Ryan is a core member of the cast in the series and serves as both a designer and an older brother figure aboard the Nomad. In a world where Echoes run wild, he stands out by not using having one. He relies on physical strength, mechanical skill, and stubborn determination.

Fighting without an Echo, Ryan uses paired axes. His combat style is direct and physically demanding, favouring endurance and adaptability over finesse. More importantly, his mechanical intuition allows him to build and modify tools that bridge the gap between human ingenuity and Echo based power, making him indispensable to the crew’s survival.

In Episode 19, Ryan's first axe breaks in an encounter with Viktor and his supersized blaster. He deflected the shot with his axe, which while successful, shatters the axe moments later.

In Episode 43, when the team fights against Ena and Nieven, Ryan's second axe is shattered by Nieven, leaving him powerless for the rest of the arc.

In Episode 51, Ryan talks to Tamsin about creating a giant axe and exoskeleton arm. After various attempts, they manage to create an axe that can be lifted by Ryan using his exoskeleton arm enhancement.

Personality wise, Ryan is warm, dependable, and quietly ambitious. He acts as a natural mentor, especially to younger or less confident crew members, while privately struggling with feelings of inadequacy and self doubt. He measures himself against Echo wielders and often believes he comes up short, making praise difficult for him to accept and failure easy to internalize.

Ryan also seems to act weird when relationships are mentioned.

In Episode 49, when Tamsin says there's "something going on between [Elliot and Jade]", Ryan instantly brushes it off, saying that they are "just close".

In Episode 50, when Ryan's dad makes a joke about Ryan and Tamsin being together, Ryan seems to get visibly upset.

In Episode 51, on the way to the bowling alley, Jade makes a comment saying "I could never image Ryan in love with a girl.", to which Ryan responds with:

"Oh yeah?! And what's that meant to mean?"

However, in Episode 68, in a dire moment where Tamsin has to tell Ryan something personal, she reveals that when he was 16, her and Ryan dated, but seemingly are not dating anymore…

Ryan’s role in Echo explores what it means to matter in a world that equates worth with power. Through his relationships and contributions, he challenges the assumption that strength must come from supernatural sources, representing the idea that belief, effort, and care can be just as vital as any Echo.