Jack is a quiet, reserved photography student originally from rural Kansas. He frequently manages feelings of inadequacy and a strong desire to distance himself from his Midwestern roots. Seeking a bohemian lifestyle, Jack relies on his art to express himself while managing the challenges of his long-term marriage and the onset of middle age.

Elizabeth is a researcher and psychologist who comes from an affluent East Coast family with a legacy she actively resents. Driven, independent, and prone to anxiety, she works at a wellness company researching the placebo effect. She is highly focused on being a perfect mother to her son but often worries about her family's future and the authenticity of her life choices.

Brandie is a highly organized, confident full-time mother and an influential figure in the local private school community. She strictly adheres to a philosophy of positive thinking and traditional morality. Underneath her polished exterior, she struggles with domestic insecurities regarding her marriage and seeks out holistic remedies to fix her personal life.

Lawrence is Jack's father, a stoic and reserved rancher who has lived his entire life in Fork Hills, Kansas. He embraces traditional Midwestern values and hard labor but struggles to communicate his emotions to his family. His inability to connect meaningfully with his son creates a profound and lasting rift between them.

Ruth is Jack's mother, a woman who often exhibits a peevish and highly critical temperament. She frequently expresses self-pity and places heavy, sometimes unreasonable expectations on her family members, contributing heavily to the tense atmosphere in Jack's childhood home.

Evelyn is Jack's much older sister, an outgoing former homecoming queen who travels the country spending time in various artists' colonies. She acts as a bright spot in Jack's childhood, introducing him to the world of painting and serving as his primary artistic inspiration.

Toby is Jack and Elizabeth's eight-year-old son. He exhibits behavioral quirks, social awkwardness, and a preference for order and aesthetics that often flummoxes his parents. His reluctance to participate in traditional social activities causes his mother significant ongoing anxiety.

Benjamin is an old college friend of Jack and Elizabeth who transitions from the bohemian art scene into the lucrative world of real estate development. He manages the construction of the upscale condominium building where Jack and Elizabeth purchase a unit, representing the commercial success they once mocked.

Kate is a younger, confident woman from California who maintains an open marriage with her older husband. She is openly anti-establishment in her views on relationships and freely shares her philosophy with Elizabeth, offering a stark contrast to the traditional marriages in their social circle.

Kyle is a skilled listener in his forties who recently relocated from California with his much younger wife. He is comfortable with his open marriage and provides an outside, analytical perspective on Jack and Elizabeth's marital issues during social outings.

Dr. Sanborne is an elderly psychology professor and the founder of the Wellness institute. He acts as Elizabeth's mentor, conducting studies on human behavior and the placebo effect, and providing a sounding board for her anxieties about life, love, and professional ethics.