Or, I’m in fucking love with another fictional character.
I finished The Ranch Part 3 around 7:10 in the morning today aka the 16th and oh, boy. This show is one of my favorites right now. Like I said before, it hits home just in the right way in my case and my family’s situation. It’s-- such a thing. Having a ranch myself and having done certain shit similar to Rooster’s, only made it even better for me.
But Jameson ‘Rooster’ Bennett in Part 3 of The Ranch had me #sHOOOOK since the beginning. His arc is a roller coaster and there is so much I want to discuss but I also know nobody gets so into deep with The Ranch like I do, lol.
ANYWAY, this new season/part, we got to see how is Rooster outside Iron River. And he is a fucking beast. It... didn’t took me by surprise (as it did my brother) because for no apparent reason I always had the headcanon that Rooster has a bad temper, so to see him as the boss and so pissed off all the time was like, “Oh so I was right”.
But... I have to defend his character a little here. My brother looked at me and said, “it’s enough” and later that he was on Beau’s side at some point. But I never was. I thought about how miserable Rooster was in his job, how difficult things may be with Mary with Heather’s pregnancy and the way they have been fighting lately, and the fact that his father put him down for 15 years and keeps doing it every day during these episodes with this arc.
15 years.
I feel like we can’t forget this. He stopped his entire life to help his father and help Colt. Are we forgetting who paid Colt’s shit for him to go to Barcelona, sacrificing ALL his savings and never asked for it back, not even wanted Colt to know about it? Like Maggie, Rooster is constantly making sacrifices for his family and wherever he goes, he keeps doing the same.
His anger during this season, to me, felt realistic. It was wrong, the way he spoke to Mary in the cabin and how he kept pushing Beau aside. But even in his anger, he knew when he was wrong and found it in himself to apologize to the people he hurt, accept help when offered (Abby and Colt helping him when the whole Berto thing happens), thanking them for their help, and recognizing when he was wrong and when things are his fault (Berto’s deportation).
I’m fascinated with how much Rooster and Beau are alike. I remember watching season 1 with my brother and talking with a couple of friends, and everyone agreed that Colt was the one that was going to be more like his father when older, that they already where a lot alike.
But no, both brothers share similarities with both their parents, but Rooster is the kid Beau put his entire stress, anger and soul in. Rooster is the one that shares most of Beau’s experiences. He had to learn how to work in the ranch against his will, he has to learn how to make big choices early on his life, he has his heart and soul in Iron River, just like Rooster does.
So, to see they are as proud and have the same, honest to God, ugly temper was interesting to me. And I liked that, even angry at the world, Rooster has something Beau doesn’t: awareness of his shitty head and the balls to fix his crap.
And the most amazing part about this all? Rooster ends up doing the same again. He sacrifices himself and his dreams, the job he loves the most, to let someone else he loves have her dreams: He, no questions asked, no selfish scene like Colt’s, no silence like Beau, steps in and takes the bar in his hands so Maggie can fullfill her dream of travelling.
He just got his job and his place at Iron River back, but he, the LITERAL second he hears from Colt that their mother won’t be able to leave, he jumps in, runs to Maggie’s and tells her he will take her place, so she can go be happy.
This is a goddamn good man.
A bunch of white assholes start talking shit about Berto and he steps in to defend his friend and actually wins the fight (it has terrible consequences, but even drunk, he stans for his people and man, he loves Berto), he respects the people working under his command at My Little Ponny Ranch enough to give them time to take a break even when the corporation doesn’t let him and want him and his people to work even during weekends, he was willing to do all the job by himself so they could rest.
Mary’s grandkid, Luke, wanted a bike for Christmas. His fucking father didn’t get him one as he promised, and Rooster is the one to get him the bike (not the best way, though, but damn he and Mary are made for each other). He buys stuff for Mary’s grandkids even before that, he is involved with the Roth girls and their kids in a really commited way, no questions asked.
Rooster is an adult and the show puts it there in the most natural way. If you don’t put enough attention, it may come as a surprise. For an asshole constantly treated as a looser, Rooster has many layers and his character is the one that shines the most at the end. He gets shit done and has the biggest heart, which is something he shares with his mother.
Where Colt keeps getting child-like angry at Rooster getting stuff (his job, the bar, the cabin), Rooster’s assholery starts looking more like a defence. He is very proud and has one fucking hell of a bad temper, his pervy side is tuned down a lot by all these new characteristics we gotten for him.
He is also in a commited relationship and definately doesn’t like to be bossed around at all. I love that he has such a strong personality, because he doesn’t stop being the freaking cutest and most loyal shit to ever breathe.
That’s my kind of man character.
I’m very happy witht he direction his character is taking. He will be working in the bar, but has his place back at Iron River, he will be one hell of a good uncle (I love how suportive he is of Colt and Heather, and Mary-- even after that ugly fight), he is finally being appreciated by Beau (that part when Beau admits he is a great rancher and will be the best when he gets his own ranch, I just jfbfinrinitf), and they are fine as a family.
Danny Masterson is brilliant in his character. They way he even changes the tone of his voice for every emotion and how expressive his eyes are, man, I had forgotten why I appreciate this man’s acting. And I’m glad this show remined me of it.
Man, I can’t wait to see what they’ll do with his character in the next Part.
