Big Sky kicked off in 2020, thanks to David E. Kelley, who probably thought, “Why not mix crime with a dash of Montana?” Based on C.J. Box’s novel, it follows detectives Cassie and Cody, plus Jenny, as they dig into a sister’s disappearance. The show dives into family drama, trauma and all that lovely darkness of rural America. With twists that keep you guessing and characters who are anything but one-dimensional, Big Sky is like a crime drama buffet- just don’t expect any salad.

Meet the characters from Big Sky

Jenny Hoyt

Okay, Jenny is the classic tough-as-nails cop who also cries at commercials and probably keeps a secret stash of chocolate in her patrol car — I am not over that, no. She’s stubborn, moral in a messy way, and driven by this need to fix things even when it’s obvious the world is unfixable. She makes snap decisions, swears like a sailor sometimes, and then immediately worries she was too hard—lovely contradiction. Basically the person who runs into danger and then calls you afterwards to apologize for making you worry, and you love her for it.

Cassie Dewell

Cassie is this laser-focused investigator with an annoyingly good instinct and a ridiculous soft spot for people who don’t deserve it — which keeps getting her into trouble, of course. She’s methodical, quietly fierce, and the type who notices tiny things everyone else misses (hair on a cuff, a weird text time) and will not rest until it makes sense. There’s a warmth under her steel, like maybe she bakes occasionally? — or maybe that’s just coffee and grudging kindness. She’s the kind of hero who won’t grandstand; she just gets the job done and then pretends she was bored the whole time.

Ronald Pergman

Ugh, Ronald is the creepiest “polite older gentleman” energy and you can tell something’s off but he smiles so smoothly you second-guess yourself — so unsettling in the best/worst way. He’s rich, polished, plays the community grandfather very convincingly while also having this slippery, secretive side. He’s the type who collects odd antiques and reads Victorian novels at midnight? Or maybe he just reads the newspaper upside down, who knows. Either way, he gives you tea and the chills simultaneously.

Denise Brisbane

Denise is like the steady heartbeat of the small-town law scene, calm, competent, and just a tiny bit sarcastic when the chaos hits — I live for her deadpan. She’s a by-the-book type mostly, but she’ll bend the rules if the person across from her needs real help, which makes her secretly scary in a good way. She laughs rarely but it’s golden when it happens, and she probably owns three identical jackets for no good reason. She’s someone you want in your corner because she’ll plan everything and somehow remember everyone’s birthdays.

Jerrie Kennedy

Oh Jerrie — she’s theatrical, opinionated, and loves the spotlight like a moth to a lampshade, honestly. She’s got political ambition, social sway, and a habit of making big public speeches that are equal parts inspiring and slightly performative. She can be warm and community-focused one minute and petty about a parking spot the next, which makes her weirdly human and very fun to watch. Also, she might have a questionable obsession with hosting dinners that are way too elaborate — décor, candles, the works — even when it’s just Tuesday.

Helen Pergman

Helen reads as the elegant, elegant matriarch who’s always got a smile but maybe not all the answers, and she definitely owns more pearls than sense. She’s quietly influential, likes to keep things proper, and has this way of calmly steering conversations like a chess player — but you sense she’s always hiding something small and shiny in her pockets. She gardens, I think? Or maybe she collects postcards of distant places she never visits, mix those up if you want. She’s the cool aunt who brings lemon bars and side-eyes at the dinner table, in a good way.

Rick Legarski

Rick is the gruff, stubborn local cop who drinks his coffee black and believes in old-school justice but also has a weirdly soft playlist on his phone (like 90s power ballads, I swear). He’s loyal to a fault, quick to anger sometimes, and bafflingly good with kids and dogs — don’t ask how those two things coexist. He’ll bark orders and then quietly show up to help you move furniture at 3 a.m.; classic. He’s the kind of guy who fixes things with duct tape and moral certainty, and I can’t decide if that’s adorable or terrifying.