With substance abuse, sex, and murder at the core of Netflix’s new seriesThe Hunting Wives, anotherRebecca Cutter-led series newly minted on the platform will give you déjà vu. The 2020 Starz dramaHightownoffers similar themes compared to theMalin ÅkermanandBrittany Snow-led show. Though there are numerous similarities, the two series do offer different perspectives. Honing in on raunchy storylines and character arcs,The Hunting Wivesdelivers a caricature of a drama series. Meanwhile,Hightownboasts a more realistic and dark thematic viewpoint, a stark difference compared to its campier successor. Yetboth shows prove that the creator and executive producer has found her niche.
‘The Hunting Wives’ Shares Similarities To Rebecca Cutter’s Previous Series ‘Hightown’
The Hunting Wives,based on the novel of the same name byMay Cobb, takes place in small-town Texas where everyone seems to be connected one way or another within a wealthy community. Åkerman’s character, Margo Banks, is the wife of wealthy politician and oil kingpin, Jed (Dermot Mulroney).She’s also best friends (and friends with benefits) with Callie (Jaime Ray Newman), who just so happens to be the sheriff’s wife. Alongside Jill (Katie Lowes), the reverend’s wife, and several others, this group of seemingly untouchable women make up the titular Hunting Wives.
At the start of the series, viewers are introduced to everyone important at an extravagant National Rifle Association of America gathering (this is Texas after all). This includes Snow’s character, Sophie O’Neil, who has recently moved from Massachusetts and is met with extreme culture shock. However, the more we learn about Margo’s inner circle and those within their orbit, the more questions that arise. With pieces of Sophie’s veiled past sprinkled throughout the series,the drama series offers intrigue from the start. Tangled in a mess of indulgence and promiscuity, everything comes to a headwhen a local teenage girlis found dead.
With melodramatic twists and turns and an A-list cast, it’s no surprise the soapy series has found success. The thriller has cemented itself consistently on Netflix’sWeekly Top 10 English-language series listsince debuting on the platform on July 21. YetThe Hunting Wiveswas originally supposed to call Starz home; however,as part of a separation agreement with Lionsgate, the powers that be at Netflix scooped the series up instead. Comparing bothThe Hunting WivesandHightownat face value is fairly simple, especially knowing they were both meant for Starz’s audience. They both offerthought-provoking plots, character-driven arcs, and thrilling pursuits of the truth. However, each show establishes a personalized style through its narratives.
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‘Pitch Perfect’s Brittany Snow stars in the new series.
‘Hightown’ Has Found Renewed Traction on Netflix Thanks to ‘The Hunting Wives’ Success
The other Rebecca Cutter series that has beenfreshly added to Netflix as of July 23is theMonica Raymund-ledHightown. In contrast toThe Hunting Wives, it cultivates a more realistic approach to its story, steering clear of glamorizing the lives of its central characters by leaning into a realistic portrayal of drug abuse and the consequences that come with it. Raymund’s character, Jackie Quiñones, dives into the dark side of Cape Cod as a National Marine Fisheries Service Agent. After she discovers the body of a woman, events intensify and spiral. This leads the already vulnerable Quiñones down a perilous course of substance abuse that follows her throughout the series. Similarly toThe Hunting Wives,both shows’ leads are struggling addicts who are navigating a mysterious criminal investigation.
Despite the overall similarities, each show offers different perspectives on how a drama can unfold.The Hunting Wivesoften comes across like a prime-time soap opera. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it makes for an entertaining series to binge-watch. In contrast,Hightownfeels more like a realistic, gritty drama.Similar in essence, but different in execution, the most crucial link is their shared creator.
Hightownended with its third season on Starz,but has since gained renewed traction on Netflix. It has also marked its place on the streamer’s Top 10 list at the number 9 spot during its debut week. Season 1, in particular, found its place among the sea of dramas on the streaming platform, earning a80% critics' scoreon Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile,The Hunting Wives' renewal is still a toss-up. However, with the proven popularity of the series, it should be an easy fight for a Season 2. This is especially the caseafter the compelling season wrapped up on a pretty intense cliffhanger. With many unanswered questions thrown into the mix, another season would be welcomed. In true Netflix fashion, designed to be an escape from reality, the show does the trick.
