Milo is an artist in his twenties who left his abusive childhood home at 18 and avoids putting down roots. Covered in tattoos, he uses humor and casual sexual relationships to keep people at a safe emotional distance. He returns to Baysville only to fulfill a familial obligation to his older brother, intending to leave town again as quickly as possible.

Prue is a 24-year-old Baysville resident who serves as the primary caregiver for her mother. Naturally introverted and heavily coddled by her parents, she feels inexperienced in life and relationships compared to her peers. She possesses deep reserves of patience from managing her mother's illness but quietly yearns for personal freedom and romantic experiences.

Julia is Prue's mother and a former high school art teacher suffering from middle-stage, early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Once a vibrant artist and her daughter's closest confidante, her condition now causes her to frequently relive past events or experience severe confusion. Her illness dictates the daily rhythm of her family's life.

Tom runs a family grocery store and gas station in Baysville while helping care for his wife, Julia. Deeply protective of his family, he shields Prue from harsh realities, continuing to treat her as the highly sensitive child she once was. He pushes Prue to seek a life outside of caregiving, though his methods involve keeping significant secrets about his own health.

Nik is Milo's older brother, who chose to remain close to his hometown to build the stable family environment he lacked as a child. He is working to open MANS Brewery, an acronym honoring his loved ones. Nik actively tries to process his childhood trauma, though his attempts to force his siblings to do the same often cause friction.

Nadia is Milo and Nik's younger sister. Having been left behind in their abusive household when her older brothers moved out, she developed a defensive exterior to protect herself. She abandons her bartending job and apartment to answer Nik's emergency summons, struggling with vulnerability and the idea of letting people get close to her.

Sef is Nik's wife and the mother of their five children, currently pregnant with their sixth. She is a warm, generous, and highly capable matriarch who maintains order in a chaotic household. Sef serves as the emotional backbone for her husband, challenging him to heal from his past while fiercely protecting the boundaries of her family.

Aleks is a childhood friend of the Kablukov siblings who works alongside Nik at the new brewery. He is steadfast and genuinely kind, traits that make him a reliable presence in the brothers' lives but cause friction with Nadia, who fears she is too damaged for someone so good-hearted.