Little reprises his \u201cYellowstone\u201d<\/a> role of Carter on the Paramount+ series that follows Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler<\/a> as they leave Montana for the fictional South Texas town of Rio Paloma. Lind plays a new character to the universe \u2014 Oreana \u2014 the granddaughter of a rich ranch owner who has a lot of growing up to do.<\/p>\n In the \u201cDutton Ranch\u201d series premiere, Carter saves Oreana from her ex-boyfriend and the pair start a relationship for much of the season.<\/p>\n However, things take a turn after Carter confesses his love for Oreana as she appears to not fully feel the same way. Carter further complicates things in last week\u2019s episode<\/a>, when he drunkly tears an animal mount off the wall during Oreana\u2019s grandmother\u2019s big party at the 10-Petal Ranch.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac In case you missed it: <\/p>\n This week\u2019s episode, \u201cWhiskey Limits,\u201d out on Friday, June 26, sees Carter and Oreana both reckon with their choices.<\/p>\n Ahead of the episode, the Star-Telegram spoke to both Little and Lind about their characters\u2019 motivations and if they can come back together. There\u2019s also some chatter about the duo\u2019s experience in Fort Worth<\/a> while making \u201cDutton Ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Spoilers for \u201cDutton Ranch\u201d episodes 1-8 below.<\/p>\n Star-Telegram: When I spoke to both of you during the \u201cDutton Ranch\u201d virtual press day last month, the show had not come out yet. Now, seven weeks into this show being out there, how are you both feeling about the show and the reception so far?<\/p>\n Finn Little: Been pretty great. I mean, I don\u2019t see a lot of the online side of it, but I\u2019ve got mates in Australia who watch the show, so I get my criticism from them. They seem to be liking it. So, I\u2019d say that\u2019s a good sign for me.<\/p>\n Natalie Alyn Lind: People either love my character or hate my character, and I\u2019m so happy about that. That has been my entire world. It\u2019s so crazy to just see how much people have loved the show, because for me, I wasn\u2019t in the original \u201cYellowstone,\u201d so Finn can speak on this. But going into a new chapter of a show, there\u2019s always that hesitation of not wanting to mess up the original, so seeing how much people actually love this show for what it is, and how it is separate from \u201cYellowstone\u201d is the most rewarding feeling of all time.<\/p>\n We miss Fort Worth though. Are you in Fort Worth right now?<\/p>\n S-T: Yes, I am. Before we get into episode 8, I wanted to ask you both about episode 5. I spoke with your castmate Berto Col\u00f3n<\/a>, who plays Miguel, a few weeks ago and I asked him about filming scenes at Dwight\u2019s ranch with the live jaguar, Xena. How was that experience for y\u2019all?<\/p>\n FL: That was pretty awesome. I\u2019ve worked with some animals before, and I\u2019d say working with animals is always a highlight. Yeah, that jaguar was scary, though. When it started growling, I just thought about, imagine being in some pitch black forest, you can\u2019t even see your hand in front of your face. Hearing that growl, that was bone chilling, but working with the jaguar was awesome.<\/p>\n NAL: For me, when I was reading the script, I feel like I had to go back two or three times and be like, \u201cWait, jaguar? Okay, this is happening.\u201d Then there was an entire situation where it was supposed to be filmed at the beginning, like you guys ended up filming scenes later, because there had to be an entire like an enclosure built for the jaguar, right? I think that those scenes were pushed a little bit.<\/p>\n FL: Yeah, I think they were pushed a bit.<\/p>\n NAL: Like I read the [script], I think it was episode five that the jaguar first comes in, and I said to Finn, \u201cI\u2019m so jealous that you get to work with the jaguar.\u201d Then they had to push that. By the time the jaguar came in, I was in those scenes. I was like, \u201cOh, yes, I get to work with the jaguar.\u201d Xena was beautiful. Xena was awesome.<\/p>\n S-T: Finn, in this episode you\u2019re doing something that I\u2019ve never seen you do before, and that\u2019s play both drunk and hungover. I mean this sincerely, that\u2019s something that can very much be overplayed, but it feels right in the show. When it came to approaching how to play those feelings, what were you thinking about?<\/p>\n FL: I was thinking about actually just getting drunk, but I didn\u2019t end up doing that. I had to kind of, on the day, was like, \u201cOh, [expletive].\u201d No, that was a little nerve-wracking for me to do, and the anticipation of the episode coming out. But yeah, I\u2019ve watched it, I think I did all right with it. I\u2019m happy with how it came out. It was really fun to play, because after every single take, I\u2019m acting completely slosh drunk. Then everyone calls cut, and you got to act normal. Some extras on set were laughing. Some of the crew was having a good laugh at it. Yeah, there were some fun days on set.<\/p>\n S-T: Natalie, correct me if I\u2019m wrong, but I believe this is the first time you and Juan Pablo Raba have shared the screen this season. I think it\u2019s interesting that Oreana speaks to both Joaquin (Raba) and Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) in this episode as they\u2019re both vying for the ranch from Beulah (Annette Bening). In Oreana\u2019s eyes, is there a person that\u2019s right to run the 10-Petal?<\/p>\n NAL: Oreana [laughs]. No, I\u2019m gonna say that naturally. I mean, at this stage, I think that there are upsides and downsides to both. I think that that\u2019s what makes the show so interesting is the perception and the rightful owner. I mean, it\u2019s this plot of land that\u2019s been in their family for so long. I think that the upside of Rob-Will running the ranch is that he\u2019s a real cowboy, so he understands what it takes to run it. Then there\u2019s the business side of it through Joaquin.<\/p>\n Then I don\u2019t know if Oreana is necessarily tapped into who she is as a person, I\u2019m not sure if she\u2019s shown that yet. Maybe Oreana, I don\u2019t know. I think that she has some growing up to do before she\u2019s at that point, but I do think that women run things very well. I was kind of joking when I said Oreana, but the more that I\u2019m talking, I actually think Oreana [laughs]. Oreana and Carter.<\/p>\n S-T: Speaking of the Jackson family, it\u2019s good to have Rob-Will back in the mix as we\u2019re learning more about him and his dynamic with Oreana. One thing we don\u2019t know is where Oreana\u2019s mother is. Is that something you want to explore in the future? And do you know the answer of where she is?<\/p>\n NAL: I do. I do know the answer. Before we started the show, we were able to sit down with the creative team, and I know where Oreana was when she was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years old. For a hopeful season 2, I\u2019m really excited for people to know more about that backstory, and I think it\u2019s going to explain a lot about season 1.<\/p>\n S-T: Finn, Carter is in a bad place at the end of this episode as he rides off from Beth and Rip\u2019s care. He tried to be a cowboy and it didn\u2019t work out for him this episode. What does happiness look like for Carter?<\/p>\n FL: What does happiness look like for him? Wow, that\u2019s a loaded question. I don\u2019t know. I think deep down he appreciates what Beth and Rip have done for him, and I think deep down he does want to be a cowboy. He tries to model himself as best as he can off of John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and Rip Wheeler, them being his idols. I think happiness involves those two things, having his family and being able to cowboy. Yeah, just not sure how he\u2019s going to get there, and how much he\u2019ll have to go through [and] what he\u2019ll have to do to achieve that goal in his life.<\/p>\n S-T: Well, you both don\u2019t share any scenes together in episode 8, but Oreana does ask Beth how Carter is doing. It\u2019s interesting this notion of saving someone and how Carter saves Oreana in the premiere, and now it seems like Carter needs saving from himself. Is there anyway we can get these crazy kids back together?<\/p>\n FL: I think we can figure it out.<\/p>\n NAL: I think that they have a very complex relationship for people at their age, and I think that both of their backgrounds and both of their families have put them in these positions where they don\u2019t know who they are as individuals, so figuring out together as a couple is very complicated, but I think that they have this emotional connection that it\u2019s very interesting to tap into, and I think it\u2019s something that connects them. I am just going to leave that up to episode 9, though, to finish that question.<\/p>\n FL: I might have to say the same thing, because that\u2019s kind of the question that leads into episode 9, so I can\u2019t say too much there. I think people are very protective over Carter, so I think some of the fan base is not a very big fan of Oreana, but I think there\u2019s something there.<\/p>\n S-T: I know what the fans think, but if the love is there, and they feel it, that\u2019s something that should matter to them.<\/p>\n FL: Yeah, I don\u2019t think Carter and Oreana are really reading the Instagram comments. I think they\u2019re just focused on loving each other.<\/p>\n NAL: I think the Instagram comments would force Oreana to be even more excited.<\/p>\n S-T: You mentioned episode 9, the season finale. What can y\u2019all tease about that?<\/p>\n NAL: Expect the unexpected. Reading episode 9 for me personally, I was like, \u201cWait, what happens?\u201d I personally, being part of the show and reading all the prior episodes, I think that everything that was kind of set up throughout the entire season was taken and just kind of crunched together and thrown out the window. It\u2019s definitely going to be an episode that leaves everybody on their toes. It\u2019s a major cliffhanger, and yeah, that\u2019s what I would say. What would you say, Finn?<\/p>\n FL: I\u2019d say there\u2019s a little bit of a cliffhanger element to it. I\u2019d say there\u2019s just some big surprises, and I think it\u2019ll keep people very interested for a possible season 2. Editor\u2019s note: This interview took place on Tuesday, June 23, a day before the show was renewed for season 2.<\/a><\/p>\n S-T: I know you guys had a great time here in Texas making the show. Is there anything that y\u2019all took from the experience that\u2019s still stuck with you?<\/p>\n NAL: For me, Fort Worth was like a sense of community. I mean, I lived in two different spots throughout filming, and I became best friends with both of my neighbors. There\u2019s so many vast, beautiful landscapes throughout Fort Worth that you just wouldn\u2019t expect by driving 30 minutes, like in either direction. I mean, it\u2019s such an incredible city. Seriously, I\u2019ve had such a great time eating there, meeting people there, just genuinely living. I absolutely love Fort Worth.<\/p>\n FL: Yeah, I\u2019m very excited to get back to Fort Worth. I think compared to \u201cYellowstone\u201d being filmed in Montana, the people are very protective over their land, rightfully so. I\u2019d say Texas, I hope this doesn\u2019t offend anyone from Montana, because I very much enjoyed my time there, but the people in Texas, the hospitality, people are thrilled with it. We\u2019re just happy to be there.<\/p>\n S-T: I\u2019ve talked to several<\/a> \u201cDutton Ranch\u201d cast members and they all enjoyed their time here.<\/p>\n NAL: The one thing that\u2019s hard to adjust to is the heat. I\u2019m gonna say that, like if there\u2019s one part. But once you adjust to the heat, then it\u2019s like it\u2019s the best place ever. But it does feel good to, like, sweat it all out. You just have to accept sweating during some of the summertime.<\/p>\n S-T: Especially if you\u2019re here during July and August.<\/p>\n NAL: Yeah, that\u2019s when we started the show. That was our introduction, and I grew to love it. But it was definitely like, I\u2019m from LA and half Canadian, so I\u2019m used to a lot of cold or very mediocre kind of 70-degree weather. But, hey, I love the heat now.<\/p>\n S-T: Last thing for y\u2019all: Is there anything on your list that you didn\u2019t check out while in Fort Worth or North Texas that you want to if the show comes back for season 2?<\/p>\n FL: I didn\u2019t get a lot of barbecue in. I need to go to some more barbecue spots, I reckon. That\u2019s a Texas staple.<\/p>\n NAL: I got too much barbecue in [laughs]. I think that in Fort Worth specifically, I don\u2019t know. I\u2019m trying to think if there\u2019s like one specific thing that I did. We had like so many time periods where it was like so on and so off. I did a lot of exploring when I was there. Is there any suggestions that you have that we have to try that maybe we haven\u2019t?<\/p>\n S-T: I assume that you\u2019ve been to the Stockyards already?<\/p>\n NAL: Been to the Stockyards. I lived at the Stockyards for the first month of being in Texas, so I\u2019ve explored every inch of the stockyards.<\/p>\n S-T: There\u2019s a street called Magnolia that has a lot of cool restaurants and shops on it.<\/p>\n NAL: I used to live right off Magnolia, so love that. What\u2019s your favorite restaurant?<\/p>\n S-T: That\u2019s a great question. There\u2019s a Mexican restaurant in south Fort Worth called La Casa de Lina<\/a> that does great breakfast.<\/p>\n NAL: I haven\u2019t tried that. There\u2019s my answer. That\u2019s what I\u2019m excited for [laughs].<\/p>\n \u201cDutton Ranch\u201d airs Fridays via Paramount+ and the Paramount Network.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n![\"L-R:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/RP_105_LS_1113_0306_RT-e6802bca8f341792.JPG\" "\\"RP_105_LS_1113_0306_RT-e6802bca8f341792.JPG\\"")
L-R: Natalie Alyn Lind as Oreanna Jackson, Finn Little as Carter and Ray McKinnon as Dwight in \u201cDutton Ranch,\u201d episode 5, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 2026. Lauren Smith Paramount+ <\/p>\n![\"(L-R):](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/RP_107_EM_1208_00010_RT.jpg\" "\\"RP_107_EM_1208_00010_RT.jpg\\"")
(L-R): Finn Little as Carter and Natalie Alyn Lind as Oreana in season 1, episode 7, of Dutton Ranch streaming on Paramount+, 2026. Emerson Miller Paramount+ <\/p>\n![\"NEW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2275898073-GI.JPG\" "\\"2275898073-GI.JPG\\"")
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 12: (L-R) Finn Little, Annette Bening, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Natalie Alyn Lind, Christina Alexandra Voros, Juan Pablo Raba, and Hart Denton attend Paramount+’s “Dutton Ranch” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square 13 on May 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano\/Getty Images) Michael Loccisano Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"L-R:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782513329_229_RP_108_EM_1204_00281_RT.jpg\" "\\"RP_108_EM_1204_00281_RT.jpg\\"")
L-R: Finn Little as Carter and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in \u201cDutton Ranch,\u201d episode 8, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 2026. Emerson Miller Paramount+ <\/p>\n
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