Netflix’s romantic western series Ransom Canyon aims to fill the void left behind by Yellowstone, but will the show get renewed for season 2? Based on the Jodi Thomas novels, the series is set in the Texas Hill Country where three ranching families try to hold onto their land against the encroachment of time, and forces that want to strip them of their legacies. In particular, Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) tries to silence the demons of his past while doing whatever he can to save his claim on Ransom Canyon, and his rapidly-dwindling way of life.
Checking many of the same boxes as the aforementioned Taylor Sheridan franchise, Ransom Canyon puts a bit more emphasis on the romance aspects, and the novels predate Yellowstone by years. Season 1’s debut in early 2025 was met with a largely mixed reaction from critics, but it clearly has the chance to become another smash-hit for the streamer. The ending of Ransom Canyon season 1 may have offered some closure concerning Randall’s death, but the myriad of twists and turns means things are only just starting to heat up. This makes a season 2 renewal an absolute necessity.
Though the Netflix original series is still awaiting a renewal, the latest news finds the show’s creator discussing Ransom Canyon season 2. April Blair helped bring the series to the small screen, and she spoke candidly about her hopes for a sophomore outing. “My favorite feeling is when a show ends, and you don’t want it to end,” she said, before mentioning that she hoped audiences felt the same way about Ransom Canyon. Though she couldn’t offer any insight into season 2’s development, her desire to return is a good sign that it could be picked up again.
The western romance series arrived in the early months of 2025, and already has all the features of a potential hit for Netflix. However, the streamer hasn’t renewed the show for a second season yet, and probably won’t make any decisions until the full scope of its success or failure can be assessed. Unlike networks which rely on live ratings, Netflix analyzes many points of data, including retention rate, and hours streamed. Though it’s still largely a mystery to those outside of the streamer’s inner circle, it’s their particular method for determining a show’s viability.
All this makes Ransom Canyon season 2 a believable prospect, though only time will tell if Netflix is pleased with its debut outing.
With that said, Ransom Canyon seems like a season 2 shoo-in, especially when considering its similarity to Yellowstone. With the flagship series in the epic western franchise already finished, many viewers are going to be searching for a similar series, even if Ransom Canyon is a bit different in its execution. Not to mention, the romantic drama Virgin River has become one of the streamer’s longest-running hits, and there are undeniable similarities between the two. All this makes Ransom Canyon season 2 a believable prospect, though only time will tell if Netflix is pleased with its debut outing.
The cast of Ransom Canyon is massive, and there’s no reason to think that most of the ensemble could return in season 2. The one guaranteed return is that of Josh Duhamel as Staten Kirkland, and he is ostensibly the main character of the ensemble western romance. Joining him will likely be Minka Kelly as Quinn O’Grady the musician and dance hall owner who has stolen Staten’s heart, even if he isn’t ready to admit it yet. Meanwhile, Jack Schumacker plays the mysterious drifter named Yancy Grey, and it’s clear he has a lot of secrets that will continue to spill out in season 2.
