Romance abounds in Netflix’s Ransom Canyon, a contemporary Western drama based on Jodi Thomas’ book of the same name and created by showrunner April Blair. The series stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly, who portray Staten Kirkland, a rancher, and Quinn O’Grady, a lavender farmer, dance hall owner, and piano player extraordinaire. Over the course of the ten episodes, viewers are taken on a rollercoaster ride through Staten and Quinn’s tumultuous love story, which is marked by a compelling ‘will they/won’t they’ dynamic.
In a recent interview, Duhamel and Kelly shared insights into their characters and the complexities of their relationship. Duhamel emphasized the importance of execution in portraying their chemistry. “A lot actually. For me, it’s about how you execute these kinds of things. Because it is a ‘will they won’t they,’ and the audience knows. There’s certain things that are just true, but it’s how you go about getting there, I think, is the most interesting,” he said.
Kelly added depth to their characters by discussing the emotional journey Quinn undertakes. “It’s this thing of, when you’re young and you’ve decided this is your love of your life, where you really have a love for someone, you think or feel like you can save them,” she explained. “You sort of have to burn it to the ground until you finally accept and realize ‘I can’t save you, I can’t fix you, I can’t keep falling in love with potential. I just have to accept you for who you are right now.’”
One standout moment in the series occurs during a bar scene where Duhamel’s character sings karaoke. Originally scripted for Shania Twain, he suggested using Hootie & the Blowfish instead. “Well, my first reaction was, ‘Oh, my God, I have to sing karaoke,’ but I was like, ‘I don’t know if he would belt out Shania in the bar, no matter how plastered he is,’” Duhamel recounted. Kelly chimed in, “Isn’t he an amazing drunk? You know how hard that is to do?”
As the story unfolds, a tornado serves as a pivotal moment for Staten and Quinn, allowing them to confront their feelings. “I think sometimes a crisis will really give you permission to live and feel and speak your truth,” Kelly noted about this turning point. “They just let their guards down and let themselves just actually feel good together for once.” Duhamel humorously added, “I think that nothing says, let’s get it on like a cellar in the middle of a tornado. Nothing more romantic than that.”
The season finale leaves viewers with a poignant scene where Staten leaves a bracelet for Quinn, which Duhamel interprets as a sign of him letting her go. “He knows that she’s moving on from him. He’s messed this thing up too many times,” he explained. “The easiest thing for him to do is walk away and go back into that dark hole.” This moment encapsulates Staten’s struggle with grief and his inability to express his feelings.
Looking ahead, both actors expressed hopes for their characters in a potential second season. Kelly wishes for Quinn to thrive in her businesses and friendships, saying, “I hope for Stanton to get his stuff together. I hope for him to get healthy and to find a way to manage his grief in a more healthy way.” Duhamel echoed her sentiment, noting that Staten needs to work through his issues before he can be worthy of Quinn.
As they discussed the appeal of Western series like Ransom Canyon and Yellowstone, Kelly pointed out that while they share similar backdrops, Ransom Canyon offers a unique take. “It’s such a different thing than anything else that’s already out there,” she said. Duhamel agreed, emphasizing the authenticity the writers strive for. “I think the actors and the cast in the show have that same desire,” he remarked.
Ultimately, Ransom Canyon aims to resonate with viewers on a personal level. Duhamel described the show as “comfort food” for audiences, stating, “I’m not trying to do anything other than make a show that’s really interesting and easy to watch. We don’t need to be anything more than that.” Kelly added, “I think we want to feel good right now. We want to escape.”
