2 New Crime Dramas To Follow Netflix's Failed Western

Netflix’s failed Western, The Abandons, could have been a secret Sons of Anarchy prequel, but now the acclaimed action drama show is getting two worthy follow-ups. The 2000s and early 2010s saw some of the best TV shows of all time, and among them is Kurt Sutter’s action crime drama Sons of Anarchy.

Set in the fictional town of Charming, California, Sons of Anarchy introduces the audience to the title motorcycle club, led by President Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) and VP Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam). Throughout seven seasons, Sons of Anarchy follows Jax through many ups and downs in his personal life and with the club, as they face different threats and enemies.

Sons of Anarchy got a spinoff series in 2018 titled Mayans M.C., and though it was teased many times, it never got a prequel. Sutter’s Western show over at Netflix failed to be a prequel to Sons of Anarchy, but there’s now renewed hope as two upcoming shows could be worthy follow-ups to Jax’s show.

Sons of Anarchy’s Creator Is Working On 2 New Crime Dramas

After Sons of Anarchy, and aside from Mayans M.C., Kurt Sutter went on to create the historical fiction drama series The Bastard Executioner. Sutter has also worked on other projects, but he has left the Sons of Anarchy universe aside – however, two of his upcoming shows could be fitting follow-ups.

First is Nomad, a drama series for Apple TV that Sutter has co-created with Chris Collins. What’s known about Nomad so far is that it will take the audience into the violent underworld of New Zealand’s outlaw bikers. Nomad will follow a warrior played by Jason Momoa who is torn between two lives and must decide which path is his true destiny.

Although it’s not confirmed to be set in the same universe as Sons of Anarchy, Nomad has the elements to be the perfect follow-up: outlaw bikers, a lead character trying to find his place in the world, and an exploration of the biker underworld, though now in New Zealand.

In addition to Nomad, Sutter is now working on a noir series for MGM+. The project, which doesn’t have an official title yet, will be set in 1950s Los Angeles and follow a private investigator dealing with crime and corruption on the dark side of glamorous Hollywood. Although not about bikers, this new show follows the same concept of crime in the city as Sons of Anarchy.

Netflix’s The Abandons Could Have Been The Sons of Anarchy Prequel We Never Had

Lena Headey sits astride a horse on a Western street in a scene from The Abandons — Lena Headey in The Abandons

Another creation of Kurt Sutter is The Abandons, an action drama show released on Netflix. The Abandons takes viewers to the 1850s to meet Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey), a devout Irish woman who, unable to have children of her own, adopts four orphans from different backgrounds, believing in the higher purpose of her acts.

Fiona and her kids find themselves defending her home against European aristocrats, particularly Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson) and her family. What led to the belief that The Abandons could be a secret Sons of Anarchy prequel or, at least, have some connection to it is that it has two characters with the last name “Teller”: Elias (Nick Robinson) and Dahlia (Diana Silvers), two of Fiona’s adopted children.

Unfortunately, The Abandons didn’t live up to its potential, and despite its solid cast, it turned out to be a weak show. The Abandons will most likely become a forgettable show (and, at the time of writing, it’s unknown if it could get a second season), but Nomad and Sutter’s noir series can make up for its mistakes and be a proper follow-up to Sons of Anarchy.

Why The Abandons Failed (& How The New Shows Can Succeed)

Michael Greyeyes, Gillian Anderson and Michiel Huisman on horseback in The Abandons

Unfortunately, The Abandons didn’t seize its potential, and, instead, delivered an unoriginal story, with characters that don’t do much for the audience to care for them, and some viewers even found it to be too soap-opera-like. Not even a cast that includes names like Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson could save The Abandons, especially if it had an uneven tone and an uninteresting story.

Nomad and Sutter’s noir series must learn from The Abandons’ mistakes and have their tone very clear, a well-written story with well-developed characters, and different layers to allow the audience to make their own decisions about the characters. These were some of the strengths of Sons of Anarchy, and if the new shows succeed at them, they will be the follow-ups to Jax’s story we have been waiting for.

Release Date: 2008 – 2014
Showrunner: Kurt Sutter
Directors: Paris Barclay, Guy Ferland, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Peter Weller, Billy Gierhart, Kurt Sutter, Stephen Kay, Adam Arkin, Paul Maibaum, Phil Abraham, Terrence O’Hara, Allen Coulter, Charles Haid, Charles Murray, Karen Gaviola, Mario Van Peebles, Michael Dinner, Seith Mann, Tim Hunter
Writers: Dave Erickson, Misha Green, Liz Sagal, Regina Corrado, Mike Daniels, Kem Nunn, Roberto Patino, Gladys Rodríguez, Peter Elkoff, Marco Ramirez, James D. Parriott, Julie Busher, Pat Charles, Stevie Long, David Labrava, Vaun Wilmott