Saagar Kote
‘The Abandons’ narrates the story of two powerful women engaged in a deadly battle for supremacy and control. At the heart of the tale is a woman named Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey), who controls a piece of land in the region of Washington in the 1850s. Unable to become a mother biologically, she adopts four orphans, making them her family. What seems like an idyllic life for the mother and her children soon turns chaotic and violent when they cross paths with Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson), the matriarch of an aristocratic family who desires Fiona’s land.
As the two women fight a battle of egos and wits, the Old West around them descends into violence and greed. In order to survive in a land without justice, Fiona and her children will have to go beyond their limits. Netflix’s Western action drama series, created by Kurt Sutter, is a layered take on redemption. These shows, similar to ‘The Abandons,’ will keep you hooked with their portrayals of family and survival in dangerous worlds.
12. The Pinkertons (2014–2015)
‘The Pinkertons’ revolves around the experiences of father and son, Allan Pinkerton (Angus Macfadyen), and William Pinkerton (Jacob Blair). They are tasked with the responsibility of uncovering mysteries in the tough Wild West of the 1860s. As they continue to solve cases, they team with an unlikely partner named Kate Warne (Martha MacIsaac), who is America’s first female detective. The trio deals with multiple crimes, ranging from murders, train heists, and bank robberies, crossing paths with dangerous individuals.
As the cases get tougher, they may have to come up with new approaches and lines of thought to succeed. Created by Kevin Abrams and Adam Moore, the Western police procedural series, based on real-life events, is a nuanced take on brilliance. It is connected to the world and characters of ‘The Abandons’ due to its grounded depiction of familial ties, violence in the Old West, and the elements of justice and survival.
11. Strange Empire (2014–2015)
Created by Laurie Finstad-Knizhnik, ‘Strange Empire’ follows a Métis woman named Kat Loving (Cara Gee), Rebecca Blithely (Melissa Farman), and a grieving madam named Isabelle Slotter (Tattiawna Jones). Faced with violence and greed in the Old West in the late 1860s, the three are forced to unite after a series of murders, which are falsely presented as an Indian attack. The killings are believed to be the work of Captain John Slotter (Aaron Poole), Isabelle’s husband and a mine owner who is obsessed with building a railroad. While Captain Slotter focuses on his power and wealth, the women hope to achieve their independence in a region that also faces racial tensions. CBC’s Western drama series, akin to ‘The Abandons,’ sheds light on power hunger and violence in the Old West, while focusing on the adventures of female characters in a male-dominated world.
10. That Dirty Black Bag (2022)
AMC+’s ‘That Dirty Black Bag’ centers on Sheriff Arthur McCoy and a bounty hunter named Red Bill. The latter becomes involved in a quest for vengeance when he pursues an outlaw in the former’s jurisdiction in Greenvale. Due to their positions on opposite sides of morality and law, the two men clash in the Wild West. Their battle of wits and egos becomes more complicated due to the power-hungry Charles Thompson, the richest man of the region, looking to establish greater control.
The bounty hunter and the sheriff must go beyond their limits to survive the chaos in the show inspired by Mauro Aragoni’s film ‘Quella sporca sacca nera.’ The Western action drama series created by Mauro Aragoni, Silvia Ebreul, and Marcello Izzo is a nuanced exploration of redemption and justice in a cruel world. These themes and the survival-based journeys of the main characters connect the story to the characters and the world of ‘The Abandons.’
9. The English (2022)
‘The English’ is a story of violence that chronicles the trials and tribulations of an Englishwoman named Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt). She travels to the inhospitable West to seek the individuals who murdered her son. Set in 1890, Amazon Prime Video’s Western miniseries follows the unlikely friendship between Cornelia and Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer), a Native American man and a former scout for the cavalry. The two of them recognize each other’s desperation for survival and build a bond under trying circumstances.
As they traverse the dangers of the region, they also seek redemption and justice. The Hugo Blick creation, akin to ‘The Abandons,’ is a brutal navigation of survival and revenge in the West. Both stories have strong female characters seeking to right the wrongs done to their families, while facing more powerful adversaries.
8. Hell on Wheels (2011–2016)
‘Hell on Wheels,’ created by Joe Gayton and Tony Gayton, chronicles the ups and downs in the life of a former Confederate soldier named Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount). He becomes involved in the construction of the transcontinental railroad in the era after the brutalities of the Civil War. What seems like a life of ambition is revealed to be a discreet quest for revenge. Cullen hopes to find and kill the Union soldiers responsible for the murder of his wife in the past.
As he works on the railroad, he is haunted by memories that push him closer to violence. With dangers converging, he must go beyond his limits to survive. On the lines of ‘The Abandons,’ AMC’s Western drama series is an exploration of familial dynamics and the quest for redemption. The main characters in both stories look to survive against powerful enemies, while also facing the harshness of the world around them.
7. Frontier (2016-2018)
Netflix’s ‘Frontier’ follows the exploits of Declan Harp (Jason Momoa), a proficient outlaw determined to gain an edge in the fur trade through brutal methods and his relentless fighting spirit. His goal to achieve success in the business intertwines his destiny with Lord Benton (Alun Armstrong) of the Hudson Bay Company, who is equally determined to secure a complete monopoly over the fur trade in the harsh Canadian wilderness during the 18th century.
The historical drama series, created by Rob and Peter Blackie, delves into the adventures of Declan as he traverses through corruption, violence, and corporate interference. Like ‘The Abandons,’ it sheds light on a class conflict between the elite members of the society and those looking for survival in unforgiving landscapes. The visual elements of the shows also forge a spiritual connection between the two.
6. Yellowstone (2018–2024)
‘Yellowstone’ follows John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and his family, who own a massive Montana ranch. Its proximity to Native American lands and a national park makes it strategically and financially important. The members of the family must use their wits and skills to maintain the ownership of their ranch, which is always eyed by those looking to control it. The owners face off against politicians, corporate entities, and dangerous individuals as they hope to survive in a region far from the hustle and bustle of urban America.
Created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, Paramount’s Western drama series is a layered take on survival. It resembles ‘The Abandons,’ as it focuses on a family battling enemies in a tough landscape, be it in different time periods. The main characters in both stories try to protect their land from external influences.
5. The Son (2017–2019)
In AMC’s ‘The Son,’ Eli McCullough (Pierce Brosnan) looks to maintain control over his land and resources, even as he is surrounded by enemies who look to take it away from him. Set in Texas during the 19th and 20th centuries, the Western drama series chronicles the life of Eli, from his kidnapping as a teenager by Comanches and his rise to the role of a ruthless land owner doing everything in his power to survive. However, as he looks to pass on his legacy to his sons, he faces unexpected challenges that may decide his future. Created by Philipp Meyer, Brian McGreevy, and Lee Shipman, the show is based on Meyer’s eponymous novel and captures the spirit of America’s rise. On the lines of ‘The Abandons,’ it is set in inhospitable social environments and traces the struggles of the members of a land-owning family to keep their lives together against external forces.
4. American Primeval (2025)
‘American Primeval’ centers on the experiences of Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota), who cross paths with a man named Isaac (Taylor Kitsch). The three of them traverse harsh lands and groups as they look to stay alive in the American West during the 1850s. Tensions arise between Mormons, Native Americans, and other groups as they all strive to establish some control over the region of Utah. Created by Mark L. Smith, Netflix’s Western drama series focuses on Sara and her companions as they witness the birth of a new age in the history of the country. Due to its navigation of survival, familial bonds, conflicts, resource politics, and complex characters, it is connected to ‘The Abandons.’
3. 1883 (2021-2022)
Paramount+’s ‘1883’ or ‘1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story’ delves into the humble beginnings of the Dutton family during the late 19th century. It depicts the trials and tribulations of James Dutton (Tim McGraw), Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill), and other members of the family as they go through arduous journeys to set up their land in Montana. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the Western drama miniseries, a prequel to ‘Yellowstone,’ is a deep dive into the various challenges that the Duttons face as they seek to establish a legacy for the future. The struggles of the family in the narrative, and their will to own land, reflect the journey of Fiona Nolan and her children in ‘The Abandons.’ The visual tones of the stories connect them on a spiritual level.
2. Godless (2017)
Netflix’s ‘Godless,’ created by Scott Frank, is the adventure of dangerous criminal Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels), who seeks a man on the run, named Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell). Frank aims to right the wrongs of the past, as he believes that Roy betrayed his group. However, Roy’s life becomes complicated when he starts to live with Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery) in the town of La Belle, which is run by women. The man on the run finds himself in a brutal scenario when the one hunting him learns his whereabouts. This places only the local community between him and death. As the locals and Roy fight against Frank’s gang, they face unexpected challenges. The Western drama series, akin to ‘The Abandons,’ explores the idea of found family, local battles, violent means of survival, and complex character arcs based on familial and romantic feelings.
1. Deadwood (2004–2006)
‘Deadwood’ navigates the journeys of former law enforcement officer Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine), Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), and others residing in the town of Deadwood. The place suffers due to excessive corruption and crime, putting the lives of people in danger. In the late 1800s, as Seth hopes to start his life anew, he encounters the pessimism of Wild Bill. Their destinies get intertwined with that of Al Swearengen, who is the town’s most powerful man and the owner of popular establishments.
As the three men forge their destinies, the world around them faces chaos. Created by David Milch, HBO’s Western drama series reflects the brutal world, characters, and stories of ‘The Abandons.’ Both shows feature struggles for survival against powerful people, the element of shared destinies, and larger commentary on redemption in harsh worlds.
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