Welcome to the family. 

In the first 10 minutes of My Life with the Walter Boys, Jackie Howard’s (Nikki Rodriguez) life changes forever. Leaving behind everything she knows, the 15-year-old moves across the country from vibrant New York to scenic Colorado, to live with her mom’s best friend Katherine (Sarah Rafferty), husband George (Marc Blucas), and their brood of 10 — count ’em! — Walter boys (and one sister). Meet them all for yourself in the first 10 minutes of the coming-of-age series, which you can watch right here, right now, above.

Within seconds of meeting Jackie, you can already tell she’s a driven planner embedded in the glamorous side of Manhattan society. “We wanted someone that comes from this world, but keeps everything in. She’s very reserved,” creator Melanie Halsall told Tudum on the set of the series in August 2022. And Rodriguez is “someone who can do that reserve, but also show lots of great emotion at the same time.” 

While Jackie’s move is prompted by a devastating tragedy, the Walters are keen to make her feel welcome — even if trying to learn all their names upon arrival is more than a little intimidating. Based on the popular WattPad novel by Ali Novak, which she wrote when she was 15, the series explores “the idea of leaving something behind and moving on,” said Halsall. 

And some bright spots emerge as Jackie meets the Walters, like the friendly greetings of gamer Alex (Ashby Gentry) and musician Nathan (Corey Fogelmanis). But nothing could prepare her, or us, for Cole’s (Noah LaLonde) grand entrance emerging from the backyard pool — shades of heartthrob Paxton of Never Have I Ever…

Though Jackie’s on-screen intros are a little rocky, Rodriguez immediately felt at home on the ranch when the whole family was on set. It was “always so fun, because we’re always playing some sort of game in between scenes like football or soccer,” she told Tudum.

See where Jackie’s life with the Walter boys takes her when My Life with the Walter Boys premieres Dec. 7, only on Netflix.