Dutton Ranch star Juan Pablo Raba doubts Joaquin killed Rob-Will
Dutton Ranch star Juan Pablo Raba says Joaquin may not have killed Rob-Will in the season finale, despite heavy implication. In a post-finale interview with Variety, the actor argues the off-screen murder in episode nine, El Padrino, leaves major timeline and motive questions unanswered.
The Paramount+ season finale ends with Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) gunned down at his front door. Viewers never see the trigger pulled, though Joaquin (Raba) was instructed by his father Mariano (Raoul Max Trujillo) to undertake the killing to regain control of the 10 Petal Ranch.
Key Takeaways
- Rob-Will dies off-screen in the El Padrino finale, now streaming on Paramount+.
- Juan Pablo Raba publicly doubts Joaquin pulled the trigger despite strong narrative implication.
- The actor cites the scene timeline, Joaquin's character, and Mariano's ruthlessness as open questions.
- Raba frames Joaquin's arc around heartbreak and not belonging, setting up potential season two stakes.
What happened to Rob-Will in the Dutton Ranch finale?
Episode nine ends with a bang when Rob-Will is shot at his front door. The killing sends his daughter Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) and mother Beulah (Annette Bening), the 10 Petal matriarch, into hysterics.
The murder will clearly shape what comes next as Rip (Cole Hauser) and Beth (Kelly Reilly) work to recover Carter (Finn Little) from the Mexican cartel. For more coverage, see our Streaming and TV Alerts hub.
Why does Juan Pablo Raba doubt Joaquin killed Rob-Will?
In a post-finale interview, Raba told Variety he is not convinced his character fired the shot. "I don't think he did it!" he said, pointing to the uninterrupted timeline after Rob-Will says goodbye to Oreana.
Within 15 or 20 seconds, a gunshot rings out with no cut. Whoever killed Rob-Will, Raba argued, answered the door and shot immediately. Joaquin was not drunk or drugged, and Raba questioned whether a son would obey a father he hates on that order alone.
How does Raba describe Joaquin's transformation this season?
Raba said the season completely transformed Joaquin. "This guy's not a cowboy. This guy's not a killer," he told Variety. "For Christ's sake, he's a college boy!" His A&M ring and education are what no one can take from him.
Suddenly armed and surrounded by killers, Joaquin must call Mariano despite not wanting to become his father. Raba said Joaquin wants to be a Texan rancher and is "really scared" as events spiral beyond his control.
What could Joaquin's arc mean for a second season?
Raba said he is eager for a new script and hopes to return. He noted Taylor Sheridan's worlds rarely offer pure heroes or villains; circumstances shape characters, much like Rip and Beth.
He believes Joaquin is driven by heartbreak and not belonging, not money or revenge. That motivation, Raba said, could fuel whatever comes next if Dutton Ranch returns for another season.