The latest episode of the Yellowstone spin-off Dutton Ranch aired on May 29, 2026, and it delivered one of the most disturbing sequences in the entire franchise. Episode 4, titled “Start With a Bullet,” forced Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) to kill their entire cattle herd after a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The episode ended with the couple burning a man’s trailer to the ground while their adopted son Carter (Finn Little) called Beth a liar. The show has already broken records for Paramount+, pulling in 12.9 million global views for its premiere and becoming the biggest original series launch in the streamer’s history.
Rip and Beth Destroy Their Entire Herd in a Brutal Ranch Nightmare
The crisis started at the end of episode 3 when Beth and Rip discovered that a bull they bought at an auction carried foot-and-mouth disease. By the time episode 4 begins, the sickness has spread to every single cow on their Texas ranch. There is no cure. The only option is to kill all of them.
Rip dug a massive grave while ranch hands helped round up the animals. Beth tried to save one calf that had special meaning for the family—it was the same calf they rescued from the wildfire that burned down their Montana home in the series premiere. Rip told her no. Nothing could be saved. The scene showed Rip shooting every cow one by one as Beth stood by his side. Ranch hand Zachariah (Marc Menchaca) sang quietly over the mass grave after the last animal fell.
“This’ll be one of those days that follow you to the grave,” Rip told his crew before they started.
Cole Hauser explained the weight of that moment. “The hardest thing for Rip to do is to kill an animal,” he said. “I was thinking about the little calf that we brought from Montana. There’s a great moment where Beth looks at Rip and goes, ‘Can we save it?’ And I just shake my head. That, in a way, is a child of ours—it’s a memory of the past of Montana.”
Kelly Reilly added that the loss goes beyond just the animals. “It was awful, heartbreaking for them, their dream. That is the end of their dream of their own ranch. They’ve had to start again so many times, and it’s like, what more can go wrong?”
The Couple Tracks Down the Seller and Burns His Trailer
Beth did not let the cattle massacre go unanswered. She tracked down Dr. Poole, the veterinarian who did the preliminary bloodwork on the infected bull. After pressure, the doctor admitted that all the paperwork—including the blood test results—was forged. The trail led to a man named J.R. Simon (Chuck McCollum), the cattle broker who sold them the sick animal.
Beth and Rip drove to Simon’s trailer at night. Rip confronted him while Beth waited outside smoking a cigarette. Simon claimed he had no idea the bull was sick, but Rip did not care. He ordered Simon to leave Rio Palma forever. Then Rip poured gasoline inside the trailer and set it on fire. Beth tossed her cigarette toward the flames. The couple walked back to their truck as the trailer exploded behind them.
Beth told Rip she was sad that moving to Texas had not worked out like they planned. She promised to fix everything. Rip told her, “No. This isn’t on you.”
Carter Skips School, Gets a Weird Job, and Confronts Beth
While Beth and Rip handled the cattle crisis, their adopted son Carter (Finn Little) had his own problems. Episode 4 started with Beth walking in on Carter and Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) in bed together. Beth drove Oreana back to her grandmother Beulah’s (Annette Bening) ranch and warned the girl to stay away from her son.
But Carter did not go to school. Instead, he met a strange cowboy named Dwight (Ray McKinnon). Dwight offered Carter manual labor on his farm in exchange for food and a little money. Carter spent the day hauling bags and drinking beer with Dwight, who also owned an African leopard named Xena that he bought online.
Beth later called Carter and encouraged him to take Oreana on a date. She even removed his curfew for the night. What Carter did not know was that Beth only sent him away so he would not have to see the cattle massacre.
The date failed because Beulah assigned a bodyguard to watch Oreana, and she could not sneak out. Carter returned home to find Beth sitting alone. He asked what happened at the ranch that day. When he realized Beth had manipulated him into leaving so he would not see the truth, he got angry.
“You lied to me,” Carter told Beth.
Finn Little explained why that word hurt so much. “Carter wants to be part of the fold,” the actor said. “He wants to make a name for himself and help his family out. When he’s not given responsibilities, he goes out to find his own independence.” He added, “Beth and Rip are, in a way, molding him to try to become the next person to run the ranch. To be left out of a decision like that, I think, hurt him quite a bit.”
Also Read:
Beulah Tightens Control and Everett Gets an Offer
Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening), the wealthy owner of the rival 10-Petal Ranch, continued to build her power in episode 4. After Beth dropped Oreana at home, Beulah took away her granddaughter’s car and credit cards. She also assigned a personal bodyguard to make sure Oreana stopped sneaking out with boys.
Beulah also set her sights on Everett McKinney (Ed Harris), the local veterinarian. She faked a pregnant horse emergency to get Everett to come to her ranch. When he arrived, there was no horse. Beulah just wanted to have a drink with him. Everett gave in, and the two shared a tense conversation. “We got too many demons to ever be good for each other,” Everett admitted. Beulah agreed.
Ed Harris joined the Yellowstone universe for the first time in this role. Annette Bening, a five-time Oscar nominee, plays the main villain of the season.
How to Watch Dutton Ranch Episode 4
Dutton Ranch episode 4 is now streaming on Paramount+. New episodes arrive every Friday at 3:00 AM ET. The episode also airs on the Paramount Network at 8:00 PM ET on Fridays. The show has nine episodes in its first season. Episode 5, titled “Peaceful Find Peace,” will release on June 5, 2026.
Also Read: Star City Episode 3 Release Date: When to Watch the Next Chapter on Apple TV Plus
For more breaking news and detailed recaps on the biggest shows streaming today, keep checking VvipTimes.
