The Western genre has made a surprising comeback on streaming platforms, and Netflix is betting big on it with The Abandons. The new series, created by Sons of Anarchy mastermind Kurt Sutter, premiered on December 4, 2025, and immediately climbed Netflix’s global charts.
According to FlixPatrol, The Abandons now ranks #2 globally, right behind Stranger Things, and holds the #3 spot in the U.S., trailing only Sean Combs: The Reckoning and Netflix’s flagship hit.
What makes this feat remarkable is that it comes amid a wave of negative critical reviews. Critics have blasted the show’s writing, tone, and production design, with TIME Magazine’s Judy Berman calling it “everything wrong with TV in 2025.” Yet despite the backlash, Western has clearly struck a chord with viewers worldwide.
“Sometimes audiences don’t care about critical reviews — they care about emotion, action, and escapism,” says TV analyst Rebecca Holt. “The Abandons gives them all three, and that’s why it’s thriving.”
Introduction to The Abandons: Netflix’s New Western Gamble
Set in 1850s Washington, The Abandons follows two rival families, one wealthy and powerful, the other poor but fiercely loyal, locked in a brutal struggle for dominance on the untamed frontier.
At its core, the show explores class conflict, revenge, and survival in a lawless land where justice is decided by who draws first. The story’s dual matriarchs, played by Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), drive the narrative with strong performances that highlight the moral decay of the era.
Kurt Sutter’s name alone drew major attention before release. Known for crafting gritty, morally complex dramas like Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C., fans expected The Abandons to deliver the same level of intensity and layered storytelling.
Overview: The Abandons
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Series Title | The Abandons |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Release Date | December 4, 2025 |
| Creator | Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy) |
| Genre | Western / Drama |
| Setting | 1850s Washington Territory |
| Main Cast | Lena Headey, Gillian Anderson, Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lucas Till, Aisling Franciosi |
| Executive Producers | Otto Bathurst, Rob Askins |
| Critical Rating (Rotten Tomatoes) | 23% (Critics), 48% (Audience) |
| Global Netflix Ranking (as of Dec. 2025) | #2 globally, #3 in the U.S. |
Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil: Kurt Sutter’s Departure
Just weeks before production wrapped in October 2024, creator Kurt Sutter abruptly exited the project, citing “creative differences” over early cuts of the first few episodes.
While Netflix and Sutter declined public comment, insiders revealed tension over the series’ tone and pacing, as well as concerns that the first episodes lacked the grit and realism Sutter envisioned.
After his departure, director Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders) and co-executive producer Rob Askins took over showrunning duties to complete post-production and oversee reshoots.
TV journalist Elena Carter notes:
“Sutter’s exit created waves. Fans expected his trademark edge, and the studio’s push for a more accessible tone might explain why critics felt the final product lacked authenticity.”
The Abandons: Critics Were Unforgiving
Upon release, The Abandons quickly became one of Netflix’s most divisive shows. Its Rotten Tomatoes score plummeted from 50% to 23%, while its audience score settled around 48%.
Critics described it as visually polished but emotionally hollow.
| Critic | Summary of Review |
|---|---|
| TIME Magazine (Judy Berman) | “Everything wrong with TV in 2025. It’s unfocused, poorly lit, and lacking heart.” |
| Variety | “Headey is exceptional, but the script gives her little to work with.” |
| The Guardian | “A beautifully shot Western with no soul beneath the dust.” |
| Rolling Stone | “A missed opportunity — more melodrama than myth.” |
Despite the criticism, nearly all reviewers praised Lena Headey’s performance, describing her as the show’s emotional anchor. Anderson, however, received mixed reactions, with some calling her portrayal “stiff” and “disconnected.”
“Headey gives the show its weight and ferocity,” says media critic Paul Jensen. “Without her, the Abandons might have collapsed entirely.”
Audiences Disagree: Streaming Success Tells Another Story
While critics tore The Abandons apart, viewers flocked to it in droves. According to FlixPatrol’s December 2025 report, the show ranked #2 globally and #3 in the U.S. after just one week.
It even outperformed some of Netflix’s biggest fall releases, signaling a growing divide between critical opinion and audience demand.
Entertainment strategist Lydia Moore attributes the success to the show’s mass-market appeal:
“Western dramas always perform well on streaming — especially those with family feuds, revenge arcs, and power struggles. The Abandons feels familiar yet bingeable.”
Netflix’s algorithm appears to have capitalized on that familiarity, aggressively promoting the series alongside other Western-themed content.
Comparison: The Abandons vs. Other Western Hits
| Show | Platform | Critical Rating | Audience Rating | Streaming Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Abandons (2025) | Netflix | 23% | 48% | #2 globally |
| Yellowstone | Paramount+ | 84% | 91% | Consistent Top 5 |
| Godless | Netflix | 88% | 86% | Limited series hit |
| The English | Prime Video | 77% | 80% | Moderate success |
| Outer Range | Prime Video | 69% | 73% | Renewed for Season 2 |
This table reveals a familiar pattern: audiences often embrace Westerns that critics dismiss drawn to their cinematic landscapes, moral tension, and archetypal conflicts.
Why The Abandons Is Still Winning?
Despite its creative flaws, The Abandons offers a few key ingredients that keep audiences hooked:
- Star Power: Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson are major names with dedicated fan bases.
- Visual Appeal: The sweeping cinematography and period detail remain impressive, even if critics found it “too polished.”
- Binge-Friendly Structure: The 10-episode format allows for fast-paced streaming marathons.
- Universal Themes: Family, loyalty, and revenge are timeless narrative anchors.
Cultural critic Martin Alvarez summarises it well:
“It’s not prestige TV — it’s popcorn TV with grit and guns. And in the streaming world, that sells better than ever.”
Why Critics Called It “Everything Wrong With TV”?
Judy Berman’s viral review for TIME captured the essence of the backlash. She argued that The Abandons symbolises modern streaming’s obsession with quantity over quality big budgets, star casts, but shallow storytelling.
Her review described the show’s set design as “generic,” its dialogue as “soap-like,” and its tone as “confused between realism and fantasy.”
Still, Berman acknowledged Headey’s performance as a standout:
“She’s the show’s greatest strength — a fierce, grounded matriarch trying to carry a flimsy world on her shoulders.”
The criticism reignited the debate over Netflix’s content strategy, raising questions about whether streaming success now depends more on algorithms than artistry.
The Abandons’ Future: Renewal or Retreat?
As of December 2025, Netflix has not confirmed a Season 2 renewal. However, given the show’s chart-topping numbers, renewal seems likely.
If renewed, future seasons could benefit from tighter writing and more consistent direction particularly if Netflix brings in a new creative voice to replace Sutter’s influence.
TV producer Angela Crane suggests:
“The audience response proves there’s potential. But if Netflix wants The Abandons to be more than a short-lived hit, they’ll need stronger storytelling in Season 2.”
FAQs
It’s a Western set in 1850s Washington, following two rival families battling for control over frontier land.
The series features Lena Headey, Gillian Anderson, Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, and Lucas Till.
He reportedly exited due to creative differences over the show’s direction and tone during post-production.
Despite negative reviews, it ranks #2 globally and #3 in the U.S., according to FlixPatrol.
Most critics found the writing weak and the visuals overly artificial, though performances were praised.
Netflix has yet to confirm, but the show’s popularity makes renewal highly probable.
