WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Ransom Canyon.
The ongoing feud between Davis Collins and Staten Kirkland in Netflix’s new Western seriesRansom Canyonis fueled by romantic competition, real estate battles, and generations of small-town disputes. Although Josh Duhamel’s Staten and Eoin Macken’s Davis, two of the key players inRansom Canyon’scast, are still brothers-in-law after the death of Staten’s wife (Davis’s sister), they have a longstanding history of tension that dates back well before their time. The Kirkland and Collins families are two of the wealthiest inRansom Canyon, which impacts the entire communityin various ways.
Davis and Staten grew up and went to school together in Ransom Canyon, making them two hometown boys at heart. Staten, however, was handed down his massive ranch from his grandfather, while Davis isn’t a true rancher but is still very well off. Davis was Randall’s uncle and gave him the sports car for his birthday, which Randall would crash and die in. Reid, Davis’s son, takes refuge at his uncle Staten’s house early on in Ransom Canyon, proving thateven though Davis and Staten are essentially rivals, they’re still family. Staten and Davis’s relationship takes many twists throughout the series, including a punch intheRansom Canyonfinale.
The Kirkland & Collins Families Have Been At Odds In Ransom Canyon For Decades
It’s Surprising That Staten Even Married Davis’s Sister In The First Place
Even though Staten and Davis are related in Ransom Canyon, their family rivalry stems back generations. Staten marrying a Collins must have been controversial on both ends but that issue isn’t really addressed in Ransom Canyon. Regardless, their history of rivalry is demonstrated when Reid plays a recording of his mother, Paula Jo, admitting to forcing Staten into selling his land.Davis pulls his son aside and scolds him for letting a “Kirkland"get the best of him. This creates a strange family dynamic since they act like close family members and fierce rivals depending on the subject.
This love-hate dynamic is present between many characters inRansom Canyon, including Lucas and Lauren as well as Reid and Lucas. This surely aligns with the small-town politics of a place likeRansom Canyon, where everyone is in everyone else’s business to some degree. Still, it feels like there’s more to the story about why the Davis family dislikes the Kirklands, and vice versa, than just a battle over the land for a water pipeline. Davis has shown kindness to both Staten and Randall but also does things like collude with Staten’s dad to drive him off his own ranch. It’s not explored much inRansom Canyonbut there has to be more to the story.
Davis & Paula Jo Work With Austin Water & Power To Force Staten To Sell His Land
Staten & Cap Refuse To Sell Because It Would Tarnish Their Legacies As Ranchers
Davis is in deep with hisex-wife Paula Jo, who is on the board at Austin Water & Power, to acquire as much land as possible for their water pipeline proposition. Davis and Paula Jo attempt to convince Staten and Cap Fuller to sell their ranches for millions of dollars so that they can install a pipeline that would be fantastic for A&WP.
Davis and Paula Jo attempt to convince Staten and Cap Fuller to sell their ranches for millions of dollars so that they can install a pipeline that would be fantastic for A&WP.
More so, it gives them more power and influence in Ransom Canyon and wouldmake two of its most influential ranchers, Staten and Cap, irrelevant and no longer part of the community. Cap unfortunately dies, leaving the future of his ranch in the hands ofhis grandson, Yancy Grey, who decides not to sell.
Davis is unbelievably determined to acquire both Staten and Cap’s land to the point where his greed makes him a pretty despicable person. His ex-wife, Paula Jo, is essentially cut from the same cloth, although she tries to explain to Reid that everything she and his father do is in the best interests of his future and their family legacy. While this certainly sounds noble,the Collins certainly get their hands dirty trying to attain what they want,hurting good members of the community in the process.
Why Davis & Staten’s Father Colluded Against Staten In The Ransom Canyon Finale
Both Of Them Want Staten Out Of The Picture In Ransom Canyon
Davis knew just what to say to get under Staten’s skin, setting him up to throw a punch that could lead to his downfall in a potentialRansom Canyonseason 2. It becomes clear when Davis enters Staten’s father’s car at the end of Ransom Canyon that he intentionally lured Staten into assaulting him so that it would act as proof to the board of trustees who oversee the Kirkland ranch that Staten was no longer fit to run the ranch as he saw fit. Staten’s father, who is a Senator, and Davis will use Staten’s punch as leverage against him in the next season ofRansom Canyon, which just may cost Staten his ranch after all.
