Gillian Anderson's talent is wasted in this disappointing Western

Netflixs The Abandons seems to squander a golden opportunity in the realm of revisionist Westerns. Despite featuring two of televisions most compelling actresses Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) the series fails to deliver the explosive clash it promises. Headey and Anderson portray rival matriarchs locked in a destructive struggle, yet the story never quite hits its mark.

The show suffers from both minor and major flaws. Headeys Irish accent, for instance, is jarring and inconsistent, making it difficult to connect with her character, Fiona Nolan. Fiona leads a ragtag family of outcasts managing a farm in the untamed Washington Territory in 1854. Their lives become increasingly complicated when wealthy local Constance Van Ness (Anderson) sets her sights on a silver mine located on Fionas land. Adding to the tension is a subtle romance between Fionas adopted son Elias (Nick Robinson) and Constances prim daughter Trisha (Aisling Franciosi).

While both Headey and Anderson excel as strong, widowed women navigating a violent, sexist world, the conflict between their characters lacks the intensity needed to sustain seven episodes. Production issues, including the early departure of showrunner Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy), have left the series patched together with reshoots and narrative distractions. Subplots involving a scheming Monsignor, bandits, and interactions with Native American tribes are introduced but never fully explored, and early violent events fail to have lasting impact.

Anderson continues to shine on screen, fresh from acclaim for her role in The Trespasses, yet here her talents are underutilized. Headey, who has been overlooked since her Game of Thrones days, deserves a platform that fully showcases her fiery presence. Unfortunately, The Abandons misses its potential and ends up undermining itself, leaving audiences with a Western that never quite reaches its aim.

Author: Noah Whitman