Ransom Canyon wrote off three characters in the season 2 premiere — but how did the show explain the surprise cast exits?
During the second season, which premiered on Thursday, July 23, Davis (Eoin Macken), his son Reid (Andrew Liner) and Davis’ ex-wife Paula Jo (Meta Golding) were all no longer in the show. Their absence was mentioned after they played large roles in the first season of the hit Netflix series.
“Once the pipeline was in, [Austin Water and Power] cut bait,” Ellie (Marianly Tejada) explained to Quinn (Minka Kelly). “All that money dried up. A half dozen ranches folded. A bunch of them just sold out and cashed in.”
Quinn asked if her ex was one of the people who left and Ellie confirmed he was part of the group. Davis rekindled his romance with Paula Jo while their son, Reid, was taking classes at Texas A&M.
Based on Jodi Thomas‘ book series about a town that is full of drama, romance and hope, Ransom Canyon, which premiered in April 2025, introduced Us to the locals in Texas Hill Country. Josh Duhamel’s character, Staten, was grieving two major losses in season 1 while navigating his undeniable connection to childhood friend Quinn (Kelly), who has also caught the eye of Staten’s brother-in-law and love triangle rival Davis (Macken).
There was also Yancy (Jack Schumacher), who had a past he was hiding from Ellie (Tejada). Viewers found themselves further invested in a love triangle between high school students Lucas (Garrett Wareing), Lauren (Lizzy Greene) and Reid (Liner).
Before his exit, Liner, 26, spoke exclusively to Us about where he saw Reid’s story going next.
“He should have never gone against his family. He was trying to do the right thing and he’s figuring out what is right for him. He’s constantly in this battle of what is good,” Liner explained in April. “I think that the most interesting stuff is going to be with his dad, with his mom and figuring out that world. Because we don’t get to see much of it in season 1 — even though it’s discussed a lot and we get to see glimpses. I am very fascinated with that.”
At the time, Liner praised Ransom Canyon for investing time in Reid’s friendship with Lucas.
“There is something to say about male friendships in general. It feels like it is a deep love,” he continued. “So I think that having that you see them come together as friends — because they’re not from jump — is a version of its own love story. But maybe it’s not as romantic.”
Liner was hopeful that Reid would find love after Lauren and Lucas ended the season together.
“There is something to say about being on the losing side of a love triangle because oftentimes, in the most dramatic ways of TV and movies, the guy who loses is obviously the best choice,” he noted before confirming that “the door is open” for season 2.
“Reid is in a very complicated state of mind where he is ready to be truly bad or truly good,” Liner teased. “It’s the decision of whether or not he wants to lean into one or the other. So maybe he does find a girl and it’s them together forever — or maybe he’s going to go on a tear. I don’t know which way we’re going to go.”
Ransom Canyon is currently streaming on Netflix.
