Movies

Netflix’s The Hunting Wives Is a Bonkers, Bisexual Culture-War Soap

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In essence, if a show’s title includes the word ‘wife’, it often implies drama or scandal, a tradition that can be traced back to shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “The Real Housewives”. This trope has been carried forward through various scripted and unscripted series such as “The Good Wife”, “Sister Wives”, “Basketball Wives”, “Mob Wives”, “The Ex-Wife”, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”, among others. The use of ‘wife’ in titles has been synonymous with provocative entertainment since the 14th century, as seen in Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, one of the racier tales from his “Canterbury Tales”. The protagonist, a five-time widow, embodies a woman who has had sexual experiences, is financially independent, yet still subject to male dominance, explaining the presence of both steam and scheming.

As a devoted movie aficionado, I’ve often pondered over how 600 years and progressing feminist movements should have dismantled this stereotype… but here we are, still grappling with the remnants of patriarchy. And yet, in this age of open sexuality, it endures. The masterminds behind summer television have once again outdone themselves, conjuring up what could very well be the wildest, silliest, and most soap-operaesque wife show ever conceived – a bold claim, I know. This Netflix production, The Hunting Wives, is nothing short of a spectacle, brimming with kidnapped teens, age-gap romances, buried secrets, corrupt clergy, politically swinging individuals, enigmatic stalkers, ravenous bisexuals, an abundance of substances, and a murder – all within the first three episodes. It’s also a reflection of our Trump-era culture wars. While I might wince at its brashness, I must admit to being awed by its audacity to constantly push boundaries. If you’re hooked on wife shows, prepare yourself for your latest obsession.

The series, titled “The Hunting Wives,” commences with a familiar setup for a soap opera: Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow), having relocated from bustling Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the show frequently references Harvard, to rural Texas due to her husband Graham’s (Evan Jonigkeit) new job. A previous political PR specialist and stereotypical East Coast Liberal, Sophie now assumes the role of full-time mother to a young son (Emmett Moss). It’s easy to imagine her discomfort when she attends a lively NRA fundraiser at the sprawling estate of Graham’s new boss, wealthy oil magnate and aspiring Republican governor Jed Banks (Dermot Mulroney, portraying a self-assured character). There, she crosses paths with Jed’s alluring wife, Margo (Malin Akerman), who introduces Sophie to her group of stylish, witty, heavy-drinking, gun-owning, conservative voting wives. In this instance, an out-of-place newcomer encounters the queen bee.

However, there’s an unexpected turn in the rivalry between the upstart and the diva as portrayed in this story. Sophie encounters Margo for the first time in one of the mansion’s bathrooms, where Margo is searching frantically for a maxi pad. Since neither has one, Margo improvises by stuffing some paper towels into her lace underwear and requests Sophie (dressed in a long-sleeved black outfit that Graham called “Soviet”) to fasten the slinky green dress for her. Later, Sophie reveals her Xanax supply, and they toast with their champagne flutes, exchanging meaningful glances. This scene, occurring barely five minutes into the premiere, hints that these two women might not be rivals but potential romantic partners instead – a sign that The Hunting Wives is more like a soap opera in its unpredictability, while Secretary is to romantic comedies in its unexpected twist on tradition.

Margo plays the commanding, passionate sun that orbits around Maple Brook, TX, and Akerman brings intensity and enjoyment to the character. It’s revealed that Margo and Jed have a wide range of extramarital affairs, but it’s not an open marriage as Margo explains to Sophie: “Open marriages are for liberals. We just keep things straightforward. I don’t sleep with other men, and when Jed and I find a woman we’re interested in, we act on it.” (Not that she always follows these guidelines, as she tells Sophie: “I believe in doing whatever the heck I want.”) Callie, Margo’s shooting partner, is someone Margo may favor more than Jed. Callie quickly perceives Sophie as a rival. On the other hand, Sophie feels restless without her job and constrained by her marriage to a man who, despite his refined manners from Harvard, can be critical and controlling. Both women are escaping their embarrassing pasts.

In the show “The Hunting Wives,” the topic of whether Margo and Jed’s unconventional relationship might impact his campaign emerges quickly, symbolizing the series’ insightful portrayal of the modern right. Jed argues that this demographic is indifferent to the sexual indiscretions of their powerful male leaders: “They don’t want a Boy Scout; they want a man.” Given Donald Trump’s re-election as President despite allegations of sexual misconduct, it’s questionable if Texas voters would bat an eye at the consensual nonmonogamy of a Republican gubernatorial candidate. However, Margo is right to be concerned about gender and sexuality double standards that will undoubtedly subject her to criticism should her own relationships with women become public knowledge. The series effectively portrays hypocrisy as a bipartisan issue, from Graham’s surveillance of Sophie to the contradictory behavior of Margo’s friends who frequent honkytonk nights but never miss church on Sundays. Despite its political references, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and “deplorables,” the show manages to deliver a few sharp, poignant comments. For instance, one character humorously states, “There are no clinics left to bomb—thanks to us.

The abundance of steamy scenes in the series goes beyond Margo’s personal life, as it seems to be an all-encompassing aspect of the show’s style. Before we switch topics, I should mention that there are two instances within the initial three episodes where a character discovers a couple in a compromising position, and one of them responds with a flirtatious grin. Both these scenes feature Margo.

Following common television trends, the plot includes a mystery surrounding a murder; however, the early episodes are interspersed with glimpses into the future where a mysterious blonde woman is seen struggling in the woods at night. Due to the obscured nature of her face, it’s unclear which of several blond characters she represents. Additionally, the abduction of a teen girl some months prior is still a lingering plot point.

The large church within our town is an entity unto itself, featuring Katie Lowes from Shondaland delivering a powerful yet domineering portrayal as Jill, the wife of a preacher and friend to Margo who’s scheming to capitalize on her husband’s power. Her teenage son Brad (George Ferrier) is equally manipulative, if not quite as cunning, trying to coerce his religious girlfriend Abby (Madison Wolfe) for another prom-night encounter while pursuing other relationships. The church’s youth minister, Pastor Pete (played by the late Paul Teal), perceives tension within their relationship but has personal motives at heart. Abby’s mother Starr, played by Chrissy Metz from ‘This Is Us’, is an underprivileged outcast who lives among the rich trophy wives in their McMansion neighborhood. It’s intriguing that she receives limited screen time during the initial episodes of the show.

Title “The Hunting Wives” is overflowing, delightful yet draining. Executive producer and showrunner Rebecca Cutter might be nearing exhaustion in the later episodes, forget a possible second season. However, its unbridled enthusiasm prevents all the forced mischief from appearing overly self-righteous. (The nagging guilt viewers of certain political leanings may feel while enjoying mildly satirized MAGA nihilism, given its real-life consequences echoing worldwide, is a different matter.) Undeniably, Margo bears a striking resemblance to the Wife of Bath—and I suspect she’d give her approval.

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2025-07-21 17:06

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