The explosive ending of Dutton Ranch left viewers believing one of the show’s biggest characters had been murdered, but the actor at the center of the mystery isn’t convinced the obvious suspect is actually responsible.

Juan Pablo Raba has spoken out following the season 1 finale, arguing that his character, Joaquin, may not have killed his adoptive brother Rob-Will, despite the shocking events that unfolded in the final episode.

The Paramount+ series follows Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and Carter (Finn Little) as they leave Montana behind to build a new future on a 7,000 acre ranch in Rio Paloma, Texas.

Their fresh start quickly turns into a dangerous battle with neighboring ranch owner Beulah Jackson, played by Annette Bening, whose ongoing conflict with Beth and Rip escalates throughout the season.

Everything comes to a head in the finale when Carter is kidnapped, while Mariano, played by Raoul Max Trujillo, orders Joaquin to kill Rob-Will, portrayed by Jai Courtney, in an effort to regain control.

The episode appears to end with Rob-Will’s death, leaving Beulah and her daughter Oreana, played by Natalie Alyn Lind, devastated.

However, Raba believes viewers may be jumping to conclusions.

Speaking with Variety, the actor challenged the assumption that Joaquin was the gunman.

“Let me ask you a question,” Raba said. “Do you think Joaquin killed Rob-Will?”

He pointed out that the finale never actually shows who fires the fatal shot.

“I mean, here’s the deal, and I’m not being cheeky here. I don’t think he did it,” Raba said.

The actor encouraged fans to revisit the sequence, arguing that the timeline leaves little opportunity for Joaquin to have carried out the shooting.

According to Raba, only about 15 to 20 seconds pass after Rob-Will says goodbye to Oreana before a gunshot is heard, and the scene contains no edit between those moments.

“Whoever did it, literally: Ding-dong, door opens, shoots the guy,” he explained.

Raba questioned whether Joaquin, who was neither intoxicated nor acting irrationally, would suddenly kill his own brother simply because Mariano ordered him to.

He also suggested Joaquin has every reason to resent his adoptive father, making blind obedience seem unlikely.

“I think there’s a lot of questions to be answered,” Raba added.

His comments have fueled speculation that season 2 could reveal Joaquin was framed or that another person was responsible for Rob-Will’s apparent murder.

The actor also insisted that violence goes against everything his character stands for.

“This guy’s not a cowboy. This guy’s not a killer. This guy, for Christ’s sake, he’s a college boy!” Raba said.

He explained that Joaquin has always wanted a different life from the one Mariano represents.

Rather than following in his father’s footsteps, Joaquin hoped to become an honest Texas rancher and avoid the cycle of violence surrounding his family.

According to Raba, the increasingly dangerous events of season 1 leave Joaquin overwhelmed and frightened rather than empowered.

“He doesn’t want to be like his father,” the actor said. “He’s really scared.”

Fans will have to wait to find out whether Joaquin is telling the truth. Paramount officially renewed Dutton Ranch for a second season last month, although a premiere date has not yet been announced.

Season 1 of Dutton Ranch is now streaming on Paramount+.