Crystal is a hardworking woman of Anishinaabe and white ancestry who works gruelling shifts at a local sugar beet processing plant. She is the primary earner for her family and struggles with the economic realities of the Red River Valley. Protective of her daughter Kismet, she observes her marriage and choices with mounting concern.

Kismet is an intelligent, introverted high school senior known for her goth aesthetic and quiet demeanor. She struggles with indecision regarding her future, including college applications and romantic entanglements. Her tendency to go along with the expectations of others places her in uncomfortable situations.

Martin is Crystal's partner and an unsuccessful traveling theater arts instructor. He prefers expensive items and artisanal coffee over practical spending, which heavily strains his family's finances. He is currently at the center of a town scandal regarding missing church funds.

Gary is the high school football quarterback and heir to the largest farming conglomerate in the Red River Valley. He is intensely focused on marrying Kismet, viewing her calm demeanor as a refuge. He carries heavy, unprocessed trauma from a recent accident involving his friends.

Winnie and Diz are the wealthy owners of a massive, industrialized sugar beet farm. Winnie lost her own family's farm during the 1980s financial crisis and married Diz, whose family profited from her loss. Diz relies heavily on pesticides and modern agricultural chemicals to maintain his empire. Together, they represent the corporatization of farming in the valley.

Hugo is a self-taught teenager who is homeschooled by his mother. He spends his afternoons working at the family bookstore and reading extensively. He is unequivocally in love with Kismet and observes the environmental and social issues of his town with sharp clarity.

Bev and Ichor are Hugo's supportive and involved parents. Bev owns and operates the local bookstore, which serves as a community hub and hosts the town's book club. Ichor is an avid hunter with a keen interest in sustainable agriculture and native plants.

Eric is a high school football player whose family is working to restore parts of their agricultural land to native prairie. He is thoughtful and observant, carrying a heavy burden regarding a tragic snowmobile accident that occurred at the Geist property.

Jeniver is a local attorney and a close friend of Crystal. Sharing Indigenous and white ancestry, the two women have bonded over their heritage. Jeniver provides crucial legal advice to Crystal regarding fraudulent mortgages and financial troubles.

Stockton is Kismet's friend and fellow waitress at Skillet in the Sky. She is straightforward and openly dislikes Gary and his football friends, encouraging Kismet to pursue Hugo instead.

Jordan is a high school football player who attended a fateful winter party at the Geist farm. Memories of him cause extreme tension among the surviving teammates.

Father Flirty is the local parish priest. He entrusted the church's savings to Martin Poe for investment, leading to a severe local scandal when the funds vanish.

Dale is a reliable coworker at the sugar beet processing plant. He provides a calm, steady presence for Crystal during exhausting, freezing shifts.