Walker (TV series)

Walker is an American television series airing on The CW. It is a reboot of the 1993–2001 television series Walker, Texas Ranger. The series was ordered straight to series in January 2020, and stars Jared Padalecki in the titular role. It premiered on January 21, 2021.[1] In February 2021, the series was renewed for a second season.[2]

Walker
Genre
Based onWalker, Texas Ranger
by Leslie Greif & Paul Haggis
Developed byAnna Fricke
Starring
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producers
Production companies
Distributor
Release
Original networkThe CW
Picture format1080i HDTV
Original releaseJanuary 21, 2021 (2021-01-21) –
present (present)

Cast and characters

Main
  • Jared Padalecki as Cordell Walker, a legendary Texas Ranger who just returned home after a lengthy undercover assignment
  • Lindsey Morgan as Micki Ramirez, Cordell's new partner in the Texas Rangers
  • Molly Hagan as Abeline Walker, Cordell and Liam's mother
  • Keegan Allen as Liam Walker, Cordell's brother and an assistant DA for the City of Austin
  • Violet Brinson as Stella Walker, Cordell's 16-year-old daughter
  • Kale Culley as August Walker, Cordell's 14-year-old son
  • Coby Bell as Captain Larry James, Cordell's former partner turned boss
  • Jeff Pierre as Trey Barnett, Micki's army medic boyfriend
  • Mitch Pileggi as Bonham Walker, Cordell and Liam's father

Recurring
  • Genevieve Padalecki as Emily Walker, Cordell's late wife and Stella and August's late mother
  • Odette Annable as Geraldine "Geri" Broussard, an old friend of Walker and Emily who runs a bar
  • Chris Labadie as Jordan, an ex-con employed by a shady business
  • Alex Landi as Bret, Liam's fiancé
  • Gabriela Flores as Isabel "Bel" Muñoz, Stella's best friend from a family of undocumented immigrants
  • Karina Dominguez as Alma Muñoz, Bel's mother who is an undocumented immigrant
  • Ricky Catter as Lorenzo Muñoz, Bel's father who is an undocumented immigrant
  • Rebekah Graf as Crystal

Episodes
No.Title [3]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [3]U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Jessica YuAnna FrickeJanuary 21, 2021 (2021-01-21)2.44[4]
When his beloved wife Emily is murdered, veteran Texas Ranger Cordell Walker buries his grief by volunteering for a nearly eleven month long undercover assignment, during which time he becomes estranged from his daughter Stella. Upon returning home, his friend, Captain Larry James, partners him with Micki Ramirez, a former State Highway Patrol officer eager to make a name for herself as a Ranger. The two work together to shut down a fake charity run by a brother and sister who are involved in heroin trafficking, but Walker annoys Micki when he assaults a suspect who insulted his wife's memory. Stella acts out, telling her father that he always puts duty over his family. When Captain James offers him the chance to join an anti-cartel task force, Walker contemplates turning him down after realizing that he needs to fix his broken relationships. His mother Abeline offers to let him move into an old farmhouse on the Walker family ranch so he can start over, but Walker decides he wants to fix up the house he bought with Emily.
2"Back in the Saddle"Steve RobinAnna FrickeJanuary 28, 2021 (2021-01-28)2.11[5]
Walker learns that, under new rules instituted by Captain James, he can't return to field duty without passing a recertification test. During the horsemanship exam, he starts thinking about his wife and finds himself unable to finish. Regardless, Walker inserts himself into an investigation of a fire at a local ranch, which left a farmhand dead and supposedly killed a prize racehorse. Micki learns that the fire was staged, and that the stable owner, facing ruin after collecting large bets for a horse with an injured leg, tried to kill the horse in secret before arranging for a flight out of the country. Walker finds the horse still alive and rides it to help Micki capture the fleeing suspects. James clears him for active duty in gratitude. Stella continues to act out, forcing Walker to finally confront the reality that pursuing his wife's killer has done nothing but take him away from his responsibilities as a father. When it becomes clear Stella and August want to live in the farmhouse rather than their old home, he goes along with it.
3"Bobble Head"Randy ZiskSeamus Kevin FaheyFebruary 4, 2021 (2021-02-04)1.86[6]
Walker is put in a difficult position when his childhood friend Hoyt Rawlins returns to Austin and immediately steals Micki's new truck and hides it at the Walker family ranch. Rawlins is close with Abeline and her grandchildren, but is also a professional thief and hustler working to sell guns to Mexican cartels. Micki is forced to take matters into her own hands and arrest Hoyt when Walker refuses to do so, after being warned by Bonham that he has a "blindspot" for people from his past. August succumbs to peer pressure and attends a bonfire for local high school freshmen where he gets drunk on whiskey. He accuses Stella of trying to drive their father away by breaking the law. Walker's instincts allow him to see through Hoyt's deception and figure out where the guns are being packed; the dealers are arrested and Micki stops Hoyt from escaping in her truck again. Stella, with her father by her side, takes responsibility for her actions and is sentenced to pay a fine and do community service by a judge. The experience enables the two to finally make peace with each other. On the way home, Walker, noting that Stella's license hasn't been suspended yet, shows her how to drive stick the same way Emily taught him.
4"Don't Fence Me In"[7]John T. KretchmerApril FitzsimmonsFebruary 11, 2021 (2021-02-11)TBD
5"Duke"[8]Steve RobinBret VandenBos & Brandon WillerFebruary 18, 2021 (2021-02-18)TBD

Production

Development

In September 2019, it was announced that a reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger starring Jared Padalecki was in development.[9] The CW picked up the project for its 2020–2021 development slate in October 2019.[10] In January 2020, it was announced that The CW had ordered the project directly to series, bypassing a television pilot, and would be titled Walker.[11] The series is written by Anna Fricke who is also expected to executive produce alongside Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore and Padalecki. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of CBS Television Studios and Rideback.[12] On February 3, 2021, The CW gave the series an additional five episodes bringing the total episodes for the first season to 18 episodes and renewed the series for a second season.[2]

Casting

On February 5, 2020, it was announced that Lindsey Morgan had joined Walker in the role of Micki, Walker's new partner in the Texas Rangers.[13] The same month, Keegan Allen was cast in the role of Walker's brother, Liam,[14] while Mitch Pileggi and Molly Hagan were cast as Walker's father and mother, Bonham and Abeline, respectively.[15][16] On February 28, 2020, it was announced that Coby Bell had joined the series, playing the role of Texas Ranger Captain Larry James.[17] On March 4, 2020, Jeff Pierre was cast as a series regular.[18] On March 12, 2020, Violet Brinson and Kale Culley joined the cast as series regulars.[19] On September 14, 2020, Genevieve Padalecki, Jared Padalecki's wife, was cast in a recurring role.[20] On October 30, 2020, Odette Annable was cast in a recurring role.[21] In November 2020, Chris Labadie and Alex Landi joined the cast in recurring roles.[22][23] On December 4, 2020, Gabriela Flores was cast in a recurring role.[24] On January 7, 2021, Rebekah Graf joined the cast in a recurring capacity.[25]

Filming

During a meeting on October 15, 2020, the Austin City Council approved an agreement for $141,326 in incentives that would allow the reboot, Walker, to start filming in Austin.[26] The Texas Film Commission is planning to offer an incentive of $9.3 million.[27]

Release

Marketing

On December 14, 2020, The CW released the first official trailer for the series.[28]

Broadcast

Walker premiered on January 21, 2021 as part of The CW's 2020–2021 television season.[1]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 31% based on 16 critic reviews, with an average rating of 4.9/10. The website's critic consensus states, "Despite decent performances, Walker's bland storytelling and limited action fails to fill its namesake's butt-kicking boots."[29] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100 based on 8 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[30]

Ratings

Despite mixed reviews, the Walker pilot marked The CW's most-watched telecast since January 30, 2018, and its most-watched season premiere since The Flash in October 2017.[31]

Viewership and ratings per episode of Walker
No. Title Air dateRating
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)		DVR
(18–49)		DVR viewers
(millions)		Total
(18–49)		Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Pilot" January 21, 20210.42.44[4]TBDTBDTBDTBD
2 "Back in the Saddle" January 28, 20210.32.11[5]TBDTBDTBDTBD
3 "Bobble Head" February 4, 20210.31.86[6]TBDTBDTBDTBD

References
  1. Ausiello, Michael (October 29, 2020). "The CW Sets Delayed Premiere Dates for Flash, Superman & Lois, Riverdale, Charmed, Batwoman and More". TVLine. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  2. White, Peter (February 3, 2021). "The CW Renews 12 Series Including Freshman Drama 'Walker'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  3. "Walker – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. Metcalf, Mitch (January 25, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.21.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  5. Metcalf, Mitch (January 29, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.28.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  6. Metcalf, Mitch (February 5, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.4.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  7. "(#104) "Don't Fence Me In"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  8. "(#105) "Duke"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (September 23, 2019). "'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot Starring Jared Padalecki In the Works". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (October 11, 2019). "'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot Starring Jared Padalecki Lands At The CW". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. Goldberg, Lesley (January 14, 2020). "'Superman & Lois,' Jared Padalecki's 'Walker' Ordered Straight to Series at The CW". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (January 14, 2020). "'Superman & Lois' And 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot With Jared Padalecki Get CW Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  13. Otterson, Joe (February 5, 2020). "'The 100' Star Lindsey Morgan Joins Jared Padalecki in CW's 'Walker' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  14. Otterson, Joe (February 19, 2020). "Keegan Allen Boards 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot at CW (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  15. Petski, Denise (February 21, 2020). "Mitch Pileggi To Co-Star In The CW's 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  16. Petski, Denise (February 27, 2020). "Molly Hagan To Co-Star In The CW's 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  17. Petski, Denise (February 28, 2020). "Coby Bell To Co-Star In The CW's 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  18. Petski, Denise (March 4, 2020). "Jeff Pierre Joins the CW's 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  19. Petski, Denise (March 12, 2020). "Violet Brinson & Kale Culley Join the CW's 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  20. Andreeva, Nellie (September 14, 2020). "'Walker': Genevieve Padalecki To Play Jared Padelecki's Wife On the CW Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  21. Highfill, Samantha (October 30, 2020). "Supergirl star Odette Annable joins Jared Padalecki on the CW's Walker". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  22. Petski, Denise (November 6, 2020). "Mike Merrill Joins the CW's 'All American'; 'Walker' Casts Chris Labadie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  23. Petski, Denise (November 13, 2020). "'Walker': 'Grey's Anatomy's Alex Landi Joins the CW's 'Texas Ranger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  24. Petski, Denise (December 4, 2020). "Adrianna Mitchell Joins 'Snowfall', 'Walker' Casts Gabriela Flores". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  25. Petski, Denise (January 7, 2021). "'Walker' Casts Rebekah Graf; Grace Porter Joins "Godfather Of Harlem'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  26. Autullo, Ryan (October 15, 2020). "City kicks in $141k to help lure 'Walker' TV reboot to Austin". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  27. Flores, Rebecca (October 5, 2020). "'Walker, Texas Ranger' reboot starring Jared Padalecki one step closer to filming in Austin". KUSA. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  28. Petski, Denise (December 14, 2020). "'Walker' Trailer: First Look At Jared Padalecki In the CW's 'Texas Ranger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  29. "Walker: Season 1 (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  30. "Walker: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  31. Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 27, 2021). "Ratings: Strong Walker Fuels The CW's Most Watched Thursday in 3 Years". TVLine. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
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