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Netflix has just unveiled a highly anticipated drama that, despite getting some positive reviews from critics, has gone down like a lead balloon with viewers at home.

The seven-part Western drama boasts some impressive leads, with Game of Thrones legend Lena Headey and The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson at the helm, but these castings are seemingly not enough to save it.

Filmed against a majestic Canadian backdrop, the show follows two matriarchs as they go head to head in a battle over land and family, and fans of the Headey and Anderson had high hopes.

However, it appears the release of The Abandons has left many fans disappointed, with some warning Netflix users not to bother as they slammed the storytelling.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Tuckerbox gave a one-star review, saying: "Was looking forward to this series but the very first scene turned me off, looked like it was AI and didn't get any better over the next 10 minutes. Not gonna waste any more time on it."

Taking to IMDb reviews, kirsty888888 called the series "shockingly bad", adding: "Sad to say, after eagerly awaiting Sutter's latest effort, that I found this is to be a sad mix of disappointment and lack of...well, anything really.

"The writing, acting and weak storylines let it down and leave you with an unsatisfied feeling of time wasted. This tries too hard to take itself seriously and stifles everything it tries to encapsulate.

"Sadly, even Headey and Anderson can't save this one! It's watchable, if you have time to kill or are a hardcore Sutter fan, but not something I would ever highly recommend."

Jonathon Wilson shared: "The Abandons is intended to be familiar and unchallenging as much as it is entertaining, but given how cobbled-together and thin the whole thing feels, it's a wonder it's entertaining at all."

However, some fans had plenty of praise for the lead stars' performances, with Michele K leaving a five-star review on Rotten Tomatoes.

She said: "Lena Headey carries this show and it is worth it for her stellar performance. Tense, gritty and full of heart. It is magnificent, but probably needs season two to grow into what it could be."

On IMDb reviews, paulwatts-71889 gave the series an eight out of ten score, sharing: "Well put two of the greatest mature female actresses into a western landgrab script, a potent mix, and not a Taylor Sheridan in sight.

"First episode sets the scene, the industrialisation of the natural resources, mining versus cattle barons, indeed baronesses."

The response comes as a surprise as many fans of Headey and Anderson's work were rooting for their latest project, especially after the epic trailer dropped.

Headey gained global recognition for her role as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones, while Anderson is best known for playing Dana Scully in The X-Files.

The Abandons is on Netflix