The Yellowstone universe may be heading to Texas in Dutton Ranch, but Juan Pablo Raba is making sure Latino representation rides along in a meaningful way.

In the new Paramount+ original drama, Raba stars as Joaquín, the sharp, composed fixer tasked with helping run the powerful 10 Petal Ranch. As the eldest son of Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening), Joaquín is far from the stereotypical cowboy audiences may expect. He’s polished, highly educated, business-minded, and determined to prove he belongs in a world where power is often measured by grit, loyalty, and survival.

During a conversation with Entertainment Affair’s Raffael Alejandro, Raba opened up about stepping into the Yellowstone universe and what drew him to this layered new character.

According to the actor, Joaquín is someone who has spent his life preparing to inherit responsibility, but his greatest challenge may be navigating a world he doesn’t fully understand. Raised in Texas but far more comfortable in boardrooms than on horseback, Joaquín approaches ranch life from a strategic business perspective—something that immediately puts him at odds with his brother, who is much more rooted in the traditional cowboy lifestyle.

That internal family tension, Raba hinted, becomes one of the driving forces behind Joaquín’s journey.

What excited the actor most, however, was how the role avoided the clichés often attached to Latino characters in major American dramas.

Raba shared that creating each role feels like an anthropological process, immersing himself in unfamiliar worlds to understand the realities of the character. Since he had never experienced Texas ranch culture firsthand, stepping into Dutton Ranch required building Joaquín from the ground up. But what stood out most was the creative freedom to portray a Latino character without falling into predictable stereotypes.

Rather than being asked to exaggerate an accent, play a villain, or fit into a narrow mold, Raba said the experience felt respectful and refreshingly authentic.

That authenticity clearly resonated with Entertainment Affair, especially as Latino representation continues to expand in mainstream franchises.

Raba also reflected on how Joaquín represents something larger—a bridge between cultures. Proud of his heritage while fully integrated into the world around him, Joaquín embodies a more nuanced version of the immigrant and multicultural experience rarely seen in stories like this.

And for fans already trying to figure out where Joaquín stands in the battle lines of Dutton Ranch, don’t expect an easy answer.

As Raba pointed out, in the world created by Taylor Sheridan, morality is rarely black and white. There are no clear heroes or villains—just complex people making complicated choices.

Which, honestly, sounds exactly like the kind of chaos Beth Dutton would thrive in.

Dutton Ranch premieres globally on  Paramount+ on May 15 with its first two episodes. The series also airs on Paramount Network beginning May 15 at 8 PM ET/PT.