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Outer Range
Promotional poster
Genre
Created byBrian Watkins
Starring
Composers
  • Saunder Jurriaans and Danny Bensi (season 1)
  • Wendy & Lisa (season 2)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes15
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Production locationLas Vegas, New Mexico
Cinematography
Running time43–62 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkAmazon Prime Video
ReleaseApril 15, 2022 (2022-04-15) –
May 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)

Outer Range is an American science fiction neo-Western television series created by Brian Watkins. It features an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Lili Taylor, Tom Pelphrey, Tamara Podemski and Lewis Pullman.

The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 15, 2022.[1] In October 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, with Charles Murray taking over Watkins's position as showrunner.[2] The second season premiered on May 16, 2024.[3] It has received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for the performances of its cast (particularly Brolin and Poots). In July 2024, the series was canceled after two seasons.[4]

Premise

[edit]

Royal Abbott is a Wyoming rancher who is fighting for his land and family. He discovers a mysterious black void in the pasture after the arrival of a female drifter, Autumn, who has a connection to Abbott's ranch. While the Abbott family copes with the disappearance of their daughter-in-law Rebecca, they are pushed further to the brink when a rival family, the Tillersons, try to take over their land.[1][5]

Cast and characters

[edit]

Main

[edit]
  • Josh Brolin as Royal Abbott, owner of Abbott ranch, husband of Cecilia, and father of Rhett and Perry
    • Teaguen Arbogast portrays Royal Abbott as a child and Christian James portrays him as a young adult (season 2)
  • Imogen Poots as Autumn, a strange young woman who arrives at the Abbott ranch and camps out on the land
  • Lili Taylor as Cecilia Abbott, the wife of Royal and mother of Rhett and Perry
    • Megan West portrays young Cecilia Abbott (season 2)
  • Tom Pelphrey as Perry Abbott, Royal's elder son and the father of Amy
  • Tamara Podemski as Deputy Sheriff Joy Hawk, the acting sheriff of the county where the town of Wabang is situated.[6]
  • Lewis Pullman as Rhett Abbott, Royal's younger son
  • Noah Reid as Billy Tillerson, the younger son of the Tillerson family
  • Shaun Sipos as Luke Tillerson, the elder son of the Tillerson family
    • Preston Alkire portrays young Luke Tillerson
  • Olive Elise Abercrombie as Amy Abbott, the 9-year-old daughter of Perry
  • Isabel Arraiza as Maria Olivares, a bank teller that Rhett is interested in

Recurring

[edit]
  • Will Patton as Wayne Tillerson, the father of Billy and Luke and head of the family
    • Thaddeus Wojcik portrays young Wayne Tillerson as a child (season 1) and Daniel Abeles portrays him as a young adult
  • Matt Lauria as Trevor Tillerson (season 1; guest season 2)
  • Matthew Maher as Deputy Matt (season 1; guest season 2)
  • MorningStar Angeline as Martha Hawk, the wife of Joy Hawk.
  • Ofelia Garcia as Rose Hawk
  • Deirdre O'Connell as Patricia Tillerson (season 1; guest season 2), the mother of Billy and Luke, and Wayne's estranged ex-wife
  • Kristen Connolly (guest season 1) and Monette Moio (season 2) as Rebecca Abbott, Perry's missing wife
  • Sam Strike as Deputy Jess Chinlund (season 2)
  • Johnny Sneed as Pastor Ken (season 2)

Guest

[edit]

Production

[edit]

In February 2020, it was announced that Josh Brolin had signed on to star in Outer Range. The series is executive produced by Brolin, Brian Watkins, Zev Borow, Heather Rae, Robin Sweet, Lawrence Trilling, Amy Seimetz, Tony Krantz, and Brad Pitt through his Plan B Entertainment.[1] In December 2020, it was announced that Lewis Pullman, Noah Reid, Shaun Sipos, and Isabel Arraiza had joined the cast, alongside Brolin, Imogen Poots, Lili Taylor, Tamara Podemski, and Tom Pelphrey.[7] In April 2023, Christian James, Megan West, Daniel Abeles, Kimberly Guerrero, and Monette Moio were cast in recurring roles for the second season.[8]

The series marks Brolin's first television series role in nearly 20 years.[9] It was filmed over the course of eight months in Las Vegas, New Mexico.[10] On October 6, 2022, Amazon renewed the series for a second season.[2] Principal photography for the second season began in April 2023.[11]

Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans composed the series' music. Milan Records have released the soundtrack.

Episodes

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
18April 15, 2022 (2022-04-15)May 6, 2022 (2022-05-06)
27May 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)

Season 1 (2022)

[edit]
No.Title [12]Directed byWritten byOriginal release date [13]
1"The Void"Alonso RuizpalaciosBrian WatkinsApril 15, 2022 (2022-04-15)
In the town of Wabang, Wyoming, Royal Abbott, the owner of a large ranch, is approached by a woman named Autumn, who asks to camp out on Abbott's land. Royal accepts. The neighboring Tillerson family, Trevor, Luke, and Billy, meet Royal and his sons Rhett and Perry. They inform Royal that a particular plot of land on the ranch belongs to the Tillerson family and that redrawing the property lines will need to happen or else the Tillersons will take the Abbotts to court. Royal later finds an inexplicable, ostensibly bottomless hole on his land. Royal extends his hand into the hole and receives prophetic visions. Upon returning home, Deputy Sheriff Joy explains to the rest of his family that the authorities intend to cease investigating the disappearance of his daughter-in-law Rebecca, wife to Perry and mother to Perry's daughter, and Royal's granddaughter Amy. At a local bar later at night, Perry and Trevor, both drunk, get into a fistfight after Trevor taunts Perry about Rebecca, and Perry beats Trevor to death. Rhett and Perry bring Trevor's corpse back to the Abbott ranch, and Royal decides to cover up the killing to protect his family. After seeing Royal toss Trevor's body into the hole, Autumn confronts Royal and pushes him into the hole.
2"The Land"Alonso RuizpalaciosBrian WatkinsApril 15, 2022 (2022-04-15)
Cecilia, Rhett, and Perry get their stories straight in the morning. Royal suddenly returns home after having woken up in a field. Luke meets with Joy, promising the support of the Tillerson clan in an upcoming election in exchange for her help in finding Trevor. Royal and Perry meet with the Abbott family's lawyer, who confirms the Tillersons' claim to their land and advises Royal to give it up. Instead, Royal meets with Tillerson patriarch Wayne and offers a smaller plot of land in a different part of the ranch, but Wayne refuses, adamant about the west pasture. Amy meets Autumn out in the wild, and Autumn points out a strange symbol dotted across the Abbott ranch drawing her. Royal decides to move all cattle across the farm to avoid the hole. That night, Autumn confronts Royal and questions him about what happened in the hole and how he returned. Royal doesn't answer her questions forthrightly. Instead, he recalls waking up near the hole in a seemingly other world, where soldiers and the townspeople confront him. A version of Cecilia then informed him that he had been dead for two years before warning him to run – Luke then opens fire on Royal, who turns and jumps back into the hole.
3"The Time"Jennifer GetzingerZev BorowApril 22, 2022 (2022-04-22)
Joy arrests a criminal who warns of other missing townspeople. Autumn meets Perry. While out shopping, Cecilia sees Rebecca driving a truck and later dismisses it as an illusion. Joy confronts Rhett that night at a rodeo and states that Rhett's blood was on Trevor's belt buckle. Later, while celebrating his performance, Rhett is arrested for drunken behavior. While detained, Joy interrogates Rhett, and Rhett admits he got into a fight with Trevor but denies anyone else was there. Royal confronts Autumn and states he believes he traveled through time in the hole; he instructs her to keep silent in exchange for his knowledge. Simultaneously, Royal, Joy, and many other residents of Wabang notice a mountain briefly disappear and then reappear. While hiking, Amy discovers Trevor's corpse in the wilderness, and Royal informs Joy.
4"The Loss"Jennifer GetzingerBrian Watkins & Lucy ThurberApril 22, 2022 (2022-04-22)
Months ago, laborers on the Tillersons' ranch discovered a strange rock near the Abbott west pasture, initiating Wayne's obsession with acquiring the land. Presently, Joy and the Wabang police, along with Royal, hike to Trevor's corpse and recover the body. Joy interrogates Amy with Royal, Cecilia, and Perry present; Amy's testimony clears everyone but Rhett. Joy has her deputy attempt to intercept and question Rhett about his whereabouts before his family can alert him. However, Maria unexpectedly covers Rhett. Royal meets with and threatens Karl, the county assessor who Wayne had bribed to recognize the Tillersons' claim to the Abbott west pasture. Karl, in turn, moves the impending hearing up. Joy interrogates Maria, Rhett, and Perry separately, and their alibis begin to break down before Royal rescues them. Patricia, the matriarch of the Tillerson clan, arrives in town, quickly taking control of the household from Wayne. Joy and Patricia narrow down their focus to Rhett and Perry. However, the autopsy report on Trevor confirms that the time of death was only ten hours before the corpse's discovery despite the bar fight and subsequent disappearance happening eight days ago. At the funeral, Patricia opens the casket and deduces that Trevor's murderer was Perry when she observes him unable to look at the body. Later, Royal plays against Autumn in a poker game and wagers his west pasture against her necklace, cheating to win. Wayne receives a sign from the strange rock at night and drives out into the west field, finding the hole. Wayne and Royal then get into a fight, and Wayne bludgeons Royal unconscious with the rock before driving off.
5"The Soil"Amy SeimetzDominic Orlando & Naledi JacksonApril 29, 2022 (2022-04-29)
Wayne drives home in a fervor, arriving at the ranchhouse and announcing to his family that he "found it" before having visions of two young boys at the hole and then suffering a stroke. Cecilia confronts Autumn who had snuck into the Abbott house to steal her necklace back, while Joy begins to interrogate witnesses to the bar fight to build up a case against Rhett and Perry. Royal meets with a local geologist who had been approached by Wayne to survey the Abbott west pasture and shows her Autumn's necklace - the geologist becomes interested in the rock and requests to study it further, but Royal refuses when he sees a photo including her and a symbol that he had previously seen when he was pushed into the hole and emerged in the other world. Looking up this symbol later, he finds it is the logo of a mining company. With Wayne incapacitated, Patricia and Luke begin proceedings to transfer ownership of the estate to Luke. Rhett spends the night with Maria, while Perry bonds with Autumn, explaining how Rebecca just vanished one night and his suspicions that she had left him. Royal takes the necklace to his barn and crushes it in a vise, releasing a black powder that seems to dissipate in his hand. He then sees Cecilia holding his lifeless body, while another Autumn, still wearing the necklace, seems to be able to perceive him and addresses him before the vision fades.
6"The Family"Amy SeimetzDominic Orlando & Lucy ThurberApril 29, 2022 (2022-04-29)
Royal confronts Autumn, who explains that her necklace and the strange rocks on the west pasture are time, somehow in physical form. Royal threatens Autumn to stay away from his family or he will murder her, leaves her for dead in the wilderness, and then burns her campsite down. As an injured Autumn attempts to hike back to her camp, she encounters a bear which gives her the message to "show him." Later, while Billy is out hunting an elk, he stumbles into Autumn, who takes him to the hole. Patricia and Luke discover from the Tillerson family lawyer that Wayne stipulated in his will to leave everything to Billy; Patricia leaves Wabang to deal with this matter while instructing Luke to keep it a secret from Billy. Joy builds a case against Rhett and Perry, but the time of death on the coroner's report makes the timeline impossible. Joy has a spat with her partner Martha, while Rhett confronts Maria after their night together. Maria affirms that she loves him, but they cannot be together because Rhett will always prioritize his family. When Rhett challenges her, she tests him by asking about Trevor's murder, and Rhett covers up for Perry. Autumn returns to her campsite to find it destroyed. She calls someone and demands money, then carves the strange symbol into her own flesh. Later, visibly unhinged without her medication, Autumn meets with Perry and reveals that Royal attempted to kill her and that she witnessed Royal disposing of Trevor's corpse. Autumn claims she suspects Royal in Trevor's murder and asks to go to Joy together with Perry to turn him in. That night at dinner, Perry arrives home and tells his family that he has sent a confession letter to Joy. Incensed, Rhett fights Perry. Royal intervenes and he and Rhett struggle. Royal slams Perry into a glass fixture and a shard of glass hits Amy in the head, and she runs out of the house, just as a police car arrives on the property.
7"The Unknown"Lawrence TrillingZev Borow and Brian WatkinsMay 6, 2022 (2022-05-06)
Perry is taken to jail and Joy questions him about Trevor's death. Royal and Cecilia bail him out of jail, putting up the ranch as collateral until the trial. Royal drives Perry home and tells him why he ran away from home when he was a boy: while hunting in 1886, Royal accidentally shot and killed his father. Scared, he ran away and discovered the same hole that is currently on the Abbott ranch. He jumped into the hole and when he came out, it was the year 1968, and he was on the Abbott ranch; the Abbott family took him in and raised him as their own. Royal takes Perry to the hole and Perry, distraught over the current situation, jumps in and the hole disappears.
8"The West"Lawrence TrillingBrian WatkinsMay 6, 2022 (2022-05-06)
Autumn waits for her money to be transferred to the bank and she gets into a heated argument with Maria. At the rodeo, Rhett is thrown off the bull he is riding and injures his shoulder. Autumn calls Amy's phone and asks for Royal. She tells him he can find her in town, and he leaves to confront her. Rhett doesn't give up and wants to ride the final round. He wins and he and Maria reconcile. Amy wanders into the parking lot and sees her mother, Rebecca. She tells Amy to come with her and the two of them leave. Cecilia realizes Amy is missing and searches for her. Meanwhile, Joy sees thousands of bison stampeding across the fields and several Native Americans hunting them. Royal confronts Autumn in town and she and Billy attempt to kill him, resulting in a gunfight while they drive. Luke digs a hole in the ground, thinking he will find what will make him rich. Oil starts coming out of the ground, but it transforms into the swirling mist of the hole and stampeding bison emerge. They trample Luke and continue to stampede. Royal manages to injure Billy while they are still driving and Billy's truck crashes. Autumn is ejected from the truck and Royal goes to finish her off. Before he can, the bison stampede through the area. Royal takes cover under the truck, but Autumn is trampled. Royal checks on her after the bison leave and discovers that she has a scar on her head in the same place where Amy was hit with the glass shard, revealing that she is actually Amy from the future. He takes her home and places Amy on her bed. He finds Cecilia sitting at the kitchen table Amy had set for the entire family. Royal confesses his past to Cecilia and tells her that he just wants his family back. Cecilia says their family is gone, even Amy. Royal shakes his head and says "No, she's not."

Season 2 (2024)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [14]Directed byWritten byOriginal release date [3]
91"One Night in Wabang"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonCameron Litvack & Glenise MullinsMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)
Royal Abbott grapples with Autumn's revelation about her true identity. Meanwhile, Joy intensifies her investigation into the strange occurrences in Wabang, leading to escalating tensions with the Tillersons.
102"Traces to Somewhere"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonDagny Atencio Looper & Jenna Westover and Doug Petrie & Marilyn ThomasMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)
Perry faces the consequences of his leap into the hole. Cecilia starts experiencing visions that reveal more about the mysterious land. Royal seeks to uncover the truth behind the time-warping properties of the hole.
113"Everybody Hurts"Deborah KampmeierDagny Atencio Looper & Glenise MullinsMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)
As the Abbott family reels from recent revelations, Joy's investigation brings more pressure. Perry's actions further complicate their situation, while Royal uncovers critical information about the hole's powers.
124"Ode to Joy"Blackhorse LoweAïda Mashaka Croal & Randy RedroadMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)
135"All the World's a Stage"Deborah KampmeierDoug Petrie & Randy RedroadMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)
146"Do-Si-Do"Josh BrolinAïda Mashaka Croal & Marilyn ThomasMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)
157"The End of Innocence"Catriona McKenzieCameron Litvack & Jenna WestoverMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)

Release

[edit]

A teaser trailer was released on March 9, 2022. The first two episodes of the eight-episode first season premiered on Prime Video on April 15, 2022, with two new episodes premiering each week.[1]

The seven-episode second season was released on May 16, 2024.[3]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]
Critical response of Outer Range
SeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic
179% (53 reviews)60 (23 reviews)
292% (24 reviews)72 (9 reviews)

Season 1

[edit]

The first season was met with mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 53 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Outer Range's plethora of subplots threaten to get sucked into a wormhole of ponderousness, but at least this sci-fi Western is anything but plain."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 60 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[15]

Ryan Britt of Inverse called the series "one of the boldest, weirdest, and most affecting sci-fi shows of the 21st century" and praised the performances of Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots and Tamara Podemski.[16] The New York Post's Michael Starr wrote, "Outer Range a bit touch-and-go in terms of its interest factor but, then again, you'll want to know how it all turns out, thanks to the sci-fi twist that saves it from mediocrity."[17] Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com lauded Brolin, Poots and Lili Taylor's performances and said that the series is "the rare kind of genre-bending work that leaves one wounded in its fresh take on our human existence while offering untold possibilities."[18] Katie Rife of Polygon commended the direction, performances (particularly Brolin and Poots), soundtrack, and musical score.[19]

In a mixed review, Alison Foreman of The A.V. Club graded the series with a "C" and wrote, "Despite the promise of a stunning natural setting and a big ol' hole to throw things into, Watkins can't quite come into his own. Even as the soapy interpersonal stories ramp up, there's a nagging feeling Outer Range never goes far enough."[20] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter criticized the writing and pacing, saying that "the most infuriating thing about Outer Range, and there are a lot of infuriating things about it, is how almost nobody on-screen is asking any of the questions that audiences will be asking. And, in its general lack of hole-directed inquisitiveness, the narrative progresses at a bizarrely glacial pace." Nonetheless, Fienberg praised the performances of Brolin, Podemski, Poots and Tom Pelphrey.[21] Kristen Lopez of IndieWire criticized the writing and incoherent tone, while praising the performances of its cast. Lopez graded the series with a "D".[22]

The season was named the 19th best TV show of 2022 by Inverse.[23] TVLine labeled it as the "most underrated drama" of the year.[24]

Season 2

[edit]

The second season received mostly positive critical reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 92% based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "With a better handle on its characters and a willingness to get even weirder, Outer Range's sophomore outing is in the zone."[14] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[25]

Writing for The Wall Street Journal, John Anderson said "Audacity is what makes the show not just watchable but maybe even important: It isn't the singer, or the song, but the singer singing the song while plummeting through space and time."[26] Bob Strauss of TheWrap considered it "an improvement over the intriguing but less textured first season".[27] Gabriela Burgos Soler of Tell-Tale TV gave the season a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Outer Range delivered yet another thrilling season, managing to keep its rich world-building and complex characters."[28] Ryan Britt of Inverse was also favorable with the season, calling it "one of the best sci-fi shows on TV" and lauding Brolin, Poots and Podemski's performances, though he felt disappointed that all seven episodes were released at once, opining that "this is a show you'll want to step away from after a few episodes, and then come back to and savor. If you do it all in a binge, [your] head might be spinning."[29]

However, some critics were unimpressed, especially with the writing.[30][31] Tom Philip of The A.V. Club graded it with a "C+" and said that "[the season] is unlikely to thrill all but the most devoted fans of its first outing. And while there's still a decent framework and a game set of actors, there's no escaping the reality that things will need to click fast if it has any hope of reaching its planned ending."[30]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Outer Range

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Outer Range is an American neo-Western mystery television series created by Watkins that premiered on on April 15, 2022. The series follows Royal Abbott (), a rancher fighting to protect his land and family, who discovers a dark, unfathomable void on his property that unleashes supernatural forces and catastrophic events. It blends elements of family drama, thriller, and , examining themes of the unknown amid ranching rivalries and personal struggles. After two seasons, the show was canceled in July 2024. The narrative centers on the Abbott family, including Royal's wife Cecilia () and their sons Rhett () and Perry (), as the mysterious void deepens family tensions and attracts external threats from neighboring ranchers like the Tillersons. Season 1 introduces the enigma with eight episodes, while Season 2, with seven episodes released on May 16, 2024, escalates the stakes following a granddaughter's disappearance and intensifies the void's impact on the characters' lives. The ensemble cast also features as Autumn, a drifter with ambiguous ties to the Abbotts; as Joy, the local sheriff; as Billy Tillerson; Matthew Maher as deputy sheriff Matt; Isabel Arraiza as Maria; and Will Patton as Wayne Tillerson. Produced by , Outer Range is classified in genres including , Western, mystery, thriller, and . Critics praised its atmospheric storytelling, wry humor, and exploration of existential themes, though some noted pacing issues in its unhurried narrative. On , Season 1 holds a 79% approval rating from critics based on 53 reviews, with a consensus stating: "Outer Range's plethora of subplots threaten to get sucked into a of ponderousness, but at least this sci-fi Western is anything but plain." The audience score stands at 69%. Season 2 received acclaim, holding a 92% approval rating from critics based on 25 reviews.

Background

Premise

Outer Range is a neo-Western series centered on Royal Abbott, a stoic rancher dedicated to safeguarding his family's land and legacy amid mounting external threats. Set against the vast, unforgiving landscapes of , the narrative follows Royal as he grapples with personal and familial turmoil while confronting an extraordinary anomaly that upends his world. The core mystery emerges when Royal discovers a massive, bottomless void—a seemingly infinite —on the edge of the Abbott ranch property. This enigmatic pit defies natural laws, exhibiting bizarre properties that suggest it can manipulate time, enabling phenomena such as visions of alternate timelines and unexplained displacements. The void's presence introduces elements that blur the boundaries between and possibility, drawing the Abbotts into a web of revelations about their past and future. Interwoven with this otherworldly discovery are intense interpersonal and territorial conflicts, particularly the escalating between the Abbotts and the neighboring Tillerson , who vie aggressively for control over the disputed land containing the void. These tensions exacerbate longstanding divisions, including unresolved from past disappearances and the weight of intergenerational secrets. The series explores profound themes of fate, loss, and the inexorable pull of destiny, as the void's influence triggers visions and events that force characters to confront how choices ripple across time, reshaping their lives and relationships.

Development

Outer Range was created by Brian Watkins in 2018, drawing from his experiences growing up in to explore themes of , , and the unknown. Initial development began that year at Amazon Studios, where Watkins, a Juilliard fellow and New Dramatists resident, pitched the project through a rather than a traditional presentation. Key creative decisions centered on blending neo-Western elements with and mystery, envisioning a story where a rancher encounters a metaphysical void on his property, prompting questions about enchantment in a disenchanted world. Amazon Studios greenlit the series on January 14, 2020, as part of an exclusive overall TV deal with Brad Pitt's , which joined as a production partner alongside executive producers including Pitt, , , and Watkins himself. The first season was ordered for eight episodes, marking Watkins' television debut as creator, writer, and showrunner. Following the premiere of season one in April 2022, Prime Video renewed Outer Range for a second season on October 6, 2022. Charles Murray, known for his work on Sons of Anarchy and Luke Cage, replaced Watkins as showrunner while serving as an executive producer, with Watkins remaining an executive producer, bringing his experience under Amazon's overall deal to guide the series' expansion. Prime Video announced the cancellation of Outer Range on July 3, 2024, after two seasons, despite the season two finale leaving narrative threads unresolved and indications of further planned story arcs.

Cast and characters

Main

portrays Royal Abbott, the stoic patriarch of the Abbott family ranch who grapples with long-buried family secrets and the discovery of a mysterious void on his property. plays Autumn, an enigmatic young woman who arrives at the Abbott ranch with unclear origins and deep, mysterious connections to both the family and the void. stars as Cecilia Abbott, Royal's devoted wife who navigates the strains of family dynamics amid ongoing grief and the ranch's escalating tensions. embodies Perry Abbott, Royal's eldest son who contends with profound personal crises, including legal troubles that threaten his stability and the family's unity. depicts Joy Hawk, the dedicated local sheriff who investigates a series of bizarre incidents tied to the Abbott ranch and surrounding mysteries. Lewis Pullman takes on the role of Rhett Abbott, Royal's younger son and a skilled rider whose loyalty to the family pulls him into deepening conflicts and responsibilities.

Recurring

portrays Wayne Tillerson, the patriarch of the rival Tillerson ranching family whose longstanding antagonism toward the Abbotts fuels intense land disputes in Wyoming's high plains. As a ruthless and superstitious landowner, Wayne aggressively pursues control over the Abbott property, viewing the mysterious void as a potential source of valuable minerals that could bolster his family's fortunes. His schemes escalate the ranch conflicts, leading to violent confrontations and legal battles that intertwine with the void's time-bending anomalies, including attempts to exploit its properties for personal gain. Shaun Sipos plays Luke Tillerson, Wayne's eldest son and a key figure in the family's operations, who harbors distrust toward his father while becoming deeply involved in the void's enigmas. Luke participates in the Tillersons' aggressive tactics against the Abbotts, including and related to the dispute, and experiences a profound, hallucinatory encounter with the void in season 1 that influences his perspective on the phenomenon. In season 2, his role expands to explore the void's broader impacts on family loyalty and ranch dynamics, often clashing with siblings over inheritance and strategy. Matthew Maher depicts Deputy Matt, an optimistic law enforcement officer serving as the right-hand man to Deputy Sheriff Joy Hawk, aiding investigations into disappearances and crimes tied to the ranches and the void. As a player on the reservation force, Matt helps probe incidents like the of Tillerson and strange occurrences around the Abbott property, providing grounded support amid the escalating mysteries. His efforts contribute to uncovering connections between the void's anomalies and the ongoing feuds, though limited evidence often frustrates progress. Isabel Arraiza stars as Maria Olivares, Rhett Abbott's girlfriend and a drawn into the periphery of conflicts through her relationship with the family. Maria returns to Wabang amid Amy's disappearance, offering emotional support to Rhett while navigating the tensions of ranch life and subtle ties to the void's disruptions on personal relationships. Her presence highlights the human cost of the land wars, as she witnesses the Abbotts' struggles without becoming a central target. These characters collectively amplify the series' exploration of territorial rivalries and the void's disruptive influence, often intersecting with protagonists like Royal and in moments of confrontation over property lines and hidden truths.

Guest

The Guest section of Outer Range features actors in transient roles, typically limited to one or two episodes, who contribute to isolated narrative elements such as local investigations, family flashbacks, or enigmatic encounters linked to the series' mysterious void. These appearances often heighten tension in specific episodes without extending into broader character arcs, emphasizing the show's blend of Western drama and supernatural intrigue. Notable examples include , who portrays Rebecca Abbott, the missing wife of Perry Abbott and mother to their daughter , in three episodes of season 1. Her role provides glimpses into the Abbott 's fractured dynamics through brief but emotionally charged scenes, including interactions that reveal underlying tensions tied to the ranch's secrets. appears as Frank Harlan, a quirky local , in two episodes of season 1 ("The Time" and "The Unknown"). Harlan's eccentric ramblings about unexplained phenomena in Wabang assist Deputy Joy during her probe into a Tillerson disappearance, underscoring the town's undercurrents of and suspicion surrounding the void without deeper involvement. Kevin Chamberlin guest stars as Karl Cleaver, the county assessor, in two episodes of season 1 ("The Loss" and "The Family"). His odd, prophetic dialogue during a meeting with Royal Abbott about the land dispute hints at foreknowledge of temporal anomalies, briefly amplifying the rancher's unease in a moment connected to visions of the hole's influence. In season 2, Kimberly Guerrero plays Falling Star, a Native American nurse and liaison to homesteaders who reveals her terminal cancer diagnosis, appearing in episodes "Traces to Somewhere" (episode 2) and "Ode to Joy" (episode 4). In "Ode to Joy," her poignant exchange with Hawk passes on critical knowledge about the void's research implications, enhancing a standalone subplot on cultural and scientific intersections with the while Joy is displaced in time. Additional minor guests, such as Bryan Macrina as Royal's stern father in two season 1 flashback sequences, depict formative events from Royal's youth that echo the void's long-reaching effects on his life choices. These episodic portrayals, often in visions or historical recreations, reinforce isolated themes of legacy and inevitability without ongoing narrative threads.

Production

Filming

Principal photography for the first season of Outer Range took place over eight months in , primarily in and around to stand in for the rural landscapes of the fictional town of Wabang. The production team constructed the Abbott family set near Interstate 25 in Albuquerque, utilizing the state's expansive plains and mountainous terrain to capture the isolated, rugged Western aesthetic essential to the series' neo-Western tone. Additional scenes were shot in Santa Fe, with some interiors filmed in to complement the on-location work. The shoot presented significant logistical challenges due to the remote rural settings, including extreme cold during winter night shoots that dropped temperatures to between 8 and 12 degrees , fostering a of isolation for the cast and crew over seven months in the "middle of nowhere." To ensure authenticity in the Western elements, the production relied heavily on practical locations, such as building out the ranch structures and filming sequences on real sites to evoke the gritty, lived-in feel of ranch life and community events. Integrating the series' central element—the mysterious void—posed additional on-set difficulties, as actors had to perform interactions with an invisible 15-foot-wide marked by practical markers, requiring precise blocking to align with later that would depict its bottomless, gravity-defying nature using tools like and Houdini. Following the series' renewal in October 2022, for season 2 commenced in March 2023 in Albuquerque, with additional filming in and around Santa Fe, continuing the use of New Mexico's diverse landscapes to maintain visual continuity with the first season's Wyoming depiction. The production wrapped later that year, allowing for expanded practical shoots in rural areas while addressing ongoing challenges in blending live-action ranch sequences with enhanced VFX for the evolving void narrative.

Music

The original score for the first season of Outer Range was composed by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, who crafted a blending atmospheric Western elements with sci-fi undertones to mirror the series' neo-Western mystery. Their music features strange, minimalistic tones alongside sweeping orchestral passages, evoking the show's quirky humor and expansive enigmas. Key motifs include eerie strings that heighten tension during void scenes, contrasted with folk-inspired tracks that ground the ranch life and family dynamics. For supernatural elements, the score integrates distorted audio cues such as low metallic groans and high-energy resonances to represent time shifts and the void's depth, often layered with soulful, primordial vocal moans reminiscent of ancient natural forces. The series employs both original compositions and licensed music to underscore its themes of mystery and familial bonds; notable examples include Bob Dylan's for introspective ambiguity and Leonard Cohen's to amplify emotional isolation. Sound design further enhances these elements, replacing natural ambient noises with unnatural electronic winds during temporal disruptions, creating an otherworldly silence devoid of crickets or birds. For the second season, and Lisa Coleman (known as ) took over as composers, delivering a more introspective score that continues the blend of Western folk and sci-fi atmospherics across seven tracks. Their work emphasizes emotional motifs, such as subtle string swells for quiet introspection, integrated with to accentuate escalating phenomena. Soundtrack albums were released following each season: the first-season score by Bensi and Jurriaans in April 2022 via , comprising 21 cues, and the second-season album by in May 2024, also through .

Episodes

Season 1 (2022)

The first season of Outer Range, consisting of eight episodes, premiered on on April 15, 2022, and concluded on May 6, 2022. It centers on the Abbott family, led by rancher Royal Abbott, whose lives unravel after he discovers a mysterious void on their property, coinciding with the disappearance of his son Perry during a tense confrontation at a county . This event spirals into family conflicts, escalating tensions with the neighboring Tillerson family over land rights, and bizarre time anomalies that challenge perceptions of reality, blending elements of Western drama and . As the season progresses, the void's properties—such as objects vanishing into it and emerging from different eras—draw in more characters, including amnesiac Autumn, whose ambiguous identity ties into the Abbotts' past, while the Tillersons scheme to exploit the land amid legal battles. The season arc builds from Royal's secretive handling of the void, which he first encounters while tracking a missing , to broader revelations about time manipulation and inherited traumas, culminating in a family unraveling marked by betrayals and intrusions. Perry's absence exposes fractures in the Abbott household, with wife grappling with grief and son Rhett hiding his own secrets, while the Tillersons' aggressive , led by patriarchal Wayne, ignites feuds over water rights and mineral claims. Mid-season twists reveal Autumn's potential connection to the Abbotts through cryptic visions and a stolen identity, paralleling attempts by the Tillersons to seize the Abbott ranch via fraudulent land deeds, heightening the stakes as time anomalies begin affecting the present.
No. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Void"Brian WatkinsApril 15, 2022
22"The Land"Brian WatkinsApril 15, 2022
33"The Time"Brian WatkinsApril 22, 2022
44"The Loss"Brian WatkinsApril 22, 2022
55"The Soil"Brian Watkins & Etan FrankelApril 29, 2022
66"The Family"Brian Watkins & Etan FrankelApril 29, 2022
77"The Unknown"Lawrence TrillingBrian WatkinsMay 6, 2022
88"The West"Lawrence TrillingBrian WatkinsMay 6, 2022
In the premiere episode, "The Void," Royal Abbott investigates strange occurrences on his ranch after Perry's violent altercation at the leads to his sudden disappearance, uncovering the void for the first time and introducing the Tillerson family's watchful presence. The following , "The Land," delves into Royal's decision to conceal the void while the Abbotts face mounting pressure from Sheriff Joy Hawk's investigation into Perry's fate, alongside initial hints of time displacement when a carcass reappears unnaturally preserved. "The Time" introduces Autumn, an enigmatic woman found injured near the void, whose arrival coincides with visions plaguing Royal about his own mysterious past, as the Tillersons begin probing the Abbotts' land boundaries amid a . Tensions rise in "The Loss," where Rhett and his girlfriend Maria navigate their relationship amid family secrets, and Wayne Tillerson escalates conflicts by accusing the Abbotts of theft, while the void's anomalies cause a startling reemergence from the past. Mid-season, "The Soil" reveals Autumn's fragmented memories and her uncanny resemblance to someone from the Abbotts' history, as Royal confronts visions of his youth and the Tillersons uncover evidence of the void during a nighttime raid. In "The Family," time anomalies intensify with objects and people displaced across eras, drawing in Billy Tillerson's reckless pursuits and exposing Perry's predicament in a disorienting temporal loop. The penultimate episode, "The Unknown," uncovers deeper connections between Autumn's identity and the Abbott lineage through hallucinatory sequences, as land theft schemes by the Tillersons reach a boiling point, forcing Royal to protect his family from both legal and threats. The season finale, "The West," climaxes with revelations about the void's origins tied to Royal's long-buried secrets, Perry's return from temporal exile, and a violent showdown that reshapes alliances, leaving lingering questions about time's malleability.

Season 2 (2024)

The second season of Outer Range consists of seven episodes, all released simultaneously on Prime Video on May 16, 2024. Following its renewal in October 2022 with Charles Murray succeeding Brian Watkins as , the season builds on the established mysteries by intensifying explorations of the enigmatic void on the Abbott ranch.
No. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
91One Night in WabangCameron Litvack & Glenise MullinsMay 16, 2024
102Traces to SomewhereDagny Atencio Looper & Jenna WestoverMay 16, 2024
113Dagny Atencio Looper & Glenise MullinsMay 16, 2024
124Blackhorse LoweAïda Mashaka Croal & Randy RedroadMay 16, 2024
135 & Randy RedroadMay 16, 2024
146Aïda Mashaka Croal & Marilyn ThomasMay 16, 2024
157The End of InnocenceCameron Litvack & Jenna WestoverMay 16, 2024
The season arc centers on deepening explorations of the void, which manifests as a bottomless hole capable of distorting time and reality, forcing the Abbott family to reckon with long-buried secrets and fractured relationships. Royal Abbott () grapples with revelations about his own origins tied to the anomaly, while his wife () navigates personal crises amid threats to their ranch. Parallel narratives involving the rival Tillerson family escalate tensions, as patriarch Wayne () and his sons pursue control over the disputed land, leading to violent confrontations and uneasy alliances across family lines. Time-travel consequences ripple through the storyline, with characters experiencing visions and displacements that blur past, present, and future, heightening themes of fate and inheritance. Key events include expanded visions that reveal interconnected histories, such as (Tamara Podemski) displacement to a historical community, prompting adaptations and insights into indigenous perspectives on the land. Rival alliances form unexpectedly, like Perry Abbott () seeking aid from estranged relatives and Tillerson members exploiting the void for gain, culminating in partial resolutions to mysteries surrounding identities and the hole's origins—such as hints at its geological and metaphysical nature—though many enigmas persist. These developments underscore the series' blend of neo-Western drama and , emphasizing how the forces characters to confront moral and existential dilemmas. The finale delivers high-stakes reckonings, including a climactic standoff and ventures into the void that yield transformative but ambiguous outcomes, leaving central questions about time loops and character destinies unresolved. This abrupt conclusion stems from Prime Video's cancellation of the series in July after two seasons, despite plans for further expansion under the new .

Release

Premiere

The first season of Outer Range premiered exclusively on on April 15, 2022, with the initial two episodes released that day, followed by a weekly rollout of subsequent pairs of episodes every thereafter. The full eight-episode season concluded on May 6, 2022, after announcements of the schedule were made public in February 2022, accompanied by a on March 9 and an official trailer on April 5. Prime Video announced the second season's premiere on March 13, 2024, confirming its exclusive launch on the platform on May 16, 2024, with all seven episodes available simultaneously. This binge-release format deviated from the first season's weekly structure, and the rollout was promoted through first-look images released alongside the announcement and an official trailer on April 15.

Distribution

Outer Range is exclusively available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video worldwide, having premiered there on April 15, 2022. The series' distribution is handled entirely through Prime Video's subscription service, accessible in over 240 countries and territories. Both seasons were released simultaneously in the United States and internationally on Prime Video. Season 1 episodes dropped weekly starting April 15, 2022, while all seven episodes of Season 2 were released as a binge on May 16, 2024, globally via the platform. Following the series' cancellation in July 2024 after two seasons, both seasons remain available for streaming on Prime Video as of November 2025. No official releases, such as DVD or Blu-ray sets, have been announced or distributed as of 2025.

Reception

Critical reception

Outer Range received generally positive critical reception, particularly for its ambitious blend of genres and strong lead performance, though opinions were mixed on its pacing and narrative coherence. On , the first season holds a 79% approval rating based on 53 reviews, with critics consensus noting that while the show's subplots risk ponderousness, it stands out as an unconventional sci-fi Western. The second season improved to 92% approval from 25 reviews, earning a "Certified Fresh" designation, with praise for its enhanced character development and bolder weirdness. scores reflect this trajectory, with Season 1 at 60/100 (mixed or average) from 23 critics and Season 2 at 72/100 (generally favorable) from 9 critics. Critics lauded Josh Brolin's portrayal of Royal Abbott as a stoic grappling with existential threats, describing it as an "excellent central " that anchors the series' grounded emotional core amid elements. The show's atmospheric tension and genre-blending of Western drama with sci-fi mystery were frequently highlighted as strengths, creating a "gripping" and "haunting" experience that builds intrigue through its setup of familial conflicts and the enigmatic void on the Abbott . However, Season 1 faced criticism for pacing issues, with reviewers noting a "glacial" progression and loss of coherence midway, leading to frustration over its slow-burn structure. In its second season, Outer Range delivered deeper emotional payoff, exploring character arcs with greater intimacy and resolving some Season 1 tensions while amplifying the sci-fi weirdness, as per the critics consensus. This evolution was seen as a powerful examination of human experiences like loss and identity, making the season more compelling for devoted viewers. The series' abrupt cancellation by Prime Video in July 2024 after two seasons drew ire for leaving major plotlines and cliffhangers unresolved, including lingering questions about the void's mysteries, which critics argued undermined the narrative's potential impact.

Audience reception

Outer Range has received generally positive reception from audiences, with an overall audience score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 1,000 verified ratings. On IMDb, the series holds a 7.1 out of 10 rating from approximately 45,500 users. For the first season, audiences gave it a 69% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes from more than 500 ratings, praising the strong performances, particularly from Josh Brolin, and the intriguing blend of sci-fi mystery with Western elements. Viewers appreciated the atmospheric cinematography and plot twists, often comparing it favorably to shows like Yellowstone and Twin Peaks. However, some criticized the slow pacing, overly dark visuals, and plot inconsistencies that made characters seem irrational. The second season saw improved audience approval, earning an 84% audience score on from over 250 ratings. Fans highlighted the enhanced , deeper character development, and resolution of lingering mysteries as significant upgrades from the first . Common praises included the high production quality and unpredictable narrative, though a minority noted ongoing issues with visibility amid streaming competition and lingering confusion in the time-travel elements. In terms of viewership, Outer Range achieved notable streaming success, peaking at number three on Nielsen's Top 10 original streaming rankings in the week following its season two premiere, indicating solid initial audience engagement despite the series' eventual cancellation after two seasons.

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