‘The Abandons’ Kurt Sutter Slams Netflix Following Western Show’s Cancellation

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There was hope that the new Western series would become a hit like Yellowstone, launching its own franchise. However, the series was cancelled after only one season – a sadly common occurrence for shows on this streaming platform. The show’s creator, known for Sons of Anarchy and The Shield, publicly criticized the platform on Instagram, claiming they prioritized algorithms over creative vision.

I was really shocked to see Kurt Sutter share that graphic about The Abandons getting cancelled – all those headlines like “Netflix Pulls the Plug” and “Series Ends on a Cliffhanger” were just brutal, especially after it had gotten almost 20 million views! It turns out, the crazy part is that Kurt actually walked away from the show himself, with only a few weeks of filming left. Apparently, Netflix wanted to make some changes after seeing early cuts of the first episode. Looking back now, with the series cancelled, it seems like he knew what he was doing when he made that decision.

Netflix, if you ever prioritize data over an artist’s creative direction again, remember what happened with this project – it could have been great, but it didn’t work out. Just so you know, investors don’t like seeing over $150 million spent on a show simply to correct poor decisions made by leadership. This kind of thing is damaging to both the entertainment industry and financial markets.

“Doing the Wrong Thing at the Right Moment”


Netflix

So, Sutter actually went back and changed his original post. Instead of just stating his opinion, he revised it to make his point using quotes from some really famous figures – people like George Orwell and Charlie Chaplin. It’s a clever move, letting their words do a lot of the talking.

In case Nellie’s having a boring Sunday night, here are some of my favorite quotes.

According to James Baldwin, artists and lovers share a common purpose: to help others become aware of things they’ve been missing or haven’t noticed before. It’s about opening someone’s eyes to a new perspective.

True freedom isn’t just about saying what people want to hear; it’s about having the right to speak even when your message is unpopular or unwelcome. – George Orwell

“Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” – Justice Louis D. Brandeis

“I suppose that’s one of the ironies of life —doing the wrong thing at the right moment.”

– Charlie Chaplin

I’m really excited about The Abandons! It’s a new series created by Kurt Sutter, and the cast is amazing – Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson are leading the way, alongside Nick Robinson and a bunch of other talented actors. It’s set way back in the 1850s in Washington, and it’s all about a fight for power between two families. One family has money and status, and the other is poor but incredibly close-knit and determined. It’s going to be a wild ride on the frontier, that’s for sure!

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With stars Anderson and Headey and a surge in popularity for Westerns thanks to creator Taylor Sheridan, The Abandons was initially predicted to be Netflix’s next big hit. However, the show received negative reviews (a 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and sharply divided viewers (earning a 55% score on the Popcornmeter). As a result, Netflix quickly canceled the series after just one season, only a month after its release, continuing the streamer’s pattern of swift cancellations.

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2026-02-02 17:08