Netflix launched the romantic drama and neo-western series “Ransom Canyon” in April 2025, with the second season following in July of the following year. However, the streaming giant has opted not to move forward with a third season of the hit show, which stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly.
Deadline reported the cancellation of “Ransom Canyon” on September 10. Per the outlet, the series, which is based on the Jodi Thomas novels, gained popularity in its first season but did not achieve blockbuster success. However, its viewership was strong enough to earn a shorter second-season order, with eight episodes instead of the 10 the first season had.
Regarding the overall plot of the now-canceled show, its logline reads, “Welcome to Ransom Canyon, where love, loss, and loyalty collide beneath the crimson mesas of Texas Hill Country. With three ranching family dynasties locked in a contest for control of the land, their lives and legacies are threatened by outside forces intent on destroying their way of life.
At the center of it all is stoic rancher Staten Kirkland (Duhamel), who is healing from heartbreaking loss and on a quest for vengeance.”
Netflix’s ‘Ransom Canyon’ Had Mixed Reviews But Audiences Liked It
GettyLike many streaming shows, “Ransom Canyon” wasn’t a slam dunk with critics. However, it earned mostly positive reviews, especially from audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an overall 68% from viewers, while critics give it only a 49% positive rating.
As mentioned, the second season of “Ransom Canyon” arrived on Netflix in July of this year. Currently, it has a 50% positive rating from critics and 64% from audience members.
Regarding reviews for the second season, Decider said, “Ransom Canyon is definitely still a soapy, sexy guilty pleasure kind of a show. But with the addition of Clarkson and some focus on the main storylines, it’s become a soapy, sexy show with a bit more depth.”
RogerEbert.com wrote, “[It] is a lighter and more shamelessly entertaining outing than its predecessor, and if it’s not exactly reinventing the wheel when it comes to storytelling, the show has figured out what it’s good at, and unabashedly leans into it.”
Big Girl Riot reviewed the season as well, saying, “You can’t help but feel welcomed back to Ransom Canyon’s golden-hued, small-town Texas charm.”
Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly Had Met Before The Show
GettyDuhamel and Kelly spoke to PEOPLE in April 2025 about “Ransom Canyon,” and he revealed to the outlet that they had met several years before being cast in the show.
He said, “There was a moment several years ago. It must’ve been, I don’t know, I don’t even know how many years — 10 years ago? — where I sat next to her on a plane on the way from New York to LA.
We had a full conversation. And when we finally met again to work on a scene for Netflix and for [Ransom Canyon creator] April [Blair] and everything, I brought it up, and she had no recollection. She didn’t remember any of it.”
Kelly then joked that Duhamel must have been “intimidating” while on the plane ride. According to her, “I blocked it out because I couldn’t believe he was talking to me.”
From there, she highlighted their chemistry for the series, noting, “I remember, we got together just to see what our chemistry would be like before we started shooting, and immediately, it was just like butter.”
