RIAN COUNTRY SAFARI

Synopsis

Twenty-six-year-old personal injury lawyer Rian Perry has built her life around minimizing risk. Two years out of law school and determined to climb the corporate ladder, she believes every problem can be solved with planning, procedure, and paperwork, but her carefully ordered world is turned upside down when her adventurous aunt and uncle are killed overseas and leave her their greatest passion: Wilde Country Safari, a wildly unregulated drive-through safari park in suburban Southern California.

Planning to sell it immediately, Rian discovers the park is nearly half a million dollars in debt, sits on leased land, and can't be sold unless those debts are paid first. With no other options, she's forced to keep the park operating while searching for a way out.

Instead of the efficient business she imagined, Rian inherits a place held together by duct tape, intuition, and the unwavering devotion of an eccentric staff who care more about the animals than profit margins. Every day presents a new crisis - from rhinos damaging cars and mischievous monkeys stealing supplies to legal liabilities that would make any attorney panic.

As Rian struggles to impose order on the chaos, she slowly discovers that the park isn't simply a business to be rescued, it's a community worth protecting. Along the way, she reconnects with people from her past, begins to heal old family wounds, and learns that some of life's greatest rewards can never be found inside a perfectly managed plan.

WHY NOW? While set in the 80s, Rian Country Safari explores timeless questions about control, community, and choosing an uncertain life over a safe one. The pre-digital setting creates a world where problems can't be solved with a quick internet search or a smartphone app; people have to rely on one another. Against the vibrant backdrop of an era defined by optimism, excess, and self-improvement, the series examines what happens when someone who believes every risk can be managed inherits a world that refuses to follow the rules.

TARGET AUDIENCE Fans of warm, ensemble-driven comedies with emotional depth, including Ted Lasso, Northern Exposure, Parks and Recreation, and Schitt's Creek, will connect with Rian Country Safari's blend of workplace comedy, family dynamics, heartfelt relationships, and animal-fueled chaos.

PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS Budget: Moderate; one primary standing location (safari park) supported by repeatable sets and practical animal interactions.

Cast: Strong female lead, diverse workplace ensemble, multi-generational supporting cast, and a slow-burn romantic pairing.

Series Engine: Endless workplace stories driven by unpredictable animals, eccentric employees, business challenges, and Rian's ongoing struggle to reconcile her need for control with the beautifully chaotic world she's inherited.