The Ranch Information

The Ranch is an American comedy web television series starring Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger and Sam Elliott that debuted in 2016 on Netflix. The show takes place on the Iron River Ranch in Garrison, Colorado, detailing the life of two brothers trying to run a business. There will be two batches of ten episodes The first ten episodes of the series premiered on April 1, 2016. The second batch of ten episodes will be released on October 7, 2016. In April 2016, Netflix renewed The Ranch for a second season of 20 episodes.

Cast

• Ashton Kutcher as Colt Bennett, a former high school and college football star whose life mission has been to make it to the pros. He returns to his hometown for a try-out, makes the team and ends up staying when he learns his father is in financial trouble. Based on his various t-shirts and dialogue throughout the first season, it's implied that Colt has played for the San Jose SaberCats, Spokane Shock, Orlando Predators, and Philadelphia Soul. Dialogue also states that he was a member of teams in Canada, notably the fictional Saskatoon Cold ("Like the Miami Heat... only cold") and Alaska. He also states in the first episode he was the back up of the back up of the back up for Florida State and won the championship in 1999.
• Danny Masterson as Jameson "Rooster"? Bennett, Colt's older brother who has lived in his shadow. After Colt left, he stayed to help his father on the ranch. He is far less successful socially but is more capable on the ranch and is also an assistant coach for their old high school football team.
• Debra Winger as Margaret "Maggie" Bennett, Colt and Jameson's mother and Beau's separated wife. She owns a bar (called "Maggie's") in town which is frequented by Beau and the boys. She cares deeply for her sons and is excited when Colt returns. Despite being separated from Beau,and living in an Airstream behind her bar, the two still have a sexual relationship, which at times has taken an emotional toll on Colt and Jameson.
• Sam Elliott as Beau Bennett, the bitter, grouchy, Vietnam veteran father of the Bennett boys. He has been a rancher since he returned from Vietnam and took over his father's ranch. Sometimes he is arrogant. He is a staunch Republican and a great fan of Ronald Reagan. He is hard on both boys even though he cares deeply for them both. He is separated from his wife but maintains a sexual relationship with her. Beau has an estranged relationship with Colt and sometimes he has an estranged relationship with Rooster. But he is proud these two help him on the ranch.

Recurring

• Elisha Cuthbert as Abby Phillips, Colt's high school flame. She works as a history teacher at their alma mater.
• Kelli Goss as Heather
• Megyn Price as Mary
• Bret Harrison as Kenneth "Kenny" Ballard
• Grady Lee Richmond as Hank
• Barry Corbin as Dale
• Laura Vallejo as Maria

Episodes

Season 1

| ShortSummary = Colt Bennett (Ashton Kutcher) returns home to his father's ranch. His older brother Jameson "Rooster" Bennett (Danny Masterson) is surprised to see him while his father is upset. His mother is happy to see him. Colt winds up deciding to stick around town at the ranch as the family needs the help. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = Colt's high school sweetheart Abby (Elisha Cuthbert) is dating Kenny (Bret Harrison), much to his annoyance. His father treats him like a servant and won't listen to his ideas. As a result, Colt decides to leave, leaving Rooster to stick around as he had done. Colt drops by his mother's place, where she talks him into sticking around. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = Beau injures his back and has to go to the doctor; something he hasn't done in twelve years. He learns that he has high blood pressure. Colt is asked to go help out the football team at his old high school by the quarterback. The coach doesn't want him to do so and Colt gets upset and makes a fool of himself. He realizes that he needs to make a change due to his father who isn't happy changing his diet. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = Colt fixes things with Abby and upon learning that Beau and Maggie will not be home, the boys hold a party with Abby, Kenny, Heather, and her friend back at the ranch. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = Hunting season causes Colt and Rooster to argue. However Beau and Maggie spend time together as the brothers fight. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = Abby realizes she is in the wrong about Colt's relationship with Heather. Beau and Maggie try to fix things. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = Colt tries to figure out what he wants from Heather, almost breaking up with her. As Beau deals with a sick calf, Colt learns that there is more to Heather than he thought. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = The dwindling finances cause the boys and Beau to go get a bank loan. Colt learns that he has an old disagreement with the loan manager. Beau decides to turn off the power at the ranch. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = Heather sets up Rooster with her sister but Colt is worried that Rooster will ruin his relationship with Heather. Maggie and Beau air their problems in marriage counseling. Rooster winds up interfering with Colt and Heather's relationship in an even more disturbing way. When Colt and Heather go out to Cracker Barrel, it winds up being the night that Kenny proposes to Abby there. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

| OriginalAirDate = | ShortSummary = It's time to market the cows, but Beau has second thoughts due to rock bottom cattle prices. Colt and Rooster navigate the complexities of their dating situations. Abby has a revelation for Colt. | LineColor = 7F462C }}

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Reception

The Ranch has been met with mixed reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the series an approval rating of 56%, based on 29 reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A formulaic set-up and predictable plotting are elevated by The Ranch's surprising sensitivity and strong performances." Metacritic gave the series a score of 56 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Netflix users have rated The Ranch 4.5/5 stars and IMDB users have rated it 7.5/10 stars.

Writing for Slate in a positive review, television critic Willa Paskin wrote of the show, "The Ranch is a red-state sitcom, though it takes place in the swing state of Colorado, and is good enough to be watched by people of any political affiliation" and "The goodness sneaks up on you." Los Angeles Times wrote: "[Elliott and Winger's] scenes together, as restrained as they are, are the show's most emotionally resonant. You will want to check them out."