With acclaimed collection like Yellowstone and 1923 coming to finish, what’s subsequent for the TV Western fanbase? Nicely, Netflix has a brand new providing that might fill the newly shaped void — not that mentioned streaming big essentially must poach any Paramount+ subscribers. However why not? The celebs of Ransom Canyon, hitting Netflix this week, will let you know it isn’t attempting to be the following Yellowstone, particularly for the reason that Texas-set drama collection leans a bit heavier into romance tropes, for higher or worse.
Led by dashing acquainted faces Josh Duhamel (Love, Simon) and Minka Kelly (Euphoria), Ransom Canyon throws a number of gruff, modern-day ranchers and cowboys your means throughout its premiere season, with sufficient twists and cliffhanger episode endings to maintain subscribers reasonably engaged, regardless of regularly inflexible performances and sure throwaway subplots. Let’s dive in.
Truths Held for Ransom
Ransom Canyon
- Launch Date
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April 17, 2025
- Community
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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April Blair
- Administrators
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Amanda Marsalis
- Writers
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April Blair
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Josh Duhamel
Staten Kirkland
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Eoin Macken
Davis Collins
- This could garner a ‘Virgin River’-like fanbase because of its juicy subplots and melodrama.
- Intriguing twists and a few shiny performances hold you watching.
- As a lot because it tries, ‘Ransom Canyon’ lives within the shadow of ‘Yellowstone.’
- Inflexible performances by some actors forestall emotional engagement.
It would not be a contemporary western drama with out a number of household dynasties vying for his or her piece of a deep-South pie. It is all about controlling the land, and the present’s eponymous territory is situated in Texas Hill Nation — in case you thought “Ransom Canyon” would possibly simply be some kind of intelligent nickname. And regardless of all of the Southern antics, bull driving and all, that is present-day America we’re in, enhanced by a pair of visually interesting Hollywood stars to seize your consideration. Here is to you, heartbreakers Duhamel and Kelly. If in case you have the hots for both celeb, chances are high you will tune in no matter what the opposite critics are saying concerning the collection’ finish consequence.
Given the fixed tinges of romance throughout all 10 episodes, it appears Netflix is certainly attempting to seize some open-minded Yellowstone followers along with those that are already devoted to the Netflix trigger — courtesy of its hit soapy drama Virgin River and different reveals. However fortunately, Ransom Canyon presents romance with a twist, as lead characters Staten (Duhamel) and Quinn (Kelly) aren’t, in reality, any kind of fortunately married couple, but the “will they/will not they” stress is there as they navigate their profession woes and personal private troubles.
A Weary Josh Duhamel Leads the Cost
Landowner and all-around fashionable cowboy Staten is grit and grief personified, a widower who additionally misplaced his grown son not lengthy earlier than the pilot episode kicks off. Not one, however two losses to the ageing lad’s identify. And we thought we had it unhealthy. You’ll be able to see it on Staten’s withered face, and Duhamel pulls it off, particularly because of a bushel of unkempt facial hair he dons for his new character. There are unanswered questions surrounding Staten’s son’s dying, which solely provides to the wrinkles on his forehead — solutions that the native police chief (Philip Winchester) cannot precisely piece collectively.
And if that is not sufficient for Staten, his Texas land is being more and more threatened by rich exterior powers-that-be who wish to encroach on the opportune property. Oh, and let’s not neglect he and longtime pal Quinn (Kelly), the native dancehall’s proprietor, have a sophisticated “could be” love historical past. So, when one other menacing landowner on the town named Davis Collins (Eoin Macken) begins making strikes on Quinn, that solely turns Staten’s hair all of the extra salt-and-pepper-y. Davis, in the meantime, has a troubled ex-military son, Reid (Andrew Liner), who has mysterious ties to Staten’s personal son’s dying. It is one in every of a number of aspect plots that take a bit too lengthy to achieve momentum, however as soon as it does, you will be craving sure truths.
Brolin, Twists & Extra
The genuine Western really feel can also be heightened by an notorious archetype that seems in Ransom Canyon as nicely: The unusual outlaw wandering into city, shrouded in thriller. And that is maybe the place Ransom Canyon succeeds most. Certain, Duhamel’s Staten serves because the sprawling plot’s vortex, a vengeful and hardened soul attempting to maintain what’s his and touching many lives throughout the canyon within the course of. However when an equally dashing and enticingly youthful spirit — calling himself Yancy Gray (High Gun: Maverick star Jack Schumacher) — quickly crops himself locally together with his personal sprawling backstory to unravel, that is when issues actually begin to get attention-grabbing. That is actor Schumacher’s star-making flip and can undoubtedly result in meatier (pun meant) movie roles down the road.
It additionally would not be a Texas-set collection with out a seasoned veteran like, say, James Brolin. Followers of the Western style would possibly recall his main flip within the O.G. Westworld movie (1973). 50 years later, Brolin’s Cap has his personal ties to sure twists and turns all through Ransom Canyon. Simply you wait. You may definitely favor his presence over the considerably throwaway Gen Z romance that receives an excessive amount of display screen time, between the police chief’s daughter (Lizzy Greene) and a rebellious classmate on the town (Garrett Wareing).
In fact, this aspect quest is an effort to pique the curiosity of youthful viewers, however we suspect they will have extra enjoyable following together with people like Yancy and even the overarching storylines of landowning dynasties butting heads. It’d all really feel like an assembly-line Yellowstone knockoff by the top, however a juicy little TV universe has been established right here, with the promise {that a} potential second season might soar past these first 10 episodes.
Ransom Canyon is now streaming on Netflix. Watch it by means of the hyperlink under:
Watch Ransom Canyon