'The Abandons' Review: A Frontier of Family Feuds and Familiar Tropes
- Romey Norton
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
By Romey Norton - December 4, 2025
TV - Premium TV
Netflix’s answer to our Yellowstone shaped hole in our hearts, The Abandons, arriving December 4, rides into the Western genre determined to kick up dust. And, to its credit, it succeeds more often than not. Created by Kurt Sutter, the series leans on a classic frontier setup: clashing families, shifting alliances, and a land dispute ready to ignite. But what makes this show feel distinct isn’t its gunfights or sweeping panoramas; it’s the way it puts women at the center of the storm, making matriarchs, not cowboys, the fiercest forces on the prairie. Is this what fans will want? We’ll have to wait and see.
At the heart of the story is Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey), a woman of fierce resolve who has carved out her own unconventional family by gathering abandoned and orphaned children under her protection. Headey plays Fiona stern but not unkind, spiritual but not naïve.
Opposing her is Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson), a wealthy landowner determined to expand her empire with the quiet menace of someone who has never been told “no.” Anderson leans fully into the role, crafting a steely aristocrat whose calmness is far more frightening than a gunslinger’s scowl. Both powerhouse actors have great chemistry and demand attention on screen.
Their eventual collision over a patch of land gives The Abandons its narrative spine. But the show is not in a rush. Much of its early appeal comes from watching both families operate in their respective worlds. The contrast is sharp enough to carry entire scenes without gunfire or bloodshed.
Visually, the landscapes are wide and wind-scoured, the towns dusty but photogenic. There are moments where the production design feels a bit too curated for such a rough era; clothing, in particular, sometimes appears cleaner than the setting would realistically allow. Still, the cinematography gives the show a cinematic pulse. When The Abandons wants to look epic, it absolutely does.
If the show has a weak point, it is pacing. The first episodes spend considerable time building the world and establishing the stakes, sometimes stepping a little too slowly through familiar Western beats. A few side characters drift in and out without leaving much impact, as if intended for arcs that never fully materialize. But once the land dispute sharpens, the narrative tightens, and the drama grows teeth.
Is The Abandons revolutionary? Not quite. But it’s a confident, engaging Western with a sharp emotional core, anchored by two powerhouse lead performances and a thematic focus that feels both classic and newly relevant. If you like your frontier tales with moral dilemmas, slow-burn tension, and richly drawn matriarchs, saddle up, this one’s worth the ride.
'The Abandons' on Netflix from December 4, 2025
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