Top News

Netflix has sparked fury among Western fans after announcing that The Abandons has been cancelled just one month after the show's premiere. According to Deadline, the beloved drama pulled in 19.8million views in just 28 days following its release on December 4. It went on to spend two weeks in the streaming service's Top 10 shows.

After those two weeks, the show dropped off dramatically, only managing to pull in a further 4.8million views. While the viewership drop-off would likely be a contributing factor to The Abandons' cancellation, the series also received mixed responses online.

Set in 19th-century Washington, The Abandons stars Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey as two rival matriarchs whose explosive relationship causes plenty of trouble for the town's residents.

A wealthy, powerful clan led by Constance Van Ness (Anderson) and a struggling group of orphans and outcasts led by Fiona Nolan (Headey), whose fates become intertwined over a piece of land containing a silver lode.

Their feud sparks crime, secrets, and romance, and explores themes of class struggles and justice in a lawless frontier, centring on the conflict between the haves and have-nots.

Frustratingly, the show ended on a major cliffhanger, which appears to now go unresolved following its axing. The final episode saw the two leads enter a fiery showdown, with only a single silhouetted figure emerging from the rubble, leaving viewers to speculate about their identity.

The Abandons suffered a very turbulent production, with creator Kurt Stutter leaving before the show was finished. It was at this point that executive producer Otto Bathurst was forced to take over due to creative differences over the big-budget production.

Despite mixed reviews from critics, the show was enjoyed by viewers worldwide, who flocked to social media to share their disappointment that it was ending so abruptly.

One user penned: "Ahh, I liked this series, and I was hoping for a second season, especially with that cliffhanger series," as another agreed: "Loved the series! Sorry, it won't be renewed!"

A third echoed: "I'm probably biased, but I love the two leads. It was cool to see Gillian Anderson play a villain and I love Headey playing the good character. The plot is decen,t and I enjoyed the storylines."