Dutton Ranch episode 8 recap: Carter critics will absolutely hate this part of the Yellowstone spinoff

Disclaimer

Spoilers for Dutton Ranch episode 8 ahead.

In the words of Charli XCX in 2024, we're going full brat. Dutton Ranch episode 8 turns the tables on Carter (Finn Little) after getting hideously drunk at the 10 Petal anniversary party and destroying Beulah's (Annette Bening) property.

He's been lashing out in the Yellowstone spinoff for two reasons: the fact he's had to move to Texas in the first place — being convinced that Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) are now interfering in his life too much — and because Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) has rejected him for someone with more status and money.

Mix in the expected teen angst of a 19-year-old and you've got a very unnecessary storm brewing. With Beulah collapsing to the floor in the finale scene of episode 7 (just after Carter smashed up her prized bull head), the tension is even higher.

In fact, Carter haters might want to look away from Dutton Ranch episode 8 altogether... and you'll see why below.

Beulah is hospitalized after having a heart attack — and everyone is questioning her decisions

Episode 8 starts with Beulah being airlifted out of the party and sent to hospital, with Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) following close behind.

The next morning, Rob-Will finds Oreana, Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) and Everett (Ed Harris) in the hospital waiting room, and explains that Beulah has had a heart attack. She has a standard angioplasty procedure and is declared medically fine.

Beulah asks to see Rob-Will and Joaquin together before anyone else, with the pair still taking swipes out of each other. She explains that Rob-Will has been given 10 Petal because he is "weak," with Beulah adding "it's not your prize, it's your protection."

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She claims that the brothers are going to be joined at the hip no matter what, and that Rob-Will needs Joaquin much more than the other way around. Rob-Will also claims that he wants to fire Beth and Rip with Beulah refusing, responding that they are the "assets" that the ranch needs.

Beth herself stops by to visit later, offering her apologies for Carter's behaviour the night before. The pair talk about the fallout of parenting boys before Beth moves onto why she's really there: she cannot understand the decision behind Rob-Will's appointment.

"I agreed to work with you, not with him," she adds, claiming that they need to speak about things properly once Beulah is out of hospital. Everett asks her the same questions when he visits on his own later on, with Beulah implying that 10 Petal had to go to a "flesh and blood relation."

Their conversation moves onto Beulah's suggestion of retiring together earlier in the season, with Everett stating that he's ready for a new shot at romance if she is. "If I knew a heart attack was going to change your mind, I'd have had one a lot sooner," Beulah replies.

Everett takes Beulah back to his to recoup at home, essentially breaking out of the hospital before she's officially been discharged.

A disgraced Carter finally opens up to Beth — but it all goes wrong

Rip and Carter make their way back from the party on horseback, with Carter repeatedly falling off and vomiting over his own horse (maybe one of the worst things I've ever seen).

The next morning, Beth makes Carter a coffee and asks to talk to him outside. Carter reveals that he's quit school, though neglects to tell her anything about working with Dwight (Ray McKinnon). Beth implies that just hating school isn't good enough, telling Carter that he needs to take every opportunity to make his life better with both hands.

Despite being hungover, Rip makes good on his promise to Carter to take him to work at 10 Petal to get some experience. Immediately, Azul (J.R. Villarreal) and the other ranchers start ribbing Carter for how much he's had to drink, which takes a sour turn when Carter is thrown off of his horse while trying to lasso an escaped cow.

Rip scolds Carter for snapping at Azul, with Carter swearing and storming off in a huff. Rip finds him in a cattle barn, telling him that if any other rancher had rode away from him, they'd be fired on the spot.

Carter threatens Rip to do it, with Rip sensing that Carter wants to throw a punch. Rip then tries to teach him lessons from life's failures while also empathizing with Carter's struggles of being an orphan, but Carter is having none of it.

Returning home, Carter than explodes at Beth, who tearfully claims that she's going to try harder to be a better mother figure. Carter says he needs some time alone, and drives off.

We later find him back at Dwight's, with the Sherriff (Josh Stewart) finding him outside the empty leopard cage. Carter than tries to blackmail the Sherriff into getting a job shadowing him by threatening to reveal that he killed Dwight for no good reason.

It doesn't work, but there is some good news... we learn that Dwight's leopard has been rehomed at a local zoo.

Joaquin tries to turn Rob-Will in for murder

Fuming after his conversation with Beulah, Joaquin pays his own visit to the Sherriff's office. He reveals a gun in a plastic bag, which was the same gun that Rob-Will used to kill Wes (Nakoa DeCoite) in episode 1.

Joaquin tells the Sherriff about Wes, but cannot prove anything because he doesn't know where the body is. The Sherriff tells him to leave the gun, but that he doesn't believe a word Joaquin is saying. "I haven't forgotten who you are... I just no longer give a f**k," the Sherriff says.

On the drive home, an infuriated Joaquin is seen roadside by a local graveyard in a fit of rage. In episode 8's final scene, we see Joaquin get back in his car to dial his dad — who if you remember from episode 7, was essentially Beulah's caretaker.

In Spanish, we hear Joaquin say, "Hi, Dad. I need your help."

Austin tells 10 Petal's truth to Beth and Rip

10 Petal rancher Austin's (Sterlin English) moral crisis also reaches a head in episode 8. After the deaths of Wes and Chet (Hart Denton), he's on a rampage to reveal the Jackson's family secrets once and for all.

This starts with Austin pulling a gun on Miguel (Berto Colon) during wrangling hours, demanding that he reveal what's been going on or be killed. Zachariah (Marc Menchaca) has to intervene, with Austin later asking him if Rip can be trusted. "With your life," replies Zachariah.

That evening, the pair visit Beth and Rip at home and reveal the truth — 10 Petal is running an illegal cattle smuggling operation across the Mexican border to keep financially afloat. The next shipment is in two days, leaving Rip and Beth at a loss for what to do next.

This also explains how Bullet, the bull bought at cattle auction in episode 2, was able to be unvetted while having foot and mouth disease.

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Jasmine is a Streaming Staff Writer for TechRadar, previously writing for outlets including Radio Times, Yahoo! and Stylist. She specialises in comfort TV shows and movies, ranging from Hallmark's latest tearjerker to Netflix's Virgin River. She's also the person who wrote an obituary for George Cooper Sr. during Young Sheldon Season 7 and still can't watch the funeral episode.