The unpredictable world of the Yellowstone universe has always been known for putting its characters in danger, and the first season of Dutton Ranch continued that tradition. Even the actors themselves are not always sure whether their characters will survive until the next episode, with Juan Pablo Raba admitting he genuinely believed his time on the series was coming to an end while reading one of the season’s scripts.

Raba, who plays Joaquin, the troubled son figure of Beulah, revealed that he was convinced his character would be killed during Episode 6. Unlike some of the series’ core figures, who may have more insight into upcoming storylines due to their producer roles, many cast members receive scripts without knowing what fate awaits their characters.

“When I first got the episode, I had no idea what was going to happen,” Raba explained. As he continued reading, he reached a scene where Chet confronts Joaquin with anger and a gun. At that moment, the actor believed the storyline had reached its conclusion for his character.

Raba recalled thinking that the end had arrived: “It was fun while it lasted.” He expected that someone from the production team might have warned him beforehand if Joaquin was about to be written out of the show, but instead, he discovered the twist while reading the script himself.

However, the scene did not unfold as he expected. Instead of Joaquin being killed, Chet was shot by Miguel, who had also been secretly carrying a weapon. The unexpected turn allowed Joaquin to continue his journey in the series, something Raba described as a surprising development from a storytelling perspective.

Joaquin’s survival became especially important heading into the season finale, where the character was placed at the center of a major mystery. After Joaquin’s father Mariano returned and demanded that his son “kill your brother,” Joaquin found himself trapped between family loyalty and his own doubts.

The finale showed Joaquin struggling with the decision before Rob-Will was later found dead. The sequence left viewers questioning whether Joaquin was responsible for the killing or whether another person carried out the order.

Raba believes the answer may not be as simple as it appears. The actor pointed out that the series never showed a direct scene of Joaquin committing the murder. Viewers only saw Joaquin thinking about the decision in his car, followed later by images of him still possessing the same weapon.

According to Raba, Mariano may have anticipated Joaquin’s hesitation and sent someone else to complete the job. The actor’s comments suggest that the truth behind Rob-Will’s death could become an important storyline moving forward.

Despite surviving the first season, Raba knows Joaquin’s future remains uncertain. The actor acknowledged that in a drama like Dutton Ranch, no character is completely safe. Joaquin could remain part of the story for many seasons or face an unexpected exit at any time.

The character’s uncertain fate reflects one of the defining elements of the Yellowstone franchise: loyalty, betrayal, and survival are constantly changing. As the series moves forward, viewers will have to wait to discover whether Joaquin is truly responsible for Rob-Will’s death and how long he can survive in the dangerous world surrounding the Dutton legacy.

Source: Compiled from various sources