RANSOM is a 13-episode series that follows crisis and hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont (Luke Roberts), whose team is brought in to save lives when no one else can. Eric uses his insight into human behaviour to resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases. Surrounded by former law enforcement personnel, Eric has considerable powers of manipulation that make him the best at what he does professionally.
To help introduce you to the various players the series, we’ve put together a handy character guide. Make your way through the slideshow above to meet the characters of RANSOM.
Luke Roberts as Eric Beaumont. Eric Beaumont is the best of the best and he’s the head of one of the most successful crisis and hostage negotiating firms in the world: Crisis Resolution. He and his team travel the world working for private citizens, corporate clients, and government agencies, trying to find solutions to the most dangerous and tricky situations. His goal is always to resolve each crisis with no loss of life and has lost only one hostage in thousands of cases over the years. He’s also not afraid to put himself in harm’s way to resolve a situation and he’s incredibly clever. He often says, “What someone wants and what someone needs are two different things,” and finding clues to both helps him tackle each case like a puzzle. He is a master at manipulation and comprehending human nature. He’s also adept at teaching his teenage daughter, Evie, how to negotiate with her parents to achieve her goals.
Sarah Greene as Maxine Carlson. When we first meet Maxine she desperately wants to work for Crisis Resolution. Unfortunately, she shows up for an interview she doesn’t actually have and Oliver Yates (next slide) makes it clear that she’s been vetted and her application was discarded. But since she’s not one to let rejection get in her way, she insinuates herself into an active hostage situation so she can speak with Eric. She lands a job and Eric sees her potential as his protégé, but her ulterior motives and secrets may work against her.
Brandon Jay McLaren as Oliver Yates. Oliver Yates is the team’s clever psychologist and profiler. His knowledge of human behaviour, particularly of people under stress and criminals, is key to the team’s ability to assess a situation and respond. He’s not happy when Maxine goes over his head to secure a job and he is convinced she’s not the right fit for the company because she’s far too “textbook”. He also believes her existence is a threat to Eric, although the reasons for that aren’t made clear until later.
Nazneen Contractor as Zara Hallam. Former New York police officer Zara Hallam is the team’s logistics expert who deals with security assessment and law enforcement. Her no-nonsense manner makes her the rock of the team and she coordinates with the authorities on some cases. The team’s goal is to preserves lives, while the authorities focus more on catching the criminals. When the team’s objectives differ from those of law enforcement, she helps the team navigate around them.
Emma de Caunes as Nathalie Denard. You don’t meet Nathalie Denard in the pilot episode of RANSOM, but this insurance executive is a sometime client of Crisis Resolution. Professional and smart, as well as sassy and charming, she’s a woman who is at ease in tense situations just as she is the business world. She has a complicated relationship with Eric and the team.
Don’t miss the series premiere of RANSOM on Sunday, January 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT on CBS (U.S.) and Global (Canada). Following the premiere, RANSOM moves to Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT beginning January 7 on CBS and Global.
