Netflix's latest original series, The Abandons, arrives with a weighty premise and a stellar cast, but struggles under the burden of its own solemnity. Created by Kurt Sutter of Sons of Anarchy fame, the eight-episode drama transports viewers to the Washington Territory of 1854, where a classic western showdown is given a gendered twist.
A Clash of Matriarchs in a Sepia-Toned World
The dusty settlement of Angel's Ridge is the stage for a power struggle, but this time the protagonists wearing the black and white hats are women. Gillian Anderson plays Constance Van Ness, the icy owner of the local silver mine, who rides into town with an air of formidable trouble. Her opposition is Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan, a devout Irish Catholic woman who has built a patchwork family of orphans and outcasts in Jasper Hollow.
The central conflict ignites when Van Ness sets her sights on the silver-rich land under the Nolan homestead and the properties of three other hard-working families. After a visit from the mining magnate, masked men drive Fiona's cattle to a cliff edge, averted only by the bravery of her adopted children. The local sheriff offers no help, forcing the community to choose between blood ties and chosen family, legal power and moral justice.
Heavy-Handed Drama and Script Stumbles
While the concept of warring matriarchs offers a fresh perspective, the series often lapses into a po-faced seriousness that hampers its narrative flight. The script, at times, feels less like a gritty western and more like a period drama that has wandered onto the wrong set, with dialogue that can be jarringly on-the-nose. "Her tyranny's getting worse!" exclaims one character, underscoring the show's binary view of good versus evil.
The plot thickens with a violent incident involving Constance's dissolute son, Willem, and Fiona's adopted daughter, Dahlia, which escalates the feud to a point of no return. The ensemble expands to include outlaw Roache (Michiel Huisman), who bonds with Constance's daughter over Schubert, and Father Duffy (Timothy V Murphy), Fiona's childhood friend, adding layers of potential romance and moral ambiguity.
How Does It Compare to the Genre?
The Abandons ultimately works because the foundational myth of the underdog battling corrupt power remains potent. You root for the Nolan family and desire to see moral order restored. However, the series lacks the nuanced light and shade found in superior revisionist westerns like 2022's 'The English'. Its concerns—protecting legacy and rallying the marginalised against the privileged—are familiar, and the novelty of female leads wears thin when their narrative arcs feel so traditional.
Despite its flaws, the production is thoughtful and well-crafted, with the script showing some improvement in quality as the episodes progress. For viewers seeking a straightforward, mythic tale of defiance with strong central performances from Anderson and Headey, The Abandons delivers. Yet, one can't help but wish it had allowed itself a little more complexity and perhaps even a moment of levity amidst the dust and determination.
The Abandons is available to stream on Netflix now.
