Netflix’s new Western drama, The Abandons, has quickly found a large audience, securing a spot among the platform’s most-watched shows globally. Despite receiving largely negative reviews from critics, the series, starring Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson, reached fourth place on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for the week of December 1-7, 2025. The show premiered on December 4 and has appeared in the Top 10 in 75 countries, even taking the number one spot in Romania.
The Show’s Premise and Key Conflict
Created by Kurt Sutter, known for Sons of Anarchy, the series is set in the Washington Territory in 1854. The story centers on a fierce land dispute between two matriarchs. Lena Headey plays Fiona Nolan, a devout Irish immigrant who has built a ranch and a chosen family by adopting four orphans. Gillian Anderson plays Constance Van Ness, the wealthy widow of a mining magnate who is determined to seize the silver-rich land Fiona’s family occupies.
The central conflict ignites in the first episode when Constance’s son, Willem, is killed after a violent assault on Fiona’s adopted daughter, Dahlia. Fiona takes responsibility for the death, and the Nolan family hides the body, setting off a chain of events where Constance desperately seeks the truth about her missing son.
A Look at the Critical and Audience Response
The show’s performance with viewers stands in sharp contrast to its reception from professional critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Abandons holds a critic score of 31%. Reviews have called the storytelling “uninspired” and criticized the characters as thinly developed. One major publication described the show as representing “everything that’s frustrating” about modern television, labeling it a cynical, formulaic product.
Audience scores are mixed but slightly more favorable. The series has a 52% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. On platforms like IMDb, viewers are split. Some have called the show “shockingly bad,” criticizing the writing and weak storylines. Others have praised it, with one fan stating, “Lena Headey carries this show and it is worth it for her stellar performance”.
“The joy of this job was having two women who are at this age in their [lives] at the forefront,” Headey said in an interview. “I think Constance kind of lights Fiona up more”.
Anderson also spoke about the dynamic, saying, “I feel like it’s quite a unique thing. And so to be able to have a good sparring partner is mighty fun as an actor”.
Behind-the-Scenes Changes and Production
The Abandons faced notable production challenges. Creator Kurt Sutter left the project with just three weeks remaining in filming, reportedly due to “creative disagreements” with Netflix. Executive producer and director Otto Bathurst and co-executive producer Rob Askins took over to complete the first season. This behind-the-scenes shift has led some reviewers to speculate that the final product feels uneven or rushed.
The seven-episode season was filmed in Alberta, Canada, utilizing the region’s vast landscapes to stand in for the American frontier.
Complete Cast and Character Guide
The series features a large ensemble cast beyond its two leading stars.
- Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan
- Gillian Anderson as Constance Van Ness
- Nick Robinson as Elias, an orphan adopted by Fiona
- Diana Silvers as Dahlia, Elias’s sister
- Aisling Franciosi as Trisha Van Ness, Constance’s daughter
- Lucas Till as Garret Van Ness, Constance’s eldest son
- Lamar Johnson as Albert, another orphan in Fiona’s care
- Natalia del Riego as Lilla Belle, an orphan of Lakota Sioux heritage
- Patton Oswalt plays the mayor of the local town
Streaming Success and What It Means
The show’s strong viewership, evidenced by its 7.3 million views in its first tracking week, demonstrates a clear audience appetite for Westerns and for stories led by powerhouse actors like Headey and Anderson. Its ability to break into the global Top 4, competing with giants like Stranger Things, often signals to Netflix that a series has potential for future seasons.
All seven episodes of The Abandons Season 1 are available to stream globally on Netflix.
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