Let’s unpack the latest episode of the steamy modern Western.

If you’re dealing with some 1923 withdrawal, Ransom Canyon could be your next binge. Over 10 episodes, Netflix’s new Western follows Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel), who re-emerges into the world a year after his son, Randall, is killed in a car crash. On the anniversary of Randall’s death, Staten, who also lost his wife to illness three years prior, starts hunting for clues into the accident. That’s not all; while dealing with his grief, Staten is also managing the looming threat of a power company encroaching on his Texas ranch, and his growing feelings for Quinn (Minka Kelly), a friend of his late wife.

Ransom Canyon doesn’t solely focus on Staten either. We also follow the neighboring Fuller Ranch, run by Cap Fuller (James Brolin), who receives help from family friend Ellie (Marianly Tejada), and the mysterious Yancy Grey (Jack Schumacher), who arrives in episode 1 hiding a murky past. As he and Ellie get closer, it’s revealed that Yancy is actually Cap’s grandson.

We also meet the local sheriff Dan Brigman (Philip Winchester), who’s pressured by Staten to investigate Randall’s death, and his daughter Lauren, a talented high school cheerleader. Lauren struggles with her feelings for Lucas Russell (Garrett Wareing), another high schooler who works on Staten’s ranch. In episode 8, Dan arrests Lucas’s older brother Kit (Casey W. Johnson) for Randall’s death, despite a gnawing sense that Kit’s involvement is only part of the story.Lizzy Greene as Lauren.

At Cap’s funeral, Ellie changes her mind and tells Yancy they shouldn’t sell to Austin Water & Power. Quinn also reveals to Ellie that Gracie’s could close due to AWP’s threats. Lucas and Lauren talk at the funeral too, each sharing their respective plights. Still, Lucas promises to stay true to Lauren no matter what.

Yancy wavers on his future at Fuller Ranch and his relationship with Cap. However, Staten tells him that Cap searched for him years ago, and struggled with the guilt of never finding him. Staten suggests that “Yancy Grey dies too,” meaning Yancy should finally take on the Fuller name and continue running the ranch instead of selling it.

Quinn then is approached by Staten’s father, Sam (Brett Cullen), who hints that her debt could disappear if she publicly supports the company’s pipeline, but she refuses and says she’d rather see her bar close. She also reveals to Staten that she’s considering going to New York for six months to play at the Philharmonic. The two argue, and Staten worries it means Quinn isn’t invested in their relationship.

Courtesy of Netflix
Minka Kelly as Quinn and Josh Duhamel as Staten.

After the funeral, Lauren urges her father to clear Kit’s name, as he learned the truth behind Randall’s death in episode 9, when his ex-wife finally revealed Kit was only covering for her.

Yancy tells Ellie he won’t sell the ranch. Instead, he plans to run it “‘til they bury me on it.” Then he proposes to Ellie and says he wants to get married that night, after her party at the dancehall. He plans to wait for her with a priest.

Staten and his father argue about selling the ranch to AWP, with his father threatening to remove Staten as co-trustee of the property. Staten replies that his father is just bitter that Staten’s grandfather entrusted him with the ranch instead of his own son. But his father says none of that matters; Cap already agreed to sell his ranch, so it’s only a matter of time before Staten’s ranch goes too.

Unbeknownst to Staten’s father, Yancy now wants to keep Fuller Ranch. Davis tries to sway him with the property’s $22 million price tag, but Yancy stays firm. He’s marrying Ellie and has no intention of selling.

Quinn divulges her New York plans to Ellie, but clarifies she isn’t going to leave the dance hall behind. Instead, she’s using the job to raise up the money to pay AWP to own the place outright, and she plans to make Ellie her co-partner.

ANNA KOORIS//Netflix
Minka Kelly as Quinn.

The dance hall party begins, complete with square dancing and Staten shooting longing looks at Quinn. Lauren pulls Lucas aside and tries to break up with him. Ellie ends things with Kai (Justin Johnson Cortez) and tells him to let their past go; she’s marrying Yancy.

When Staten and Davis meet up at the bar, all the tension that’s been bubbling between them all season finally boils over. Davis gloats that AWP finally scooped up the ranches and goads Staten enough that he punches Davis. Quinn pulls Staten away and chastises him for causing a scene. “All you ever wanted was your own pain,” she tells him. Staten then leaves the party, dejected.

Reid (Andrew Liner) pushes Lucas to not give up on Lauren. So Lucas storms the dance hall’s stage and interrupts the party to declare his love for her, and the two embrace. Preparing to leave for Yancy, Ellie looks at a photo of Cap and says she wishes he could walk her down the aisle. But her plans are put on pause when a woman approaches her and says she’s Yancy’s wife.

Away from the dance hall, Staten’s father tries to talk his lawyer into removing Staten as a trustee of the ranch’s estate, but unless he can prove his son is acting “unstable,” he doesn’t have a case. Right on cue, Davis shows up with a bruise from Staten’s punch, and the pair rejoice—they now have all the evidence they need.

ANNA KOORIS//Netflix
Philip Winchester as Sheriff Dan.

The next morning, Dan tearfully shows up at Margaret’s house and places her under arrest for Randall’s death, then returns home to Lauren. And Lucas flips through college acceptance letters until he hears the sound of his brother, Kit, returning home, finally exonerated.

While Kit and Lucas have found peace and Staten now knows his son’s killer, Ransom Canyon still has enough conflict for a second season. If the show is renewed, Yancy will have to reckon with his supposed wife and Ellie’s reaction to her shocking arrival. Plus, Staten and Quinn left their relationship on the rocks before her departure, and Staten’s father is still determined to take away his son’s claim to the family ranch. If we do return to Ransom Canyon, rest assured there’ll be plenty of drama waiting for us.