Warning: SPOILERS for Dutton Ranch Season 1, Episode 1 - "The Untold Want" & Episode 2 - "Earn Another Day"Tate Dutton (Brecken Merrill) probably wishes that Marshals gave him the same type of royal treatment that Carter (Finn Little) gets in Dutton Ranch. Tate joined his father, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), in their Yellowstone spinoff, which is a CBS procedural. Unfortunately, Marshals killed off Tate's mother, Monica (Kelsey Asbille), before the series began.
Dutton Ranch reveals that Carter joined Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) when they moved to South Texas. Beth and Rip bought a ranch in Rio Paloma after a devastating fire destroyed their ranch in Dillon, Montana, where they had moved to at the end of Yellowstone.
Beth also calls Carter her son. Carter, who is now 19 in Dutton Ranch, is nonetheless enrolled in high school to receive a formal education. Although the local girls played Carter by tricking him into buying them beer at a rodeo, things picked up for Carter when he met Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind).
Dutton Ranch Already Treats Carter Far Better Than Marshals Treated Tate
Dutton Ranch's first two episodes have already shown Carter more emphasis and better storylines than Marshals has given Tate Dutton. As Marshals zeroes in on its season 1 finale, Tate remains a rarely utilized and often forgotten ancillary character, despite being Kayce's son.
Tate has received two storylines, both of which happened early in Marshals: Tate mourned his late mother, Monica, and held Kayce's reluctance to honor her against him. Tate then pointed Kayce and his U.S. Marshals team to rescue the native girls who had been abducted. Otherwise, Tate has largely been missing in Marshals season 1's back half.
To be fair, Marshals is about Kayce and his federal law enforcement squad, which can't involve teenage Tate. Still, Marshals hasn't capitalized on giving Tate better character development now that Brecken Merrill is older. When Tate appeared at all, he was mainly a surly teen, angrily talking smack to his patient father.
There have been several instances in Marshals where Kayce's new friends and co-workers have visited East Camp, and Tate is nowhere to be found. Sometimes, there's a quick explanation of Tate's whereabouts, but Marshals has been just as likely not to mention Tate at all.
Thankfully, Marshals' mistreatment of Tate hasn't been repeated by how Dutton Ranch has written Carter.
Carter & Oreana Shows How Confident Dutton Ranch Is In Finn Little
Carter's royal treatment in Dutton Ranch shows Taylor Sheridan and (fired) season 1 showrunner Chad Feehan's confidence in Finn Little. Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser are the undisputed co-leads of Dutton Ranch, but Little is receiving his own storylines separate from Beth and Rip that are exploring Carter beyond his supporting role in Yellowstone.
Dutton Ranch recognizes that Finn Little has grown into an impressive young adult, and giving Carter a love interest in Oreana allows the Yellowstone spinoff to depict a modern-day teen romance that echoes the young Beth and Rip's relationship. Oreana is smart, volatile, and troubled, like Beth.
In Dutton Ranch's series premiere, Carter gets to be heroic and save Oreana from her abusive boyfriend. Carter receives some jail time for his trouble, but is bailed out by Oreana, who later learns that Carter is a crack shot with a rifle. There are obvious sparks between Carter and Oreana.
Dutton Ranch treats Carter as more than a supporting character, almost a co-lead. Sadly, Marshals can't say the same about Tate, who has had virtually no new character development in Marshals season 1.
Tate is a Dutton, but you'd never know from Marshals that he is supposed to carry the Dutton legacy forward. That may not even happen now.
Meanwhile, Carter has no established last name (yet), but Dutton Ranch treats him the way Yellowstone treated heroic Dutton men.
CBS Sets Fall Dates for ‘Marshals,’ ‘Survivor’ and More
CBS has set its fall premiere dates, and as has been the case for the past few seasons, most of the network’s lineup will launch in early October.
Reality staples Survivor and The Amazing Race will debut a bit earlier, as will 60 Minutes. But all of CBS’ scripted series are set to premiere over six days starting Oct. 4. Marshals and Tracker — the two most watched shows on network TV last season, excluding live sports — are up first that night, remaining in the Sunday night spots they occupied last season.
FBI and CIA follow on Oct. 5, with each show moving up an hour (to 8 and 9 p.m. ET/PT) from their spots last season as CBS eliminated its Monday comedy block for 2026-27. True crime show Harlan Coben’s Final Twist follows at 10 p.m.
An all-NCIS lineup remains on Tuesday nights starting Oct. 6, with newcomer NCIS: New York sandwiched between the flagship series and prequel NCIS: Origins. CBS’ two other new fall series, comedy Eternally Yours and drama Cupertino, premiere Oct. 8 along with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Elsbeth. Ghosts and Matlock are set for midseason premieres, but a pair of Ghosts specials will air on Oct. 29 and Dec. 10 tied to Halloween and Christmas. The Friday lineup of Sheriff Country, Fire Country and Boston Blue debuts Oct. 9.
CBS’ fall premiere dates are below. All times are ET/PT unless noted, and new shows are marked with an asterisk.
Sunday, Sept. 13
7:30 p.m.: 60 Minutes (approximate; follows NFL doubleheader)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
8 p.m.: Survivor
Wednesday, Sept. 30
9:30 p.m.: The Amazing Race
Sunday, Oct. 4
8:30 p.m.: Marshals (approximate; follows NFL doubleheader and 60 Minutes)
9:30 p.m.: Tracker
Monday, Oct. 5
8 p.m.: FBI
9 p.m.: CIA
10 p.m.: Harlan Coben’s Final Twist
Tuesday, Oct. 6
8 p.m.: NCIS
9 p.m.: NCIS: New York*
10 p.m.: NCIS: Origins
Thursday, Oct. 8
8 p.m.: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
8:30 p.m.: Eternally Yours*
9 p.m.: Elsbeth
10 p.m.: Cupertino*
Friday, Oct. 9
8 p.m.: Sheriff Country
9 p.m.: Fire Country
10 p.m.: Boston Blue
Saturday, Oct. 10
10 p.m.: 48 Hours
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