Abby is a 70-something social worker and the warmhearted matriarch of the Whitshank family. She worries constantly about her children, often inviting strangers she calls "orphans" into their Baltimore home for meals to fulfill her need to care for others. As she ages, she begins experiencing troubling memory lapses and blackouts, prompting her family to quietly intervene in her daily life.

Red is the practical, hardworking owner of a Baltimore construction company. He inherited both his business and the sprawling Bouton Road house from his father, treating the home with the care and attention of a living family member. Now in his seventies, he struggles with hearing loss and rigidly resists his children's suggestions that he scale back his responsibilities.

Denny is the unpredictable "black sheep" of the Whitshank family. He lives a nomadic lifestyle, frequently changing jobs, abandoning hobbies, and failing to maintain consistent contact with his parents. He often drops surprising news on his family from afar, resenting their attempts to understand or control him while simultaneously craving their attention.

Originally named Douglas, Stem was informally adopted by the Whitshanks as a small boy when his biological father fell critically ill. He grows up to be calm, collected, and ordered, eventually joining Red in the family construction business. He is widely viewed by neighbors as a true Whitshank, which frequently puts him at odds with Denny.

The eldest daughter of Red and Abby, Amanda is a straightforward and practical woman who works at a law firm. She is not afraid to speak her mind, frequently taking charge when family crises arise. She deals with ongoing marital tension due to her husband's unpredictable career choices.

Jeannie is Red and Abby's younger daughter. She works in the family construction business and possesses a more relaxed, gentle demeanor than her older sister. A dedicated mother, she relies heavily on her family network for support, having previously struggled with postpartum depression.

Junior (Jurvis Roy) is Red's father and the founder of the family construction business. Born into a poor family in North Carolina, he relocates to Baltimore to build a respectable life. He obsesses over constructing a grand house for a wealthy client, viewing the property as his ultimate ticket to social legitimacy.

Junior's wife and the original matriarch of the family. Raised in a sheltered environment in North Carolina, she tracks Junior down in Baltimore to ensure they build a life together. She quietly orchestrates the family's social standing while retaining prejudices regarding class and race from her upbringing.

Red's sister. From a young age, Merrick focuses intensely on social climbing and associating with wealthy crowds. She is blunt, unapologetic, and highly dramatic, often making sharp comments about her family members' lifestyle choices when she visits the Bouton Road house.

Stem's graceful, naturally capable wife. When she relocates her family to help care for Red and Abby, she efficiently takes over meal preparations and daily household management. This creates a silent, polite tension with Abby over who controls the domestic sphere.

Amanda's husband. He is a somewhat selfish and impractical man who frequently launches ill-advised ventures, such as a travel service for anxious fliers called "Do Not Pass Go." The wider Whitshank family views his business ideas with mild amusement.

Jeannie's husband. Sharing a first name with Amanda's husband, this Hugh is the practical opposite of his brother-in-law. Because he is highly skilled at fixing things, he holds a respected position within the construction-oriented Whitshank clan.

Denny's young daughter with his former partner Carla. Her occasional visits to the Bouton Road house represent Denny's fleeting attempts to integrate into the traditional family structure.

One of Denny's former romantic partners and the mother of Susan. Her presence in the Whitshanks' lives is brief, mostly mediated through her mother, Lena, who communicates with Abby when Denny disappears.

An antisocial young man from a troubled family who dates Abby before she marries Red. Recently kicked out of his house by his father, he serves as one of Abby's early "worthy causes" to fix.

A dour older woman with a thick accent whom Abby brings home as an "orphan" for a family meal. She holds a strong, vocal dislike for Americans and answers polite conversation with terse, conversation-ending remarks.

Another of Abby's eccentric "orphans" who frequents the Whitshank household. She serves as a common topic of private mockery among the family members.

Also known as Lawrence O'Brien, Lonesome is an employee of Red Whitshank. After his wife leaves him, he brings his young son Douglas to work every day until he suffers a sudden, fatal attack of peritonitis.

Denny's estranged significant other who lives in New Jersey. She remains hesitant to let Denny back into her life but eventually agrees to allow him to return home to prepare for an incoming hurricane.

A wealthy client who hires Junior to build a grand home on Bouton Road. She frequently clashes with Junior over design choices, eventually growing tired of the property's upkeep, which opens the door for Junior to take ownership.

A woman in Baltimore who takes pity on Linnie Mae and rents a room to the young couple. She quickly forms a strong friendship with Linnie Mae, eventually starting a small canning business with her.