Ransom Canyon, a new contemporary Western series that is basically Netflix’s answer to Yellowstone, only debuted on the streaming platform a month ago, but the team behind the romance-fueled drama are already saddling up for Season 2. Showrunner April Blair is not ready to let the series ride off into the sunset just yet, as she has already set up a writers’ room to expand the stories from the first season, which is based on Jodi Thomas’ novels of the same name, even though Netflix hasn’t renewed it for a second season as yet.
Blair expressed her confidence in Ransom Canyon’s future during a recent interview with TV Insider, as she confirmed that the team has already started work on the scripts for Season 2. She explained why the writers felt it was important to bring closure to certain storylines, such as the Randall death mystery, despite their plans (and hopes) to continue the story for a second run on Netflix, while also offering a teaser of where the characters might find themselves should they be lucky enough to return for a small-screen sophomore outing:
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“We’ve already started the writers’ room, even though the show hasn’t been picked up to series yet for Season 2, but we were already grappling with that, and what we wanted to do was kind of put to bed that loss, in a way. Not that Staten will ever get over the loss of his child, but we wanted to give him some hope and a little bit of lightness. Quinn’s going to go off to New York and come back. How is he going to win her back if he’s still haunted? I don’t feel like he could ever truly move on in his heart and his mind until that mystery was settled. We wanted to find some closure with that, and also, who was behind it and what really happened opens up a whole new series of relationship drama between Lucas and Lauren, as you know. So it gives us a lot of runway in other stories as well.”
Ransom Canyon mixes romance, drama, and mystery while charting the intersecting lives of three ranching family dynasties, all set against the rugged expanse of Texas Hill Country. The Netflix adaptation stars Josh Duhamel as Staten Kirkland, who is healing from a heartbreaking loss and on a quest for vengeance. His only glimmer of hope rests in the eyes and heart of Quinn O’Grady (Minka Kelly), a longtime family friend and owner of the local dance hall. The series also stars James Brolin, Lizzy Greene, Eoin Macken, and Meta Golding.
‘Ransom Canyon’s First Rodeo Was a Streaming Success
Netflix
Ransom Canyon premiered its 10-episode first season on Netflix on Apr. 17, 2025, and instantly claimed the mantle of king of the ranch by debuting at number one on the platform in the U.S. and securing a position in the Top 3 on the global chart. It gained momentum in its second week, bringing its total views to 16.6 million, and has maintained a spot in the Top 10 in various regions ever since, which demonstrates its continued appeal and stands it in good stead for a potential renewal, though other factors will be taken into consideration.
The reviews for Ransom Canyon have been very divisive, with critics giving it 45% against an audience score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some people have described it as a predictable Western drama with a clichéd story that doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of Taylor Sheridan’s sprawling Yellowstone universe, while others have found it to be an enjoyable viewing experience that offers an escape from the more gritty entries of the genre, supported by two lead actors (Duhamel and Kelly) that have heaps of chemistry and charisma.
The strong viewership figures and positive audience reception certainly help Ransom Canyon’s case for a Season 2 renewal, but it’s now just a matter of waiting for an official greenlight from Netflix. However, it should be noted that the streaming company has a track record of canceling some amazing new shows after just one season. In fact, they reportedly canceled more shows than any other network in 2024, so nothing is guaranteed at this point, but Blair and the team are certainly hoping there’s some positive news on the horizon.
