Rodeo dreams, family heat, and a legacy on the line.
In the realm of neo-Western TV dramas, Ride (2023) stakes its claim with heartfelt emotion and rodeo grit. This 10-episode series, produced by Hallmark Channel and CTV Drama, centers on the McMurray family—a multigenerational rodeo dynasty struggling to hold on to their Colorado ranch after a devastating loss.
🧠 Plot Overview: Holding Ground in the Dust
The show opens with a family in mourning. Austin McMurray, a champion bull rider and beloved son, dies tragically during a rodeo competition. His passing fractures the family’s foundation and leaves behind a painful void. His mother, Isabel McMurray (Nancy Travis), must keep the ranch afloat and the family together. Austin’s widow, Missy (Tiera Skovbye), is a former trick rider haunted by grief. Austin’s brother Cash (Beau Mirchoff), a Marine veteran, returns home uncertain of his place in the family and in the arena. Meanwhile, Tuff (Jake Foy), the youngest McMurray, carves out his own identity both in and outside the ring.
As the family grapples with internal struggles and external pressures—financial ruin, rival ranchers, and emotional scars—they discover that surviving the rodeo isn’t just about riding bulls—it’s about facing life head-on.
🎭 Characters and Performances: Heart Under the Cowboy Hat
- Nancy Travis as Isabel brings wisdom and quiet strength to the role of the matriarch. Her performance is the emotional anchor of the series.
- Tiera Skovbye delivers a heartfelt portrayal of Missy, caught between lingering loss and new possibilities.
- Beau Mirchoff’s Cash is rugged and introspective, carrying the weight of a complicated return home.
- Jake Foy as Tuff adds a layer of youthful energy and modern self-awareness to the family dynamic.
Every actor leans into the show’s emotional core, grounding the melodrama in sincerity and heart.
🎬 Direction and Visuals: A Western Told with Elegance
Filmed on location in Calgary, the cinematography captures wide-open landscapes, sun-drenched fields, and authentic rodeo sequences with precision. The direction embraces a grounded, character-driven pace, combining the grandeur of Western iconography with intimate family moments. Whether it’s a lonely barn at dawn or the roar of a rodeo crowd, the show feels deeply lived-in and personal.
🧡 Themes: Family, Grief, and Reinvention
Ride explores timeless themes with a fresh voice:
- Legacy vs. Change – Can the McMurrays evolve without erasing who they were?
- Grief and Healing – Everyone processes loss differently, and the show offers space for each character’s emotional journey.
- The Cost of Tradition – Rodeo isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life that demands sacrifice. The question becomes: is it worth it?
The series also touches on issues of identity, mental health, and generational tension, weaving contemporary resonance into its cowboy core.
✅ Final Verdict: A Thoughtful and Emotional Western
While Ride has its soapy moments, it’s ultimately a poignant exploration of grief, grit, and growth. It carries Hallmark’s warmth, but with deeper emotional stakes and more complex characters than its network typically offers. If you’re a fan of family sagas like Yellowstone, but prefer more heart than heat, Ride delivers.
⭐ Final Rating: ★★★★☆ (8/10)
A moving, slow-burning family drama grounded in love, loss, and the rough beauty of rodeo life.
Created by: Rebecca Boss & Chris Masi
Showrunner: Sherri Cooper-Landsman
Starring: Nancy Travis, Tiera Skovbye, Beau Mirchoff, Sara Garcia, Jake Foy, Tyler Jacob Moore
Genre: Western / Family Drama
Episodes: 10 (43 minutes each)
Networks: Hallmark Channel (U.S.), CTV Drama (Canada)
Air Date: March 26 – May 28, 2023