutton family, including Rip. Among other things, in the aftermath of his passing, there will be a battle for the future of the ranch, as Beth was helping John to save it from developers who wanted to convert it into a ski resort next to a newly planned international airport. Aside from being a doting husband, Rip will be more involved in defending the ranch in the remainder ofYellowstoneseason 5.
Rip’s Trip To Texas Is All About Holding Onto Cowboy Culture
He’s Afraid The Way Of Life He Knows Is Dying
Rip goes to Texas to help move some cattle that are in danger of being exposed to brucellosis, a disease that could be deadly to the herd and which could be transmitted to humans. Taking the cattle down South is supposed to shield them from exposure and ensure their survival, but for Rip, it is about much more than that, asYellowstoneseason 5, episode 9 makes it clear that he fears cowboy culture is dying.
Rip’s willingness to teach the boy about horses represented his hope that he could instill an interest in cowboy culture in at least one member of the next generation, which would allow the culture to live on.
Rip’s feelings are first made clear when a young boy asks to pet his horse. Despite his usual hard demeanor, Rip not only allows it but attempts to teach him how to tell whether a horse likes someone. Rip’s willingness to teach the boy about horses represented his hope that he could instill an interest in cowboy culture in at least one member of the next generation, which would allow the culture to live on. However, his defeated response to the child remarking that his sister “didn’t believe cowboys exist anymore” demonstrates his fear that this is a futile effort
Why Yellowstone Had No Choice But To Do That Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Twist
Yellowstone’s return doesn’t waste any time explaining John Dutton III’s fate. Sad as it may be, the show didn’t have a choice about the matter.
Later, Rip is even more explicit about his fears. While camping for the night, he tells Walker that soon cowboy culture will be gone, as he expects that humans will first burn down the rainforests and then turn to wind and solar power, thus eliminating the role of cowboys in working the land and taking care of cattle meant for meat. This exchange demonstrates even more clearly thatRip sees this trip not only as an attempt to save a herd of cattle but also to save the entire way of life that he loves.
The Texas Trip Emphasizes Why Rip Is The Best Dutton Ranch Heir After John’s Death
Rip Understands John’s Determination To Hold Onto The Ranch
The Dutton Ranch is John’s legacy, and his death means that there is a threat it will end up in the hands of developers who want to destroy it. Thus,John needed heirs who would fight for the ranch with everything they had.Rip understood what the ranch represented to John. The ranch is more than a piece of land; it is the Dutton family’s heirloom, and it represents the rancher and cowboy culture that John worked hard to maintain throughout his lifetime.
Rip’s fear of losing the culture, as emphasized in his trip to Texas, will fuel his desire to fight for the ranch, especially considering his deep love for Beth and his respect for John.
Rip loves the cowboy culture as much as John did, so he will see the fight for the ranch as a way he can fight back against the erosion of his way of life in the remainder ofYellowstoneseason 5. He was willing to go to Texas to save one herd of cattle for John, and now there is a far bigger fight ahead withJamie and Beth’s all-out war. Rip’s fear of losing the culture, as emphasized in his trip to Texas, will fuel his desire to fight for the ranch, especially considering his deep love for Beth and his respect for John.
Rip’s Possible Dutton Ranch Role Sets Up Yellowstone Season 6
If There Is A Sixth Season, Beth and Rip Will Likely Be The Protagonists
Although Yellowstone is supposed to end after season 5, there have been persistent rumors that it will return for a sixth season, with Rip and Beth as the lead characters. This makes sense if they are the ones primarily fighting to preserve their family legacy.Yellowstoneseason 5 will focus on the war between Beth and Jamie after John’s death, with Rip fighting on Beth’s side. Thus, if they are victorious, the ranch will remain in their hands, which opens new storyline opportunities for season 6.
Beth and her husband have always been more loyal to John than any other member of the Dutton family, and they will fight hard to preserve his legacy. Rip is also fueled by his desire to hold onto the cowboy culture that he believes will soon die out, making him someone that those who sought John’s death should deeply fear.Rip’s determination to save the ranch and the culture that goes with it will make for a gripping end toYellowstoneseason 5. Beyond that, it also sets up a potential season 6 where Rip and Beth continue the work John left behind.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on July 26, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
