MANILA, Philippines — Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher has been receiving rave reviews on social media for his “brave” stand against abortion as seen in the plot of “The Ranch,” his latest series on streaming app Netflix.
Set in present day on a Colorado ranch outside Denver, this multi-camera family comedy series stars Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Sam Elliott and Debra Winger. The show follows Colt's (Kutcher) return home after a brief and failed semi- pro football career to run the family ranching business with his older brother Jameson "Rooster" (Masterson) and father Beau (Elliott), whom he has not seen in 15 years. Winger stars as Colt's and Jimmy's mother, Maggie, who runs the local town bar. The series also features Elisha Cuthbert (Abby), and fellow “That 70's Show” alum Wilmer Valderrama (Umberto).
The series’ third season has just premiered on Netflix on June 16. Colt is forced to face the new reality of his complicated love triangle with Abby and Heather; Rooster settles into relationship life with Mary after moving out of the ranch; and Maggie and Beau navigate life as divorced friends.
Season 3 has stirred interest for touching on the sensitive issue of abortion. According to critics, while other series like “Jane the Virgin,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Scandal” glorify abortion, “The Ranch” goes the other way but does not present the pro-life stance in a preachy way, but through a realistic, conflicted manner.
Starting from the first episode, Kutcher’s character, Colt, has been faced with the dilemma of discovering that his girlfriend, Heather, is pregnant. Colt then tells Heather, “I want you to know this kid will absolutely be my first priority…You, you’re going to be a great mom. And I’m going to be a great dad. And the three of us, we’ll make a great family.”
But, being 23, Heather insists on having an abortion.
Colt tries to persuade her again, saying, “It’s not about what I want anymore, this isn’t about me, it’s about this kid, and we’re going to have to make sacrifices.”
A scene from "The Ranch" Netflix/Released
He also says that “This (abortion) is wrong. You can’t just take the easy way out.”
Eventually, he had no choice but to accompany Heather to an abortion clinic. But when Heather was about to do it, she had a change of heart: “I can’t. I can’t do this. I thought it’s what I wanted but, now that I’m here and it’s all happening…”
In other interviews, Ashton hinted that, as executive producer, he plans to explore more on the subject despite criticisms and controversies.
Ashton and his ex-wife, Demi Moore, have also been recently getting kudos for rescuing around 6,000 cybersex trafficking victims through their foundation, Thorn, which they founded together.
In previous interviews, Ashton said he plans to fight child pornography next.
Ashton is married to actress Mila Kunis, whom he met on the set of “That 70's Show” in 1998. They have two children, Wyatt and Dimitri.