Picture: Netflix
Ransom Canyon, Netflix’s new romantic drama from All American showrunner April Blair and headlined by Minka Kelly and Josh Duhamel, has hit Netflix worldwide, and review embargoes for the series have now been lifted. Is the series worth a romp? Here’s what the critics are saying…
Based on Jodi Thomas’ romance novels, this series is a big mix of other shows. It hopes to cash in on some of the love coming in for neo-Westerns like Yellowstone and add a pinch of small-town romance like Sweet Magnolias and Virgin River into the fold. It also adds in some Succession-style drama as recently seen in the likes of Territory for good measure. Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, James Brolin, Eoin Macken, and Lizzy Greene lead the cast of the series, which tells the story of three different ranching families who share the same paths in the sweeping hills of Texas.
Beginning with the Hollywood trades, we first come to The Hollywood Reporter’s take on the series, which was, overall, pretty mixed to negative. Their biggest criticism lies at the feet of the writing, calling it a bland, formulaic Western romantic drama that feels more like background noise than a show meant to be fully watched. Furthermore, they cite flat execution, clichéd characters, and recycled plotlines give it the feel of a show designed by an algorithm rather than passion, ultimately concluding that the show is best watched as passive viewing. Not great.
British newspaper The Telegraph wasn’t overly keen on the series, granting it only a two-star rating, blaming duff dialogue and, strangely, the names of the characters.
Variety firmly sits on the opposite side of the spectrum. While they also cite some cliched plotlines and predictable love circles, they ultimately found the show more of an escapist win for small-town romance fans, specifically citing Paula Jo as a standout performance. Their headline for the series is that the show is Horny, Absurd and Ridiculously Entertaining”
Collider echoes that escapism sentiment, saying the ensemble cast, particularly Josh Duhamel and Philip Winchester, shines in well-balanced storylines that are emotionally engaging yet easy to binge. They go on to conclude that, though not flashy or groundbreaking, Ransom Canyon is a warm, addictive escape that highlights the value of Netflix’s comfort TV niche.
Dexerto was perhaps the most glowing of the major outlets to review it, saying it’s not quite up to the standard of Virgin River but has promise.
RANSOM CANYON. (L to R) Minka Kelly as Quinn and Lauren Glazier as Angie O’Grady in Episode 103 of Ransom Canyon. Cr. Anna Kooris/Netflix © 2024
Moving over to some of the smaller outlets that have taken the time to review the series thus far, we first come to Rama’s Screens, who in their video review, didn’t take to the series in the slightest. Criticizing it for being a bland and uninspired attempt to emulate shows like Yellowstone, they ultimately found the main trio of characters, Staton, Quinn, and Davis, unlikable and stereotypical. Worse still, criticisms move onto the plot, described as overly sentimental, clichéd, and full of frustrating love triangles. Much like other reviews, cinematography, landscapes, and the show’s diverse cast are praised.
The AU Review gave the series a 3-star rating, once again repeating that the series is formulaic but ultimately an appealing drama that excellently utilizes its lush scenery and handsome leads.
Of course, reviews will play a small role in the show’s chances for a second season renewal. We’ll have our preview post about what you can expect from a possible season 2 shortly, in addition to keeping track of its top 10 performance in the coming weeks and months.
Are you watching Ransom Canyon on Netflix? What are your thoughts so far? Let us know in the comments.
All 10 episodes of Ransom Canyon are now streaming on Netflix globally.
Rating: TV-MA
