Debuts with important figures but with mixed signals
The new Netflix series The abandoned generated an immediate impact on the platform’s consumption indicators, with more than 7.3 million views during its first full week available to subscribers. This figure places the production among the most watched recent releases in the platform’s catalog, reinforcing Netflix’s commitment to genre content capable of reaching a global audience.
However, critical and public reception is far from unanimous. Professional reviews point to problems with narrative pacing, excessive characters and development that fails to justify the creative and promotional investment that Netflix has invested in this modern western.
Background on Netflix’s Commitment to Westerns
In recent years, Netflix has sought to consolidate its offering of Western genre content with titles such as Impious (2017), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) and The power of the dog (2021), among others. These productions distinguished themselves by reimagining the genre with contemporary approaches, complex narratives and, in some cases, remarkable cinematic planning. With this tradition as a backdrop, The abandoned It entered the catalog with high expectations from critics and viewers.
What is The Abandons about?
The central premise of the series places the viewer in a frontier environment where marginalized families vie for control of their land against the ambition of a powerful matriarch. The plot explores the social and economic tensions typical of the genre, adding characters who represent different factions and motivations within this conflict.
At first glance, the narrative combines classic Western elements – struggles over territory, family loyalties, armed clashes – with a focus on strong female characters played by well-known actresses such as Lena Headey And Gillian Anderson. The cast promised intense performances and dramatic depth, which, in theory, could have elevated the series above more common tropes.
Creative issues and changes in production
One of the most discussed points after the premiere was the departure of the original creator and writer-producer, Kurt Sutterknown for his work in Sons of Anarchy. According to reports from specialist media such as Deadline, Sutter abandoned the project before finishing production on the final episodes due to creative differences with Netflix. Although full details have not been officially released, it has been speculated that discrepancies over chapter length and structure were one of the causes of this rift.
These types of changes within the creative team generally generate challenges in the narrative cohesion of a series and, in the case of The abandonedmany critics point out that this disconnect is noticeable in the way story arcs are resolved and subplots are connected.
Specialized criticism: narrative rhythm and excess of characters
One of the main criticisms of the series is its inconsistent narrative pacing. The episodes, which last between 35 and 55 minutes, attempt to balance multiple dramatic strands, resulting in abrupt jumps from one plotline to another without allowing enough space for the audience to connect with the supporting characters.
According to critics, this leads to several characters never being fully defined, diminishing the emotional impact of key moments in the story. Although having multiple perspectives can enrich a complex plot, in this case there are more characters than the available footage can actually support.
Opinions and scores on review platforms
On review aggregation sites like Rotten Tomatoes, The abandoned It received a low average recommendation rating from professional reviewers, hovering around 30%. This indicates a significant level of disapproval compared to other productions of the genre. In contrast, the rating on IMDb by general audiences is a bit more positive, with a score of around 6.3/10 based on thousands of votes, suggesting that perceptions of quality vary between specialist audiences and casual viewers.
Things that work
Despite the criticism, many agree that the artistic and visual production of the series is of a high level. The locations, photography and recreation of the border environment have a careful aesthetic that does justice to the Western genre. The expansive landscapes and art direction create an engaging visual experience, even if the narrative doesn’t always live up to those expectations.
Likewise, the performances of the protagonists have been highlighted even in harsher reviews, emphasizing that in terms of performances, the casting meets what is expected of a big budget production.
Open ending and outlook for the second season
The first season of The abandoned It culminates in an ending that some viewers interpret as open-ended, leaving some plotlines completely unresolved. This generated debate about the possibility of a second season. Even though early viewing figures are strong, the critical response could influence Netflix’s decision to renew or cancel production.
Additionally, the fact that the original creator left the project raises questions about the creative direction a possible sequel could take.
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