Ep 1. Learning to Live Again

SPOILER ALERT: This episode description contains spoilers for previous seasons of The Ranch.

The Ranch is back for its fourth season, and things have never been more complicated for the Bennett family. In the Season 3 finale, Colt (Ashton Kutcher) finally proposed to Abby (Elisha Cuthbert) after a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship. Meanwhile, Beau (Sam Elliott) is dealing with the aftermath of his heart attack, and Maggie (Debra Winger) is trying to figure out if she wants to make peace with her ex-husband or move on with her new boyfriend.

In the premiere episode, "Learning to Live Again," the Bennetts are still reeling from their various emotional wounds. Colt is working on an oil rig in North Dakota and struggling to stay faithful to Abby, who is back home running the bar and trying to deal with her own issues. Beau is also back on the ranch, but he's not exactly in good spirits. He's still dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of his heart attack, and he's having trouble accepting that he can't do everything he used to.

The episode begins with Colt getting into a fight at the oil rig, which leads to him being sent home early. When he returns to the ranch, he's surprised to find that Abby has redecorated their house, but he quickly realizes that she did it to cover up the fact that she's been drinking heavily. Abby is struggling with the stress and responsibility of running the bar, and she's using alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Meanwhile, Beau is determined to show his family that he's still capable of doing things on his own. He insists on driving himself to the doctor's appointment for his heart check-up, even though his family thinks it's a bad idea. When he gets there, he's frustrated to find out that he's not allowed to drive for another month. Later, Beau tries to fix a fence on his own, but he ends up getting injured and has to admit that he needs help.

Throughout the episode, the theme of learning to live again is woven through each of the characters' storylines. Abby is trying to figure out how to balance her personal and professional life without abusing alcohol. Beau is learning to accept his limitations and ask for help when he needs it. Colt is learning to be a faithful partner and support Abby through her struggles. And Maggie is trying to decide if she's ready to move on from Beau and pursue a relationship with her new boyfriend.

As always, The Ranch delivers plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments, but it's clear that this season will be tackling some serious issues as well. The Bennetts are a family that's been through a lot, and they're not shy about showing their flaws and vulnerabilities. With this season promising to be the show's final one, it will be interesting to see how the writers tie up all the loose ends and bring the characters' journeys to a satisfying conclusion.