Jackie is an ambitious 15-year-old who cares deeply for her adopted family and their town. This season, she continues to give back to Silver Falls, leading an initiative to build a teen community space. 

George’s emergency reminds Jackie of the devastating accident that killed her parents and sister. But it also helps relinquish some of the pressure he puts on herself. “We explore what happens when she does lose control and how that manifests with grades and college,” says Rodriguez. “She starts to rethink her whole life. What does she really want versus what has she been told that she wants?”

Cole is also responsible for this shift in Jackie. “Cole brings out a side of her that’s more free, thinking for herself, and being OK with making mistakes,” Rodriguez adds. Series creator Halsall was glad to see the change: “You realize how little she got to enjoy herself in Seasons 1 and 2, actually, because she was so closed up, protecting herself. It’s lovely to see how much fun she has in this season.”

Back to Lyla, Adam Ruins Everything, Speechless

When we pick back up with 17-year-old Cole in Season 3, after his dad’s health scare, he’s “in a very emotionally sensitive spot,” according to LaLonde. His new relationship with Jackie helps guide him through the tough time. “When you love somebody like that, it is hard to put it off for too long,” says LaLonde. “Jackie has continued to bring out the best parts of Cole.”

Cole also leans on his brothers. “Alex and Cole are alike in a lot of ways and they really care about each other,” LaLonde says. “The gained perspective from almost losing your father cuts through a lot of the BS.”
 

While working at a garage, Cole starts to fall in love with race-car driving, which becomes an outlet for some of his thrill-seeking tendencies.

Criminal Minds, Asbury Park, Deer Camp ’86

In Season 2, 16-year-old Alex transforms into a confident, swaggering version of himself in large part thanks to his new hobby of bronc riding. But as he becomes more entrenched in the rodeo world, he starts to butt heads with some of the other riders. 

After he forgives Jackie, Alex continues to grow and show up for his family and friends as they need. “I think Alex is the most complicated character in the show,” says Gentry. “He works on the farm, he rides broncs, but he’s a nerd. He goes to parties and is popular, but he’s also a bookworm and is shy, and really romantic. There are so many different layers to Alex.” 

Alex tackles most of the ups and downs with maturity beyond his years. “Alex is a genuinely lovely guy and he wants Jackie to be happy,” says Halsall. 

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Danny is Cole’s fraternal twin brother, but they couldn’t be more different. Whereas Cole prefers football and race-car driving, 17-year-old Danny is a thespian headed for the stage. The two share a room and are close, even doling out advice about each other’s love life. 

Alongside Cole, Danny navigates the college application process in Season 3, and struggles with how moving away will affect his relationship with Erin (Alisha Newton). “Danny and Cole are getting to that stage in their life when they discover how important it is to keep their people close to them and honor the things they have to say because they mean something to them,” says LaLonde.

Garage Sale Mysteries, Smallville, Merlin’s Apprentice, When Calls the Heart, Supernatural

Nathan is a budding musician and DJ. With the wisdom he gained managing his own messy love triangle between bad boy Zach (Carson MacCormac) and Skylar (Jaylan Evans) last season, the 15-year-old is able to give Alex some much-needed advice about Kiley. “The relationship the two of them have is quite special and unique,” says Halsall.

Girl Meets World, Ma, PrankMe, Deadly Scholars, Moxie

At 26 years old, Will is the eldest Walter sibling, and he’s taken on more responsibility around the ranch. In Season 3, he’s at a crossroads between his life with his immediate family and paving his own path with his wife, Hayley (Zoë Soul).

Dear Edward

An aspiring wildlife film director, 13-year-old Jordan Walter is never without his camera. He also has a pet snake, Rumplesnakeskin.

Love Hard, Pfffirates, Home Before Dark, StarBeam, The Good Doctor, Once Upon a Time

Six-year-old Benny is the youngest of the Walter boys. Benny has a lot of energy — you never know when you'll find him underfoot.

Superman & Lois

Mischievous 10-year-old Parker is the only Walter daughter. She’s a true, football-playing tomboy.

Riverdale, The Good Nurse, Siren, Cranberry Christmas, Fishing for Love

Isaac and his brother, Lee, are cousins of the Walters, and live with them. Sixteen-year-old Isaac is hesitant to let his mom, Hannah (Erin Karpluk), in when she turns up in Season 3.

Ghostwriter, Chad, Blue Miracle, A Million Miles Away, Reservation Dogs, Quantum Leap, Euphoria

Isaac and Lee have lived with their uncleGeorge since they were small. Their dad, a soldier, was deployed and is out of the picture. Fifteen-year-old Lee is a dedicated skater who’s unafraid of skating indoors — or into people. 

The Curse of Bridge Hollow, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Sam & Cat

Hayley is married to Will. An exciting new job prospect arrives that may take her away from Silver Falls.

Reed Between the Lines, Single Ladies, Prisoners, The Purge: Anarchy, The Last Two Lovers at the End of the World, Sea of Fire

Kiley has been Alex’s best friend since kindergarten, and they bond over a shared love of gaming. She works hard at the pizza parlor and takes care of her grandmother, which sometimes makes her feel isolated from her peers. “She is so mature for her age because she’s had to be parentified so young,” says Lowe. “Alex has to mature even to get remotely to her level.” Over the course of Season 3, Alex starts to step up in the ways that Kiley needs.

Yellowjackets, Fakes, Charmed, The Imperfects, A Million Little Things

Skylar is stylish, open, thoughtful, driven, and confident. He aims to be valedictorian and become a political journalist one day. He and Nathan used to date, and he still looks out for the Walter middle child. He’s also Grace and Jackie’s third musketeer.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan

Grace is a confident, homespun girl from a strict background. In Season 3, she supports Jackie through the ups and downs of her new relationship with Cole, and celebrates a very memorable birthday. 

Ascension, Grand Army, Nine Films About Technology, Alert: Missing Persons Unit

Dylan plays on the Silver Falls High School football team, which Cole now helps coach. Dylan dates Kiley, but her friendship and shared interests with Alex create some tension. “What's fun this season is there are a lot more scenes of Kiley, Dylan, and Alex, and the dynamic is honestly really funny,” says Mya Lowe. “We’re all just trying to make this weird dynamic work.”

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

Driven, intelligent, competitive and ambitious, Erin is the most popular girl at Silver Falls High. In Season 1, she dates Cole before realizing that her interests better align with those of Danny, Cole’s twin. In Season 3, the couple starts to navigate what will happen after graduation. “We leave them on a bit of a cliffhanger,” says Haskell

Heartland, Devil in Ohio, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Hudson, We’re All in This Together, Til Ex Do Us Part

Blake Hartford is a champion rodeo rider who Katherine enlists to help Alex learn to bronc ride in Season 2. As confident as she is tough, smart, funny, sexy and cool, she has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about being a woman in a male-dominated sport, and knows she’s better than the rest of them. In Season 3, it’s her hot-headed male riders that give her the most trouble — not the broncs.

Wilderness, BH90210

Wylder is a rising star among bronc riders under 25. He is a competitive force to be reckoned with — and he tries to intimidate Alex at Hartford’s. Their beef escalates in Season 3. 

The Consultant

Dr. Katherine Walter was Jackie’s mother’s best friend at Columbia University and became Jackie’s guardian after her family passed away in Season 1. Katherine juggles a lot: her husband George (Marc Blucas), their 10 kids, life on the ranch, and her work as a veterinarian. “She is a woman who leads with her heart, who has a sense of humor about her life, and is able to spin all the plates,” says Rafferty. 

In Season 3, she’s got her hands full helping George get back on his feet after his health scare, and helping steer her kids down their rightful paths. “Their mom obviously is a trooper and is such a strong guidepost for all of us,” says LaLonde.

Chicago Med, Tremors, Second Time Around

George Walter takes pride in raising his loving (and large) brood with Katherine on the same ranch where he himself grew up. When Season 3 opens, George is recovering from a terrifying health scare, and getting familiar with a new normal. “It’s like every kid's worst nightmare,” says LaLonde. “It's even a bigger deal because the family runs on the business of the ranch. Your king goes down for a minute and it hits everybody really hard, including Cole.”

As he recovers, George encourages his family not to let fear hold them back, and instead live their lives to the fullest. 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Necessary Roughness, First Daughter, Summer Catch, Killer Women, Underground, Swagger, The Fix

Joanne is Grace’s mom and was Katherine’s first friend in Silver Falls whose last name is not Walter. She can be a bit old-fashioned and resistant to change, and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

Star Trek: Discovery, The Man in the High Castle

George’s nomadic sister and mother of Isaac and Lee, Hannah is free-spirited — or irresponsible. She left her sons to live with the Walters and split town for reasons unknown. When she shows up at the front door a thousand days later, she has a lot of bridges to rebuild. “Hannah's a great addition to the show,” says Halsall.

Being Erica, Smoke

Tara is the kind but overworked school counselor who strikes up a relationship with Uncle Richard.

Doomlands, Hollywood Heights, Huge, Big Fork, Raven’s Home

Mac is an experienced drag racer who hires Cole to revamp the engine of one of his racing cars. Mac is impressed by Cole’s natural skills behind the wheel after seeing him take a spin on the track, and encourages him to follow his new passion.

IT: Welcome To Derry, Joe Pickett

Danvers is a race car driver who competes against Cole. When there’s money on the line, he takes it too far.

Finding You, Legacies

Handsome and charming with an air of New York sophistication, Eliot is Jackie’s oldest friend, and now Uncle Richard’s new intern. Eliot, Jackie, and their families spent summers on Martha’s Vineyard together. His arrival in Silver Falls puts Jackie in a tug-of-war between her old life and her new one.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Anything’s Possible

Richard is Jackie’s uncle on her mother’s side, and he looks out for her after her family tragedy. A born-and-bred New Yorker, he buys a house in Silver Falls so he can spend time closer to his niece. Typically the fun uncle, in Season 3 he gets stricter as college pressure ramps up for Jackie. He stumbles a bit as he learns to take care of her.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Leo, Fresh Off the Boat, One Day at a Time, 13 Reasons Why, Aquarius