Welcome to Ransom Canyon
Created by April Blair (Wednesday, All American) and based on the novels by Jodi Thomas, Ransom Canyon brings together intergenerational drama, small-town politics, and tangled romance—all set in the vast Texas Hill Country.
The Netflix series revolves around three interconnected families navigating love, loss, and loyalty. Whether you’re catching up or diving in for the first time, here’s a comprehensive guide to the key characters of Ransom Canyon Season 1.
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Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel)
Staten runs the Double K Ranch and is one of the last holdouts against selling to a powerful energy company. A fourth-generation rancher, he’s grieving the loss of his wife, Amalah, and son, Randall. Staten is quiet, loyal, and deeply principled, but emotionally distant. His longtime connection with Quinn O’Grady complicates his healing process—and his future.
Other roles: Transformers, Shotgun Wedding
Quinn O’Grady (Minka Kelly)
Owner of Gracie’s dance hall and Staten’s lifelong friend, Quinn has quietly loved him for years—until now. Independent and resilient, she faces mounting pressure to save her business and make difficult choices about her future, including a job offer with the New York Philharmonic.
Other roles: Friday Night Lights, Titans
Yancy Grey (Jack Schumacher)
Yancy is the mysterious new ranch hand hired by Cap Fuller. Underneath the surface, he’s a former convict working a shady deal with Davis Collins. But as his past catches up to him, Yancy begins to seek redemption through his relationship with Ellie and a growing sense of belonging in Ransom.
Other roles: Top Gun: Maverick, Chicago P.D.
Ellie Estevez (Marianly Tejada)
Ellie tends bar at Gracie’s and becomes Quinn’s business partner. Level-headed and loyal, she sees the best in Yancy when no one else does. Her arc centers on trust, independence, and finding love in unexpected places.
Other roles: One of Us Is Lying, Orange Is the New Black
Davis Collins (Eoin Macken)
Staten’s brother-in-law and long-time rival, Davis is ambitious and calculating. He’s willing to sacrifice land, loyalty, and love for power—especially when it comes to the pipeline deal with Austin Water & Power. His romantic interest in Quinn adds tension to an already volatile dynamic.
Other roles: La Brea, Merlin
Cap Fuller (James Brolin)
A seasoned rancher with deep ties to Ransom, Cap is one of the few resisting the land buyouts. He hires Yancy without knowing their true connection—Cap is his grandfather. His death in the penultimate episode becomes a turning point for several characters.
Other roles: Traffic, Westworld, Hotel
Lauren Brigman (Lizzy Greene)
The sheriff’s daughter and a standout cheerleader, Lauren is torn between her dreams of leaving town and her connection with Lucas Russell. Caught in a love triangle and a tense home life, she represents the show’s younger generation trying to define their future.
Other roles: A Million Little Things, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn
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Lucas Russell (Garrett Wareing)
Quiet, thoughtful, and determined, Lucas comes from a tough background. He’s in love with Lauren but carries the burden of protecting his older brother, Kit, who has been falsely accused of a crime.
Other roles: Manifest, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists
Reid Collins (Andrew Liner)
Reid is Davis’s son and Staten’s nephew. Initially dating Lauren, he later steps aside once he recognizes her bond with Lucas. Often torn between inherited values and his own sense of right and wrong, Reid is still figuring out who he wants to be.
Other roles: Vampire Academy, Grown-ish
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Kit Russell (Casey W. Johnson)
Lucas’s brother, Kit has a checkered past and becomes the town’s scapegoat for Randall’s death. His story evolves into one of sacrifice and redemption as the truth finally surfaces.
Other roles: Rise, GLOW
Sheriff Dan Brigman (Philip Winchester)
Ransom’s sheriff and Lauren’s father, Dan is steady but torn between personal loyalty and duty. His investigation into Randall’s death hits close to home when he uncovers a devastating truth about his wife.
Other roles: Strike Back, Chicago Justice, SVU
Margaret Brigman (Sarah Minnich)
Struggling with addiction and guilt, Margaret is revealed to have caused Randall’s death in a drunk driving incident. Her affair with Kit and her role in the cover-up make her one of the most complicated characters in the series.
Other roles: Better Call Saul, Army of the Dead
Sam Kirkland (Brett Cullen)
Staten’s father, Sam is a symbol of old-school politics in Ransom. Aligned with Davis and the pipeline initiative, he represents the growing generational divide in town—and at home.
Other roles: The Joker, The Blacklist
Paula Jo (Meta Golding)
Davis’s ex-wife and a board member at Austin Water & Power, Paula Jo’s loyalties shift throughout the season. Her connections to the town and the energy company make her a key player behind the scenes.
Other roles: Hunger Games, Empire
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Ransom Canyon thrives on its ensemble, with every character offering a different lens into life in a town caught between tradition and transformation. From the quiet ache of Quinn and Staten’s relationship to the simmering schemes behind the pipeline deal, each storyline carries emotional weight.
Whether you’re drawn to romance, redemption arcs, or intergenerational drama, this cast of characters is worth getting to know.
