“Ride” Recap: Season 1 Episode 1 Premieres on Hallmark Channel

It looks like Hallmark Channel is trying to capture some of that yellowstone Fever with the series premiere of his new rodeo family drama Drive.

Sunday’s debut introduces viewers to the McMurrays, a near-dynastic rodeo family that runs a small-town Colorado ranch. mother Isabel (Last Man Standing‘s Nancy Travis) leads the brood after her husband’s death. She has three sons: the eldest, Austin (When the heart calls‘s Marcus Rosner), follows in his father’s footsteps as a renowned rodeo champion, with the help of his exceedingly proud brother Tuff (Hallmark veteran Jake Foy), while Cash (Good trouble‘s Beau Mirchoff) is in the army.

Cash makes a surprise return during a particularly fateful drive for Austin and reunites with his brother’s wife, Missy (Riverdale‘s Tiera Skovbye) who is a trick rider. There is tension between all three before Austin leaves to take ranch hand/Missy’s best friend Valeria (The Lightning‘s Sara Garcia) that she has to help him or the family could get into big trouble.

“I know your secret, and you’re the only one I know who can fix this,” Austin tells Valeria as a mysterious figure looks on nearby. Valeria immediately leaves town while Austin mounts his bull. But he doesn’t have the right headroom for the ride, resulting in him being tragically trampled on by the beast.

A year later, Cash has taken on the mantle of riding the bull, Tuff has given up training out of guilt, and Missy is trying to figure out what her place is at McMurray Ranch now that she’s a widow. Meanwhile, Isabel struggles to save the ranch from foreclosure and puts more pressure on Cash’s shoulders to ride well and secure a sponsorship despite Isabel’s fears of losing another son. When Missy reveals she plans to get a job in Texas, Cash accuses her of running away when she’s scared, just like the other day when she almost kissed her. (Does anyone else think something went on between the two while Austin was alive, hence the tension at Cash’s homecoming?)

When it’s time for Cash’s first official ride, he’s visibly unsettled. “It should have been me,” Cash explains.

Then Missy steps in to give Cash a pep talk, which is so successful that Isabel asks Missy to stay and coach Cash, because with her whispers in his ear, Isabel thinks Cash will be reasonably safe.

Elsewhere in the premiere, Valeria returns after a year’s absence, still harboring a secret and still nervous about this mysterious man who catches Tuff’s attention. Valeria is welcomed back by Isabel, who sees her and Missy as daughters, and Valeria begs Isabel not to sell the ranch. If they reseed the land, it could one day be prosperous, she argues. The episode ends with Isabel asking Missy and Valeria to help her save the ranch and protect Cash as the family they are.

The cast also includes Tyler Jacob Moore (shameless) as Gus, a new resident… and possible love interest for Missy?

what has You think of them Drive Series premiere? Rate it below and then hit the comments!