Image via Hallmark
The Hallmark Channel is hoping to have a triple crown winner on its hands with a new series debuting on March 26 that has Yellowstone vibes intricately woven throughout it. Ride, the series about family and rodeo, is sure to bring a smile to your face and a cowboy nod to the arena.
The network bringing us face-to-face with a Dutton-esque storyline sans the brutality isn’t a surprising notion. Hallmark is all but synonymous with romance, and while the fire of the Yellowverse is unmatched, unable to be duplicated, other networks are recognizing the power of a down-home fantasy, a fairytale on a farm.
“This ranch, my family, I’ve learned you can’t take anything for granted,” the trailer begins, and we are soon greeted by a mother who has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She’s trying like hell to keep her family together, to keep a roof over their heads, and to ensure the farm stays in the McMurray family name. Of course, with all of the similarities to the Dutton family, there are marked differences, guaranteeing a wild yet softer ride.
Isabel McMurray, played by Nancy Travis, is the family’s matriarch, raising three sons on her own after her husband’s untimely passing. McMurray was a bull riding legend before his death, which set his family up for success, but they can’t stay afloat on his memory forever.
Austin, Cash, and Tuff McMurray are Isabel’s sons, each recognizing the importance of their roles in the family and on the ranch. Austin is the one chasing his father’s bull-riding dream, but as every fan of heartbreaking westerns knows, there’s always more to the story than that, and without giving too much away — Austin’s is sure to bring a tear to your eyes. Cash is the second son, notably “living in his brothers shadow” in the McMurray family and its business, but soon shouldering the weight of what that means.
Cash’s story took him away from the family farm for a spell, but returning to it, he realizes that he’d do anything for his family and to keep their farm afloat. Tuff, the youngest brother, is passionate about many things, one of them music, but Hallmark describes him as the one willing to set his own dreams aside to do what’s best for those he loves most.
The McMurray family, rooted in love and passion, are already riding their way into our hearts, and we have a feeling that this romantic western is going to be the newest must-watch for fans of the Dutton family, especially as we wait for the exciting second half of Yellowstone‘s fifth season to return.
You can catch the first episode of Ride airing tonight on the Hallmark channel, and with love and life on the line, you won’t want to miss a minute.
