It may have flown under the radar when it first premiered, but Blue Ridge is finally getting the attention it deserves — and the modern Western crime procedural is now sitting comfortably in the Top 5 on Prime Video’s streaming charts. Think Bosch meets Yellowstone, with a little Appalachian grit thrown in for good measure. Set in the rugged mountains of North Carolina, Blue Ridge follows Sheriff Justin Wise, a former Green Beret turned small-town lawman, who’s trying to keep the peace in a community where old grudges and new crimes collide.
Played by Johnathon Schaech, Sheriff Wise isn’t your average procedural lead — he’s tough, principled, and deeply rooted in the place he’s sworn to protect. The series originally spun out of the 2020 film Blue Ridge, which focused on a murder investigation that unearthed personal tensions between Wise and his ex-wife Ellie (played by Sarah Lancaster, who also returns for the series).
The series returned last year after a four year hiatus to INSP, a Western TV channel, where it was a smash hit and led to Amazon taking an interest in the show. Such was the success of its debut airing, here we are one year later. At the time, Doug Butts, Executive Vice President of INSP, released this statement:
“This new series builds on the film’s original storylines. Johnathon’s role has been expanded significantly, and his performance is exceptional. We believe the stories will resonate well with the INSP audience and even draw new viewers to the network who love watching crime procedurals. At its core, Blue Ridge is about the strength of community and the power of human connection, and it celebrates the human experience with all its complexity.”
Who Else Stars In ‘Blue Ridge’?
The show brings together a strong supporting cast including A Martinez, Taegen Burns, Tom Proctor, Avianna Mynhier, and Greg Perrow, with guest stars like Bruce Boxleitner, Max Martini, and Ethan Embry all part of the show too. Behind the scenes, Gary Wheeler returned as showrunner. So if you’re looking for a show that features some of those beloved tropes you enjoy like a small-town setting, high-stakes mysteries, and morally conflicted lead, then Blue Ridge is for you, it’s a real sleeper hit. If you’re a fan of Longmire, Justified, or the slower-burn seasons of Bosch, this one’s a must-watch.
You can stream the original Blue Ridge movie on Peacock, while the first season continues to climb the charts on Prime Video.