Cal is a recent art school graduate in his twenties who returns to his remote home on the Isle of Harris after struggling to find meaningful work on the mainland. He hides his precarious living situation, his sexuality, and his artistic sensibilities from his conservative family. Back in Falabay, his bleached ginger hair and modern clothing immediately mark him as an outsider, placing him in direct opposition to the strict religious and social codes of his community.

John is a precentor in the Free Presbyterian Church and a master weaver of Harris Tweed. He enforces strict adherence to scripture and traditional masculinity within his household. Deeply concerned with his public image and community standing, he responds with harsh physical and verbal discipline to any perceived deviation from his rigid worldview.

Known as "Gentle Innes," he is a quiet, patient neighbor to the Macleods who lives with his elderly father and estranged brother. He operates ham radios as a hobby, sending out signals to the broader world in search of connection. He stands in stark contrast to John's harshness, enduring his difficult circumstances with passive resilience and silent longing.

Ella is Cal's maternal grandmother, a Glaswegian woman who moved to the island after World War II. As a perpetual outsider, she observes the community's strict piety with a critical, pragmatic, and often humorous eye. She acts as a subversive force in the Macleod household, offering Cal a refuge from his father's dourness while strategically managing the family's resources.

Doll is a young fisherman on the island and Cal's former childhood friend. Trapped by a lack of economic opportunity and bound to his father's unprofitable boat, he channels his frustration into heavy drinking. His descent into alcohol addiction reflects the broader hopelessness affecting the island's younger generation.

Isla is Doll's younger sister, an intelligent and ambitious student who ranks highly in her national exams. She plans to leave the Isle of Harris to attend Glasgow University. Unlike many of her peers, she possesses the academic capability to escape the island's economic decline and restrictive social environment.

Grace is Cal's mother and John's estranged wife, having left the family croft fifteen years earlier. She resides in an unfinished house on another part of the island, physically close but emotionally distant. Her departure remains the defining trauma of the Macleod household, represented by a sunken caravan containing her old belongings.

Flash runs the local inn in Falabay, serving as an employer and observer of the community's struggles. He manages the establishment while dealing with the area's economic downturn and the intermittent arrival of outsiders, such as a crew of stranded Glaswegian fishermen.

Sorley is Innes's younger, more academic brother. He lives in the same house as his brother but has not spoken a word directly to him in sixteen years, forcing visitors to relay messages between them in a deeply uncomfortable domestic stalemate.

Sarah is the mother of Doll and Isla. She attempts to manage her son's destructive alcoholism through covert means, such as sabotaging his car so he cannot drive drunk, rather than confronting the issue openly.

Donnie is a local fisherman and the patriarch of the Macdonald family. He aligns himself strictly with the church elders, prioritizing the community's moral code even when it means publicly humiliating his own flesh and blood.

Reverend Rose is a leader in the Free Presbyterian Church. He wields significant social power in Falabay, using public shaming and strict interpretations of scripture to enforce conformity among the congregation.

Anna-Marie is a nurse working on the island. She is an outsider who aggressively pursues a romantic relationship with Sorley, causing anxiety for Innes about his place in the family home.

William, also known as Billy, is a 27-year-old man from Inverness who cares for his family and works at his uncle's garage. He places an ad in the paper seeking connection, prompting a desperate, hopeful response from Cal.

Shiv is a middle-aged Irishwoman who runs a local B&B on the west coast of Lewis. She is receptive to Doll's brazen flirting, providing a stark contrast to the repressed environment of Falabay.

Uilleam is John's brother and Grace's partner. He suffers from a degenerative illness that causes severe confusion and delusions, requiring constant care from Grace.

Innes Crùbaidh is the elderly father of Innes and Sorley. His presence in the home requires care and tethers his sons to the family croft despite their bitter sixteen-year silence.

Ishbel is a bellwether ewe on the Macleod croft. Ella claims the sheep acts as her personal spy, bringing her gossip from the community. She serves as a quiet, constant presence in the agricultural life of the family.