Dutton Ranch is a certified hit.
It might come as a bit of a surprise, especially after Yellowstone came to sort of an abrupt halt without its main star, Kevin Costner, but Dutton Ranch has been a slam dunk. After Marshals, which is a network television procedural not written by Taylor Sheridan (just a completely different animal), came out of the gate with rough reviews, I think fans were expecting the same from Dutton Ranch, but it’s been quite the opposite.
After reading the Reddit threads, reading the social media commentary, even reading the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB and the entertainment blogs, and even watching myself, Dutton Ranch is right back in the Yellowstone wheelhouse. Although Taylor didn’t write this first season himself either, the show feels like a continuation of Yellowstone in the best possible way. It’s believable, it feel familiar but exciting at the same time, the new characters are compelling and Carter’s character arc is intriguing as well.
However, despite the show being off to one heck of a start, some fans have pointed out that there is one thing, albeit a very minor detail, that absolutely drives them nuts… Rob-Will’s name. Of course, Robert William Jackson is the wild child of Beulah Jackson, the owner of a competing ranch empire who is poised to be the arch nemesis of the Duttons in Season 1. And it doesn’t take long for the show to introduce us to Rob-Will, a clear villain in the season, but fans just can’t get over that goofy name. It’s basically Billy Bob but backwards?
Here’s was Reddit opinion that sparked the conversation:
“I really like this show. Much more than I expected to. But….. I find myself hoping Rob-Will doesn’t survive the first season. And not because he’s such an a-hole, but because it’s the dumbest name for a TV character I’ve heard in a very long time!”
Of course, the obvious explanation is that his name is Robert William Jackson, and it’s relatively common in the south to go by both your first and middle name, especially in with girls names. Mary Jo, Anna Grace, Ellie Mae, etc… even my own daughter has a double name like that.
That being said… I can’t say that I know any Rob-Wills. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, and a TON of Dutton Ranch fans agree. They also agree that he is an incredibly hateable character, a pretty good characteristic to have in a villain. But here’s a look at the comments on that initial post, and it seems like we’re all in agreement: The show is great so far, much better than expected, but Rob-Will is a dumb, dumb name (my apologies in advance to any actual Rob-Wills out there).
“Hate his cocky I’m better than you alcoholic ass attitude. And what’s with his name?!”
“It’s meant to piss us off. It worked.”
“The name is, something. I like how dislikeable his character is to be honest.”
“When Beulah was screaming his name in the house, at first I thought she was saying Roswell… because wtf is Rob-Will?”
“No every time i hear it I’m like what the fuck. my husband is so bothered by it LMAO.”
“Southerners love the 2-name thing, but Rob Will??? Ugh. Bobby Bill would have at least sort of made sense and sounded a tad better.”
“Lol, when Annette was yelling his name, I was like ‘wtf'”
“It’s literally the dumbest name I’ve ever heard.”
“I kept thinking, what the hell kind of name is Rob-Will?? LOL That’s the strangest name.”
“I was going to say there’s worse nicknames for Robert William but know that I’ve said them they’re actually all better then Rob Will.”
“I genuinely thought I was mishearing and it was some exotic name so googled. Nope. I’d heard correctly.”
“The reverse Billy-Bob.”
“Yep Billy Bob backwards.”
“Agree totally on the name and wonder what goes through Benning’s head every time she has to say it though.”
“If anything is going to make me stop watching this show it is that character.”
What do you think… dumbest name you ever heard? I want to hear from all the Rob-Wills out there in the world.
Episode 1 and 2 are already available on Paramount+, but new episodes of Dutton Ranch are released Fridays at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET on Paramount+. They will also air on Friday evenings at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount Network.
You can actually watch the full first episode right HERE:
