Is Rooster Permanently Gone from The Ranch? The Truth Hurts, But the Show Must Go On (Even Without Motorcycles)
Alright, folks, let’s get down to brass tacks. Rooster, the lovable, slightly-off-kilter, and definitely-not-always-sober brother of Colt Bennett in The Ranch is gone. Gone, like a bad case of tequila hangover after a wild night in town. But is he permanently gone? The short answer is yes, but the story’s a little more complicated than a simple “yes” can convey.
So, what happened to Rooster? You know, the character played by Danny Masterson, the guy who could make you laugh, cry, and wonder if he’d actually eaten a whole pot of chili before showing up for a scene. Well, in a nutshell, Danny Masterson was fired from The Ranch amidst some serious allegations of sexual assault. Netflix, being the morally-upstanding streaming giant they are, decided to cut ties with Masterson, which left the writers with a very real dilemma: what to do with Rooster?
The writers decided to kill off Rooster in a motorcycle accident. Now, this isn’t the kind of dramatic, “I’m going to die for you!” death scene you’d expect from a soap opera. No, Rooster met his end in a rather unceremonious, albeit tragic, way. During a particularly tense moment in Part 5, Rooster was threatened by Nick, Colt’s former brother-in-law, and ended up leaving town. He then, in a rather ironic twist, decided to escape his problems by hopping on his motorcycle. Unfortunately, fate (or the writers) had other plans. In the Part 6 premiere, we learned that Rooster had gone for a ride and… well, let’s just say his motorcycle and his luck weren’t on the same page.
Now, some people might be thinking, “Wow, that’s a pretty harsh way to write a character out of the show.” And you know what? They’re not wrong. But here’s the thing: the show couldn’t exactly bring back Danny Masterson, given the circumstances. It would have been a PR nightmare. So, the writers chose to do the next best thing: they killed off Rooster and moved on.
But here’s the thing: Rooster’s death wasn’t in vain. His absence serves as a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, life goes on. The Bennetts, despite their grief, find a way to move forward. They learn to adapt, to support each other, and to keep the ranch running (even without Rooster’s slightly-chaotic energy).
Plus, Rooster’s death served as a plot device to introduce some new characters. We got to meet Maggie, Rooster’s girlfriend, and her hilarious, slightly-obnoxious mother. And let’s not forget about the whole “finding Rooster’s body” subplot, which brought some much-needed drama to the show.
So, even though Rooster is gone, his legacy lives on in The Ranch. He’s remembered for his quirky personality, his love for a good time, and his unwavering loyalty to his family. And, let’s be honest, he’s also remembered for his endless supply of funny lines and his ability to make even the most mundane moments hilarious.
But is Rooster really gone? You know, in a way, he’s still there. He’s in the memories of his family and friends, in the stories they tell about him, and in the way they continue to live their lives. He’s also, in a more meta sense, still there in the form of those “What if…” scenarios that play out in the minds of fans. What if Rooster hadn’t been killed off? What if Danny Masterson hadn’t been fired? What if… well, you get the picture.
The truth is, Rooster’s absence is a reminder that sometimes, life takes unexpected turns. And sometimes, those turns can leave us heartbroken and wondering what might have been. But, like the Bennetts, we can also learn to adapt, to move forward, and to find a way to make the most of the life we have.
So, yeah, Rooster is gone. But, in a way, he’s still there. And that’s what makes The Ranch such a compelling show: it’s a story about family, love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. In the end, we’re all just trying to figure things out, one day at a time. And hey, maybe, just maybe, Rooster would be proud of how the Bennetts have managed to carry on, even without him.