Abhiroop Das
Created by Chad Feehan, Paramount+’s ‘Dutton Ranch‘ is simultaneously a story about Beth and Rip starting anew in Rio Paloma, Texas, and a coming-of-age journey for their adopted son, Carter. As his parents craft a legacy from scratch in a town with more friends than enemies, Carter sets out to learn more about the cowboy world and meets Oreana Jackson, the scion of the biggest ranching family around. However, what truly sets off their chemistry is not a comparison between two gigantic legacies but the human feelings that they seem to share. Away from a story of land and riches, Oreana connects with Carter and begins conceptualizing a world where she can be free of burdening expectations. However, the world of this western drama series is a uniquely challenging one, and many things await Oreana, some outside of the field of her vision. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Oreana is Pregnant, and Carter Might Be the Father
While ‘Dutton Ranch’ episode 9 is chock-full of surprises and last-minute twists, among the biggest revelations is the fact that Oreana is pregnant. We learn this early on, when Oreana checks her pregnancy kit with an expression reminiscent of surprise more than anything else. Though this doesn’t communicate how she feels about her pregnancy as of now, an important thing to note is that she has decided to keep it a secret from her family. At no point in the rest of the episode does her pregnancy come up as a subject of discussion, and yet, Oreana’s choices later on subtly shine a light on what she might be planning to do next. One important question at hand is about the identity of the father, as there is a good chance that it is none other than Carter.
Though Carter isn’t confirmed to be the father of Oreana’s baby, most narrative threads still point towards him. We know that the two of them have sex early on in the season, and that, coupled with their budding relationship, strongly suggests that Oreana might have unknowingly conceived. However, what challenges this possibility is the brief scene we see of Oreana with one of her college friends. When an envious Carter claims that she’s sleeping with that friend, Oreana seemingly confirms that fate, if only out of spite. However, given that we have no idea about the timeline or even the validity of her statements, no particular assumptions can be made, except for the fact that Oreana has made up her mind about the future.
Oreana’s Dream of Leaving Rio Paloma Behind is Shattered in the End
Interestingly, actor Natalie Alyn Lind also doesn’t seem to know exactly what her character has in store. In a conversation with USA Today, she opined, “I’m under the impression that Carter is the father, but you never really know with this girl.” While this is likely intentional on the creators’ part to keep fans guessing, what is worth noting is Oreana’s decision to run away from Rio Paloma with Carter. The fact that he still doesn’t know that she’s pregnant is bound to stir more complicated situations down the line, but as of now, their sporadic romance is ready to triumph over all other feelings. Carter and Oreana’s escape attempt is framed in parallel to the battles that their parents seem to be engaged in, but in the end, the latter seems to overwhelm the former.
With Oreana’s father meeting a shocking fate, it remains to be seen whether Oreana will even go through with the escape plan. To make things even worse, Carter has been kidnapped, which means that this relationship is at risk of collapsing before it can even properly begin. Carter and Oreana’s solidarity comes from how isolated they feel in Rio Paloma, but where Oreana’s goal is to set herself apart from her family, Carter wishes to follow in Rip’s footsteps. This clash of ideals is likely to reflect on how they conceptualize a future together. Adding to that is the fact that they have unwittingly become a part of a generational conflict, one where blood has been spilled on both camps. As such, how Oreana’s pregnancy fits into this complex web of violence and politics remains to be seen.
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