The Dutton Ranch: faulty premise and Conservative propaganda

 

The  TV series Dutton Ranch is based on faulty premises and racial bigotry.  At the end of Yellowstone, Beth bought a new ranch for her family.  It was lush and fertile land, which would be an excellent place to live and raise cattle.  At the beginning of the Dutton Ranch, a fire had destroyed the buildings and killed all but one calf of the herd, which is why they had to use the rest of their funds to buy the new ranch and restock their herd.  The second herd needed to be killed because the bull they bought had infected it with a contagious disease.  It was the premise of their being forced to work with another ranch. Both scenarios undercut the series credibility.

Beth would have ensured every aspect of the ranch, especially the cattle. Whether the loss was caused by fire or illness, they would have received financial compensation to rebuild the herd. They would have lost nothing; therefore, there was no reason to move south or to work o the other ranch.  They would have needed a temporary home while their ranch was rebuilt.  Even if Beth had totally lost her business sense, Kayce would have stepped in to help while the land recovered.

In attempting to save the Yellowstone, Beth searched for an alternative business models, which would be more sustainable and profitable for the ranchers.  Using the Four 6666 concept of direct-to-consumer sales, she would have expanded the concept to create an updated version of the Grange (Patrons of Husbandry). Rip’s knowledge and connections with the ranching community would have garnered the support to make the co-operative an effective organization.  As much as he would have hated it, Rip would have become the de facto leader.  However, this would have only been Beth’s starting point. She has the business and financial expertise to challenge the monopoly of the meatpacking industry.  A new slaughterhouse and packing plant would give ranchers a viable option to the status quo; it would challenge the power of the existing companies' control of the industry and put a target on the Dutton Ranch. This storyline would be more realistic, but it would also have the real-life consequences of inspiring ranchers to seek alternatives in their lives.

The drug trafficking plot was simply Conservative propaganda.  Inserting the packages of drugs, whether surgically or through the birth canal, would cause physical damage and lead to illness that would have prevented the cows from being allowed into the country. For those who would say that the cattle were illegally snuck in, get real.  It’s more difficult to hide a herd of cows than the small packages of drugs they would be carrying.  The storyline supports racism and subliminally blames Mexico for the financial challenges in the agricultural industry, while deflecting blame away from the greed of corporations.

Grade for the series: waste of talent.

 

Kaleidoscope Film and Television will produce projects based on ethnic, gender, and age diversity. It will break stereotypes in front of and behind the camera.  In doing so, it will give voice to the people and messages that have been overlooked and thus attract the audiences who have been ignored, giving it excellent profitability potential.

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