Netflix’s new Western seriesRansom Canyonis already drawing comparisons to Taylor Sheridan’s belovedYellowstoneseries, with some viewers calling it even better.Ransom Canyon, which released its entire 10-part first season on Netflix on Thursday, June 20, 2025, takes place in a small but affluent West Texas town just outside of Lubbock. Although the town and characters inRansom Canyonare fictitious, the series is deeply rooted in the various intertwining relationships betweenRansom Canyon’sensemble castthat hit close to home with Southern charm. These qualities have some audiences and critics alike calling it aYellowstonereplacement.
Interestingly, bothYellowstoneseason 1 and Ransom Canyon have similar Rotten Tomatoes scoresof 58% and 55%, respectively, resulting in “Rotten” designations based on mixed reviews from critics.Yellowstoneseason 2, however, skyrocketed up to 89% and made the Kevin Costner-led series prestige TV, with season 3 earning a perfect 100% score. Such could be the case forRansom Canyon, whose great cast, multilevel storylines, and immersive settinghave laid a strong foundation to becomeNetflix’s ownversion ofYellowstone. While there are certainly differences between the two series, there’s a lot to like aboutRansom Canyonso far.
Ransom Canyon Season 1 Is More Immersive & Enjoyable Than Yellowstone Season 1
Ransom Canyon’s Likable Characters & Small-Town Setting Make It Addictive TV
Ransom Canyon, which has yet to be renewed for a second season, is more immersive and enjoyable thanYellowstoneseason 1. While getting introduced to John, Beth, and the Dutton family was compelling, albeit slow-moving, inYellowstoneseason 1,Ransom Canyonis frankly easier to get into because of its superior characters. As a Sheridan show, which has arguably gotten better over time,Yellowstonefeels like it caters to a masculine audience, which makes it less accessible, even though most, if not all, of Sheridan’s shows are still great.Ransom Canyoncasts a wider net off the bat to allow more viewers in.
YellowstoneandRansom Canyonboth have soap opera elements, but the romantic twists and tensions in the new Netflix series are surprisingly well-crafted and are part of what makes the show so addictively suspenseful.Ransom Canyonstill has a long way to go to achieve the full critical acclaim and legacy ofYellowstone, and I’m not saying that it has even come close. However, based on its first season, which also received mixed reviews from critics,it has undoubtedly set itself up to improve, refine, and mature in future seasons, especially considering how theending ofRansom Canyonsets up a potential season 2.
How Ransom Canyon Differs From Yellowstone (For The Better)
It Blends Multiple Genres Such As Drama, Murder Mystery & Action/Adventure
Apart from the consistency of the romantic elements at the forefront ofRansom Canyon’splot, which walk a fine line between being meaningful and ridiculous,Ransom Canyonis better thanYellowstoneseason 1 because ithas a sharper pace and more storylines for viewers to sink their teeth into. WhileYellowstonehas been famously called a “dad show”,Ransom Canyonappeals to a younger demographic without boxing out certain demographics and target audiences.Ransom Canyonnever dives too deeply into soap opera territory but indulges just enough that it rivals the betrayals and gossip of any popular reality TV show.
The drama ofRansom Canyonis not only rooted in romance, but also in business disputes, real estate battles, athletic college dreams, and even rodeo competitions. Not to mention thata riveting murder mystery exists at the backbone of the 10-part series,which ties in naturally with the other small-town happenings.
One of the laterRansom Canyonepisodes actually features some action/adventure elements as well, seemingly inspired by last year’s blockbuster hitTwisters.
One of the laterRansom Canyonepisodes actually features some action/adventure elements as well, seemingly inspired by last year’s blockbuster hitTwisters. Viewers could argue thatRansom Canyonfeels overly formulaic. If that’s the case, thenNetflix succeeded in finding the right algorithm for a promising future.
Will Ransom Canyon Be As Successful As Yellowstone?
The Real Pressure Will Be On Its Potential Second Season
WhileRansom Canyonhas proven itself out of the gate, thereal test of whether it can truly stack up to the entireYellowstonefranchise will be its second season, if it reaches that point. As it currently stands,Ransom Canyonseems to have what it takes to make a multiple-season run on Netflix. Of course, quality alone won’t determine whether it gets picked up for season 2, and viewership is the true currency of the streaming age.
Ransom Canyonis more than worthy of a binge-watch and a second season.
Ransom Canyonis surely fighting an uphill battle in the wake ofYellowstone’ssuccess. It should besupported by the multiple books in theRansom Canyonserieswritten by Jodi Thomas as well. It’s tough to predict whether a Ransom Canyon franchise has the type of legs to spawn off multiple spinoffs and prequels, which is less likely. That said,Ransom Canyonis more than worthy of a binge-watch and a second season.
