Netflix's Best Yellowstone Replacement Is Officially The #1 Series In Just Days
Netflix's best Yellowstone replacement series just got a lot more popular.
The streaming service's new Western TV show is officially the Number 1 show on the platform just days after its riveting return. Western TV series have slowly begun to come back in the era of streaming, with Yellowstone's popularity on both Paramount Network and Peacock being a core factor in the continued success of the genre. This has led to a multitude of other shows to get produced by other networks, including Netflix. Some of their most recent Western shows include the ongoing Untamed and the miniseries American Primeval.
But one Western show has managed to stand out amongst all the platforms' original series: Ransom Canyon. Based on the book series by Jodi Thomas, Ransom Canyon tells the story of three ranch families vying for control of a major piece of land. However, their way of life is threatened when an outside force arrives, intent on upending their way of life. Ransom Canyon season 2 was released on July 23, 2026, featuring eight new episodes pulling from the pages of Thomas' novels.
Now, Netflix has confirmed Ransom Canyon is the Number 1 TV show on the platform in the United States. According to additional data for July 27, 2026, it's been Number 1 since July 24, the day after season 2 premiered on the platform. The Western series is also Number 1 in Canada, Australia, and Denmark, where it's skyrocketed in popularity following the release of the new episodes. Overall, the series is Number 5 worldwide on the platform, making the Top 10 in dozens of countries across the globe.
Jeff Neumann / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett CollectionUnlike Yellowstone, which takes a dark approach to its ideas of legacy and family, the Netflix show has romantic drama at the forefront, a defining element for its main characters, Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) and Quinn O'Grady (Minka Kelly). The pair's relationship with one another, beginning as old friends, is an important part of the series, with Ransom Canyon's other characters going through their own motions as the show continues to evolve. It makes the show unique in this regard when contrasted to darker series featured in the genre.
However, it hasn't been all good for the series. According to reviews for Ransom Canyon season 2, the show is a soap opera through-and-through, not having the same engaging elements that make other shows in its genre so compelling. As of writing, season 2 has a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes based on five reviews, down 5% from season 1. Despite critics not being fans of the show, it's managed to draw in a captive audience both in the US and worldwide, a good sign for its future should momentum keep this way.
The series is a lighter watch than Yellowstone in some regards, but it isn't afraid to go to dark places when it counts. The TV-MA rating ensures there's plenty of maturity in the story, giving it the extra push it needs to maintain interest. With Ransom Canyon drawing such a large US crowd, and finding success in other countries too, it could be a positive sign for how the show's future develops.