The Abandons: A New Western Series Review

The Abandons is a riveting Western family drama. Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey are nothing short of exceptional. This series is a must-watch.

The Abandons is a Western series created by Kurt Sutter and starring Gillian Anderson, Lena Headey, Lucas Till, and Nick Robinson. The 7-episode series releases today on Netflix. But is this new series worth the time invested? Let’s find out.

STORY

The Abandons takes place in the 1850s and pits two matriarchs against each other. Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey) leads a found family of orphans and outcasts, trying their best to survive. While Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson) leads a family of wealth and privilege, she is always trying to extend her reach and power. Right from the opening scene, you understand the conflict between the two matriarchs and their families. It sets the tone for the rest of the series.

THE ABANDONS REVIEW (Netflix) FUTURE OF THE FORCE — *Gillian Anderson as Constance Van Ness in The Abandons. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025*

This series is a gripping family drama. It’s a conflict between these two clans, but it also explores the inner conflicts within each family. Fiona’s and Constance’s choices affect both their children. Many things link the fates of the Nolans and Van Nesses. This includes Fiona’s land, secrets, and a star-crossed love. This love story, set amid two families who hate each other, is quite reminiscent of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. But the heart of the series isn’t this love story; it’s just one of the many plots surrounding the main event. At its heart, the series is really about the confrontation between Fiona and Constance—their constant fight to win against the other.

GOOD ON BOTH SIDES

There is right and wrong in this fight, but in the 1850s in America, there is a lot more gray than it appears. Fiona seems to be in the right, while Constance seems to be on the wrong side. But their actions, their choices show a lot more complexity than that. And this is precisely what makes this series so riveting. When the story is nuanced, it’s a lot more interesting.

CAST

Additionally, a nuanced story like this works best with a terrific cast. The leading women of The Abandons are nothing short of exceptional. Gillian Anderson has an imposing presence that commands respect. She delivers a strong performance. Gillian knows exactly when her character needs to be tough and when to show a softer side. There are just so many layers to her performance. And having Lena Headey act opposite Anderson is an absolute joy to watch. Lena Headey delivers an excellent performance. Just like Anderson, there are so many layers to what she does. You can feel Headey’s character’s internal conflicts by watching her facial expressions. There are scenes where you need to look at their eyes to understand what’s going on in their minds. Their eyes speak volumes. These are raw performances that perfectly capture who these characters are.

What’s more, the rest of the cast is also great. Seeing both Nick Robinson and Lucas Till in a Western series will make their fans happy. It allows us to see them in a different light from other roles they have played before. Aisling Franciosi is one of the highlights of this talented cast.

VISUALS

Moreover, this series has stunning cinematography. Indeed, throughout the seven episodes, there are several memorable shots of the sunlight entering the windows. The America of the 1850s is faithfully recreated, from the costumes to the sets. On top of that, the colour palette matches the mood of the series; it’s minimalist colour grading, yet it beautifully captures the scenery. The way the characters are filmed, the close-up shots building the tension in the confrontations, it’s all skilfully crafted.

VERDICT

The Abandons is a riveting Western family drama pitting two matriarchs against each other. Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey are nothing short of exceptional; they both deliver raw, multilayered performances. They’re supported by a talented secondary cast. This series is a must-watch.