You can say whatever you want to say, but Ride is definitely one of the best television shows that Hallmark has put out, if not the best. I say that being a huge fan of The Way Home.
The thing with Ride, the reason why it’s so good, is because it takes itself seriously, but in that seriousness, it has so much heart, that living life towards their dreams, but never forgetting family and the things that they believe in. And yes, I will say that all too often today, we don’t feel like we can have more than one – that we have to give up part of who we are to make others happy.
With the McMurray’s it feels very complex. The way that they are all there for each other, the way that they put each other first – it’s all admirable. But the secrets that they keep, the way that they live their life, the things that they do are either going to be their undoing or their biggest motivation. I am not sure.
But I do think that when it comes to the McMurray’s the greatest thing about them is their devotion to each other.
MISSY
There is no one that I feel worse for than Missy, but I do believe that she’s the strongest person on this show. Well, one of them. The McMurray women – Val, Missy, and Isabel are all a mystery, but they are also an open wound.
Missy is spiraling. She’s spiraling because she hasn’t dealt with Austin’s death. She’s spiraling because she thinks he cheated on her. She’s spiraling because she doesn’t know how to deal with what is happening in the present, as she’s haunted by the past.
Everyone is worried about Missy, as they should be. But Missy is a people pleaser and wants to convince everyone that she’s fine, no matter what. Only she isn’t, because she thinks that Austin cheated on her and she can’t ask him. She has to rely on what other people tell her.
I do think that Missy has every reason to be paranoid – especially after Polly doesn’t show up for their first meeting and dodges all of her phone calls. I would be hunting her down. We don’t know what Austin did or didn’t do, but Polly holds a lot of answers and she also doesn’t have any.
I think that sometimes you don’t know things for a reason and we have to accept that. I don’t know why Missy wants to know things that will break her heart.
ISABEL AND HANK
TBH, I am a little shocked that Isabel agreed to this whole rodeo stadium thing, because she doesn’t seem to want to revisit anything that has to do with her family. Dusty and Austin – loosing them broke her. Seeing Cash ride has been a lot for her. She is on this journey that seems to only bring her pain.
I like Isabel. I truly do. Hank, not so much. I feel like when it comes to Hank, he’s always wanting to capitalize off the McMurray name.
I am not sure why it is that they think that the only person that can help them is Gus’s dad. I mean, if we’re being honest, not sure why they want him involved. I do think that they need to find another investor, but billionaires are not just on the corner.
Gus’s Dad, is jaded. He doesn’t want to come to the ranch, but leave it to Missy to ask Gus to have him come. If we’re being honest, I didn’t think that Gus’s Dad would care enough to show up. I thought he would basically tell his son off and say no.
Just the way that Gus is and the way that he talks about his family – I know he loves them, but I also think that they don’t get him.
The McMurray’s decide to put on a rodeo as a way to show Gus’s Dad that the rodeo is about family. It’s about togetherness. I do believe that for the McMurray’s it is, but demonstrating that will be hard. The man seems to be as cold as ice.
And not even to mention the family issues that the McMurrays are experiencing.
THE FAMILY RODEO
Tuff is my favorite character in this show. He’s hilarious, he’s talented, and he’s holding this family together. He’s the guy I am rooting for.
Even over Cash.
Tuff is so supportive of everyone that he’s forgotten his own life. He’s forgotten that he deserves love too. He’s taken Val’s advice and his talks with Julian while he’s on the road have been limited. But Julian is back and he’s excited to see him. He’s excited, so excited that he makes a steak sandwich and heads over to talk to him.
Julian doesn’t understand what has happened. Why has Tuff disappeared and barely spoke to him since he’s been on the road, why he’s shown up with a steak sandwich, and why he’s not really interested. Julian doesn’t understand the whole family first concept.
But the thing about the McMurrays is that they want everyone to be happy, it’s just something that can’t always happen on level that they want it to. The reason for that? Because they live with too many secrets and way too many lies. Those secrets are too much.
The biggest secret having to do with this rodeo is that Cash is injured. Granted he didn’t tell anyone that he was injured and this infuriated Isabel. No one can blame her for that. She could barely look up to watch him ride, but in a way, that’s what made Gus’s Dad pay attention.
Missy and Isabel are angry with Cash and he doesn’t seem to get it. He doesn’t seem to understand that this family has lost a lot and he doesn’t get the gravity of it.
Whatever happens – this family has each other and it’s a beautiful thing.
Even if I don’t like most (some) of them.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Val and Missy moving in together – didn’t see that one coming
- Cash doesn’t know how to listen and it’s annoying
- Cash and Val are not a good combination and I am not thrilled with them together
- Tuff is and will forever be my favorite.
