Why Dutton Ranch's Director Wasn't Afraid To Change Beth And Rip's Happy Yellowstone Ending [Exclusive]

Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) get two of the happier main character endings on "Yellowstone." After spending years contending with assassins, the couple sets off to live a peaceful life on their own ranch — almost like a fairytale. However, now that "Dutton Ranch" is upon us, Beth and Rip have a host of new issues to deal with, which risk ruining their "Yellowstone" send-off. Be that as it may, director Christina Alexander Voros believes fans gravitate toward this couple because of how they handle danger. As she told /Film:

"Drama seems to find them, and peace seems to elude them. They are one of the great love stories on television in the last decade, and what I think makes them so exciting to watch is all these things that the world throws at them, they always find a way through it. And they always find a way through it stronger together."

We've already speculated that one of these beloved "Yellowstone" characters will die on "Dutton Ranch." Of course, that's only because Taylor Sheridan's series has conditioned viewers to expect pain and suffering for characters they fall in love with. That said, Voros thinks there is more to look forward to regarding Beth and Rip's romantic journey on "Dutton Ranch."

Beth and Rip's love is compromised on "Yellowstone." Their allegiance is sworn to John Dutton (Kevin Costner), whose main concern is protecting his land from all of the invaders who want to take it. Elsewhere, Beth is entangled in a hate-filled feud with Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) that prevents her from finding peace. However, "Dutton Ranch" allows Beth and Rip to dictate their story on their own terms, unburdened by their duties to anyone else. Here's what Christina Alexander Voros had to tell us on the matter:

"It's very important that the characters be allowed to continue evolving. It's a new chapter for them. 'Yellowstone' was very much about holding on to a legacy. Dutton Ranch is about building a new one. And when you're building anything new, you sort of start from the ground up. I think it's beautiful getting to see who Beth and Rip are with all of the chaos of other people's battles left behind them."

Of course, that's not to say Beth and Rip will be free of battles. They might not have to fight John Dutton's land wars anymore, but "Dutton Ranch" Episode 1 gives them plenty of drama to deal with. But Beth and Rip are now the masters of their own destinies, and it will be interesting to see how they handle the drama on their own.