It looked like Netflix had another hit on its hands. The streamer's Old West-set drama, The Abandons, premiered last month, making an appearance in its Top Ten most-watched shows list.
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However, this early success was short-lived. Yesterday, just over a month after its premiere, Netflix canceled the show. We have the details below.
What Was 'The Abandons' About?
The seven-episode season of The Abandons had a lot going for it. Westerns, thanks to hits like Yellowstone and its numerous spinoffs, are very popular right now. The Abandons offered a similar setting and plenty of drama. It also boasted a big name behind the scenes: Kurt Sutter, the creator of the hit Sons Of Anarchy.
Starring Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey, the 1850s-set drama follows an Irish woman who battles with an unscrupulous silver mine owner over her farm located in the Oregon Territory. The show's cast also included Nick Robinson, Patton Oswalt, and Lucas Till.
The Show Had a Troubled Production
Netflix ordered The Abandons in 2022. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sutter left due to "creative differences." Sources say that after the streamer saw early cuts of the first episodes, they became concerned. The first episode was movie-length and eventually split into two episodes, but costly reshoots were needed as a result.
This isn't the first time Sutter has had trouble on a show he created. He was fired from the FX show Mayans MC for his behavior on set.
The show struggled to gain an audience. Viewership declined two weeks after its premiere. Critics and audiences weren't thrilled with the series either. On Rotten Tomatoes, the show has an audience score of 52% and a critical score of 32%.
Lately, Netflix has been canceling shows that seem poised to be hits. Back in August, the streamer gave the axe to The Waterfront after one season.
The show was described as Netflix's answer to Yellowstone, as both follow a family navigating crime and legacy within a rural American setting. The Waterfront centered on the Buckley family and its once lucrative fishing business, which had shifted to drug smuggling to save its legacy. It also boasted a great country music soundtrack and critical acclaim.
While The Waterfront's overall viewership was strong, reports indicate that other metrics Netflix tracks, such as completion rates and viewer retention, were not high enough to justify a renewal.
