Abhiroop Das
Netflix’s ‘The Hunting Wives‘ centers around its protagonist, Sophie O’Neil, shifting with her family from a busy, stressful life on the East Coast to the relaxed town of Maple Brook, in East Texas. This lakeside town is home to a rich community full of people who are eager to make Sophie feel at home. In particular, Margo Banks, wife of the wealthiest man in town, seems to have a special interest in her, and the protagonist soon finds herself joining Margo’s elite clique. However, a close-knit town such as this is hot grounds for interpersonal conflicts to flare up, and on one such occasion, Sophie finds out the hard way that the town has its own share of skeletons buried inside the closet. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Maple Brook is a Fictional Texan Town Brought to Life in North Carolina
While it is the heart of the narrative, Maple Brook is a fictional town created by the writing team of ‘The Hunting Wives.’ Particularly Rebecca Cutter alongside her co-writers Emily Bensinger, Benjamin Flores, Breannah Gibson, Will Hettinger, Mike Weiss, Kayla Westergard-Dobson, and Brandon Zuck. The narrative itself is an adaptation of May Cobb’s eponymous novel. The town’s on-screen iteration bears a striking resemblance, both geographically and culturally, to the places used for filming: Charlotte and Mooresville.
Many establishments went through their share of set dressing to effectively convey the show’s Texan roots. However, the team’s decision to set camp is likely also empowered by the region’s views and vibes, matching what the story wants to convey. As such, Maple Brook almost functions as a character, encompassing everything that happens within. May Cobb had originally named her rendition of the town Mapleton. However, it appears that she had a more direct inspiration in mind.
In a Q&A with Longview News Journal, she stated, “I still don’t really know why I did that because everyone knows this is Longview.” Located in Gregg County, Texas, Longview originally began as a railroad town, but soon grew into an industrial hub that invites people to its sprawling urban landscapes and hidden greenery. As May Cobb is a Longview native herself, she has firsthand experience of the region’s cultural nerve and sense of togetherness, all of which is poured into her novel, which in turn became the TV show’s primary source material.
The transformation from Mapleton in print to Maple Brook on screen is not just one of the names, as the artists behind the show have put their all into infusing life into the town. The primary real-life counterpart of the town’s name appears to be the Maple Brook Boarding School in Amenia, New York, which is focused on providing education to students with learning differences. However, besides the name, the school and the town share no similarities; as such, the overlap is likely a coincidence. Instead, Maple Brook is depicted as a town bustling with local culture and a constant festive spirit, with most wealthy families being its largest component. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the area’s shopping centers, from fashion to guns and ammunition, which are often teeming with high-end guests.
Various Institutions Add Character to Maple Brook’s Imagined Identity
The Maple Brook town is incomplete without the various communities and establishments that bring it to life. As such, ‘The Hunting Wives’ also layers it with a host of memorable locations that flesh out the show aesthetically while grounding it in reality. One of the most iconic locales featured in the show is a nightclub called Coyote Joe’s, where the girls’ group hangs out at night, complete with drinks, music, and partying. In reality, Coyote Joe’s is an actual nightclub at 4621 Wilkinson Boulevard in Charlotte, reiterating how the filming location informs the narrative.
In an interview with The Charlotte Observer, Actor Malin Akerman discussed her experience at the place, stating, “We actually shot a scene there as well for the show, but once we discovered it, we were there every single weekend, going, you know, two-stepping with all the cowboys. It was a blast.” Alongside Coyote Joe’s, various other elements of a traditional East Texas town can be found in Maple Brook, most prominently their church, Holy Horizon.
Led by Reverend Clint, the church serves as a bonding agent for the townsfolk, who all participate in its enormous congregations, complete with music, dance, and other celebrations. In reality, it is The Park Church located at 6029 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. Similarly, the show used other locations of North Carolina cities to create places like Maple Brook’s Recreation Center, adding a different strand to its realism, whereas its local Police Department complements that with an air of gravity, tackling the various troubles that hit the town.
Read More: Is The Hunting Wives Based on a True Story?
