Season 2 of My Life with the Walter Boys, now streaming on Netflix, delivers more of the cozy small-town scenery, boisterous family dynamics, and sweet teen romance that made Season 1 such a hit. But what made fans around the world really fall in love with the series was the characters.
Created by Melanie Halsall, Season 1 introduced Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez), a 15-year-old who, after losing her family in a tragic accident, leaves her glitzy life in Manhattan to move in with her guardian Katherine (Sarah Rafferty), her husband George (Marc Blucas), and their 10 kids in rural Colorado. Fish-out-of-water Jackie learns how to help out around the ranch, gains new friends, and works through her grief, finding a new home and sense of belonging in Silver Falls with the Walters. Things get complicated when two of the Walter boys begin to develop feelings for Jackie: reliable Alex (Ashby Gentry) and enigmatic Cole (Noah LaLonde). The Season 1 finale of My Life with the Walters Boys, which was renewed for Season 3 ahead of Season 2’s release, left Jackie more uncertain about who she is and how she feels than ever.
Actor Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210), who directed two episodes in Season 1 and returns to direct six in Season 2, describes how the cast has grown since the show’s whirlwind initial release. “Everybody was pretty nervous in that first season, but the way the public responded gave all of them a little boost of confidence, which is important when you’re an actor,” he says. Now, “everyone’s a couple of years older, a little more sure of themselves, and has a little more confidence. They’re not afraid to try things and make choices.”
Season 1 of My Life with the Walter Boys was based on the popular Wattpad novel by Ali Novak. Novak released a sequel in April 2025, but Season 2 took its own course and is based on an original story.
Rodriguez attributes this dynamic to the comfort and support she felt on set. “This season we have so much trust in each other that there wasn't that pressure to feel like we have to get the scene right,” she says. “We could fully exist in the scene and know that someone’s going to have your back.”
Catch up with your Silver Falls favorites, and find out who is joining the second chapter of My Life with the Walter Boys, streaming on Netflix.
Season 1’s finale left Jackie in limbo. “Jackie’s stuck in between two different worlds, and stuck between two different guys,” says Rodriguez, of where we find her character at the start of Season 2. “She’s trying to figure out where she belongs and trying not to lose either side of herself and make sure that they can coexist.”
Season 2 brings more clarity — and confusion. After some cajoling from Katherine, 16-year-old Jackie returns to Silver Falls, where she gets a frosty welcome from Alex. She throws herself into driver’s ed classes so she can help out around the farm, saves Silver Falls High’s fall formal, and makes strides in her grief journey. Even though she loses the race for school president to Paige, she has never felt more at home in Silver Falls, evidenced by her winning a town award.
Meanwhile, Jackie’s relationships with both Walter boys heat up: Jackie and Cole attempt friendship, until their feelings for each other become hard to resist, while Jackie and Alex, transformed by cowboy camp, make up and start seeing each other in secret. Rodriguez is just as surprised at this development: “I was very, very surprised,” she says. “If you would've told me that, I would’ve been like, ‘there’s no way.’ ” The Season 2 finale finds Jackie telling both boys she loves them — which Alex overhears.
Thankfully, we’ll know what happens in the Walter household soon, as Season 3 is on the horizon. Rodriguez is also grateful. At the end of shooting Season 2 she said, “I’m going to be sad. I really like it here, and obviously get to work with my best friends every day, looking at trees.”
Back to Lyla, Adam Ruins Everything, Speechless
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. “There are many ways to build a family. And she’s open to all of those and just has boundless love to give.”
Season 2 deepens Jackie and Katherine’s relationship: “I’ve always really liked Jackie and Katherine's relationship, and it grows a lot this season,” says Rodriguez. “Outside of Uncle Richard, Katherine is the only other person who knew her mom. So it’s such a big deal.”
Katherine is dedicated to taking care of Jackie, but is navigating her own grief for her friend as well. “She's conflicted in the way that many parents are, which is ‘How much of my personal vulnerabilities do I share with my kid?’ ” says Rafferty. “This season, we have time to explore Katherine’s emotional life in a way that we didn’t have time for when we were really setting up the world in Season 1.”
Chicago Med, Tremors, Second Time Around
George Walter grew up on his family’s ranch in Colorado and takes pride in raising his loving brood with Katherine.
Blucas basically is George in real life. He lives on a small farm in Pennsylvania and has a historical design and restoration business. The boundaries between George and Blucas’s lives were blurred even further after the astronomical success of Season 1. “I coached my 13-year-old daughter’s travel basketball team, and all of her friends have watched this show and love it,” says the actor. “They don't play that card much, although it’s cute. And they did all [call] me George one day.”
While George was originally written as a man of few words, Halsall told Blucas that he brought more levity to the character than was there on the page. “It was such a nice compliment to me, and it’s made this job feel so good that she really gave me a voice in it,” Blucas said.
In Season 2, with the help of Jackie’s uncle Richard (Alex Quijano), the Walters strategize ways to monetize their land, but come up against concerned town members. At the same time, George and his eldest son Will (Johnny Link) navigate all the bumps of doing business together. “I think it’s a real problem for them,” says Blucas. “George has to explore some things that make him uncomfortable. Part of parenting is saying no. You sometimes have to let them make their own mistakes.”
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Seventeen-year-old Cole is the mysterious and troubled Walter brother, struggling to define who he is now that he can no longer play football after an injury derailed his scholarship dreams. “We wanted someone absolutely drop-dead gorgeous obviously, but he’s not some smoldering bad boy who’s sulking,” Halsall added. “He’s someone who’s gone through something that’s changed his entire life.”
LaLonde can personally relate to Cole’s identity crisis after losing football, as he was a serious hockey player growing up. He sees Cole as “Noah before he learned a lot of the important things that make me who I am today.” Halsall considers Cole to be the “most honorable, noble character in our show,” because he doesn’t throw anyone under the bus and deals with so much himself. “He’s actually very, very sweet.”
In Season 2, Cole finds some more direction. He rejoins the football team as an assistant coach, and with Jackie’s help, he studies hard for the SATs to apply to colleges with good coaching programs. It definitely doesn’t help that his relationship with Jackie is so uncertain. “Cole has lost so much in terms of what he thought his life was going to be,” adds LaLonde. “It’s pretty hard to think about not having any control over losing this part of his life now, too.”
Criminal Minds, Asbury Park, Deer Camp ’86
When casting Alex in Season 1, Halsall wanted a “certain awkwardness and shyness for Alex,” and as soon as she saw Gentry’s audition, “I just kind of fell in love with him,” she told Tudum. “He’s super, super smart,” she said. And “he’s got this really lovely, slight shyness to him whilst also being very confident in things he’s doing.”
Season 2 introduces a completely new Alex. “Season 1 Alex is no more,” says Gentry. “Old Alex is pretty much gone and I don't know if he's coming back or. Sweet, innocent, lover, poetic no more. You’re getting rodeo, popular, attractive.” To prepare for 16-year-old Alex’s new era, Gentry went to the gym six days a week, changed his diet, and started up a skincare routine. He also paid attention to his vocal intonation and posture.
Alex starts bronc riding with Blake Hartford, a champion rodeo rider. Alex is drawn to her confidence and bronc riding skills, and their flirtation even leads to a kiss, only for it to make Alex realize he’s not over Jackie.
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Danny Walter is Cole’s fraternal twin brother, but they couldn’t be more different. He’s a thespian at heart who studies actors’ performances in films in his spare time. The two share a room and are close.
Season 2 finds 17-year-old Danny fresh off a trip from New York City, where he’s learned to appreciate the city’s legendary movie theater IFC Center and Zabar’s mini babka. This season, he and Cole have one important thing in common. Danny starts dating Erin (Alisha Newton), Cole’s ex.
Garage Sale Mysteries, Smallville, Merlin’s Apprentice, When Calls the Heart, Supernatural
Often seen strumming a guitar, empathetic 15-year-old Nathan is the musician of the family, and shares a room with Alex. He and Jackie quickly become running buddies. Nathan, who is gay, dates Skylar, the editor of the school paper.
Season 2 finds Nathan getting some attention from another guy at school, Zach (Carson MacCormac). Their connection becomes undeniable, and when Nathan kisses Zach and Skylar sees, the two break up. Nathan and Zach start dating, and when Nathan starts to change, Nathan’s friends — including Skylar — come to him with concern. In fact, it turns out that Skylar used to date Zach, and he is not wholly what he seems.
Nathan and Zach break up, and Nathan comes back to Skylar wanting to reconnect. The two even say “I love you,” but it’s not enough to repair their relationship.
Girl Meets World, Ma, PrankMe, Deadly Scholars, Moxie
Will is the eldest Walter sibling, 26 years old, and he helps to show Jackie the ropes in the Walter household. Will, like Link, is hard of hearing, and wears hearing aids. He recently married his long-time girlfriend Hayley, and is starting to put his business degree to work helping his parents keep the ranch afloat.
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
Lennix James as Benny (left)
Six-year-old Benny is the youngest of the Walter boys. Benny has a lot of energy — so much so that you never know when you'll find him underfoot.
Superman & Lois
Alix West Lefler as Parker (right)
Mischievous 10-year-old Parker is the only Walter daughter, and she loves to play football with her older brother, Cole. She’s a little wary of adding another girl to the family when Jackie arrives, but quickly warms up to her — so much so that she’s crushed when Jackie leaves Silver Falls at the end of Season 1. Parker can also be seen wearing a lot of her older brothers’ old clothes.
Riverdale, The Good Nurse, Siren, Cranberry Christmas, Fishing for Love
Isaac Arellanes as Isaac (right)
Isaac and his brother, Lee, are cousins of the Walters, and live with them. Season 1 costume designer Adejoke “Addy” Taiwo made mood boards for each of the Walter kids so their style would reflect their personalities, sometimes relating them to different celebrities. “So for Isaac, I was like, ‘He’s like Drake,’ you know?” she said of the 16-year-old. “He’s the lover boy.” Cole dips his foot back into football and gives his cousin some pointers this season.
Ghostwriter, Chad, Blue Miracle, A Million Miles Away, Reservation Dogs, Quantum Leap, Euphoria
Isaac and 15-year-old Lee live with the family as their mom (George’s sister) left home when they were small and their dad, a soldier, has since been deployed. Lee is a dedicated skater who’s unafraid of skating indoors — or into people. Taiwo kept that in mind when dressing him in skater threads. Lee is visibly upset about living apart from his father.
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Zoë Soul as Hayley (left)
Hayley is now officially in the Walter family, after marrying Will at the end of Season 1. She’s studying for her master’s degree and her thesis sends her to Chile this season. Taiwo noted that Hayley’s style is more eclectic since she’s from the city. “She’s got her own thing going on,” she said.
Reed Between the Lines, Single Ladies, Prisoners, The Purge: Anarchy, The Last Two Lovers at the End of the World, Sea of Fire
Driven, intelligent, competitive and ambitious, Erin is the It Girl at Silver Falls High. In Season 1, she was involved in an off-again, on-again relationship with Cole, but is smart and sensitive enough to know that her grasp on his heart is iffy at best.
In Season 2, she has matured. She helps Jackie plan the fundraiser to save the Fall dance, and even finds a love interest who matches her true self: Danny.
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Skylar is stylish, open, thoughtful, driven and confident. He aims to be valedictorian and become a political journalist one day. He is Grace's best friend, and they quickly “adopt” Jackie when they see her stumble into Silver Falls High. In Season 1, Skylar also starts to date Nathan, until a shady Silver Falls student Zach (Carson MacCormac) comes between them in Season 2.
Evans is quite close with the rest of the Walter Boys cast members. In Season 2, Skylar throws a massive Halloween bash and dresses as a pirate. For Halloween in real life, Evans also threw a legendary party. Gentry says, “Everybody's costumes were so good.”
Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Tara is the kind school guidance counselor who tries to help Cole and Jackie look towards the future. In her free time, she hangs out with her best friend, Hayley.
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Nikhil is the English and drama teacher at Silver Falls High, and caught Tara’s eye in Season 1.
Make Me a Match, RoOomies
Ellie O’Brien as Grace (left)
Grace is a confident, homespun type girl from a strict background. Grace bonds with Jackie on her first day at her new school, and she wants to hear everything about living in a house full of boys. Jackie feels incredibly lucky to have such a loyal friend and listening ear.
In Season 2, Grace starts to come out from under her mom’s thumb and find her own way.
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Kiley has been Alex’s best friend since kindergarten. They game together, and she can read him like a book, but he can’t always do the same.
Kiley is known for her work ethic and responsibility, but this season she puts herself first. “Kiley is so busy with school, Monte’s, and caring for her grandma,” says Season 2 costume designer Jen Haffenden. “We loved having the opportunity, as the season progressed, to put Kiley in a few skirts and feminine tops as Kiley actually took some time for herself.” Kiley even enjoys an unexpected romance with Dylan (Kolton Stewart).
Yellowjackets, Fakes, Charmed, The Imperfects, A Million Little Things
Dylan plays on the Silver Falls High School football team, and gets to step into the spotlight with Cole off the field. This season, with Cole back on the team as the assistant coach, their friendship is tested. He makes a new connection at woodshop in Kiley, who inspires him to grow as a person.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Ever since third grade, Olivia has been Erin’s well-meaning, but often misguided, best friend.
Virgin River, Deadly Midwife, A Million Little Things, The Vows We Keep
Skylar’s dad, Mato, is well-known in the Silver Falls community. A longtime friend of George’s, he’s the head of the Silver Falls High alumni committee and owns The Lark Café.
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Richard is Jackie’s uncle on her mother’s side, and he looks out for her after a family tragedy. He spent time with Jackie when she returned to New York at the end of Season 1, and becomes involved in the goings on in Silver Falls in Season 2, resulting in some tension with the Walters.
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Blake Hartford is a champion rodeo rider whom Katherine enlists to help Alex learn to Bronco ride. As confident and sure of herself 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.
Wilderness, BH90210
Zach is a strikingly handsome senior who’s commanding and a bit dangerous. With charm and confidence dialed up to 11, Zach makes strong attempts to get to know Nathan, and successfully breaks up Nathan and Skylar, whom it turns out he used to date. Thankfully, the messy love triangle are all single by the end of Season 2, and Skylar and Nathan are able to repair their friendship.
Shazam!
Janet Kidder as Joanne Wagner (right)
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 takes issue with George and Will’s development plans in Silver Falls that are underway.
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Maria meets Alex in driver’s ed and flirts with him, much to Kiley’s dismay.
Bel-Air, Darby and the Dead
Wylder is a rising star among bronc riders under 25. He is a competitive force to be reckoned with who crosses paths with Alex.
The Consultant
Return to Silver Falls with Season 2 of My Life with the Walter Boys, on Netflix now.
