Picture: Lionsgate Television
Smouldering and alluring, The Hunting Wives is undeniably Netflix’s sexiest show of the year. The provocative show explores loyalty, secrets, manipulative friendships, and murder. Here’s our spoiler-free review!
Based on the best-selling novel by May Cobb, The Hunting Wives makes for a darkly addictive, hugely provocative series, packed with mystery and intrigue. This stylish, twist-filled drama is perfect for fans of Netflix series like Dead to Me, Behind Her Eyes, and What/If.
This series has found a home at Netflix following the separation of Lionsgate and Starz. It is one of a number of Lionsgate Television projects that Netflix has licensed in the United States. Other such shows include Hightown and Son of a Critch
The Hunting Wives is adapted for television by Rebecca Cutter, best known for working on series like Hightown, Gotham, and The Mentalist. It follows Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow), who moves from Cambridge, Massachusetts to Maple Brooks, Texas, with her family — comprised of husband Graham (Evan Jonigkeit) and their son. At their new home, they aim for a fresh start to their lives; leaving Sophie’s mysterious, traumatic past behind.
However, when the family arrives in deep red Texas, it’s the ultimate culture shock, especially for shy mother Sophie, who meets Margo (Malin Akerman) — a charming, hedonistic and outgoing socialite — who gradually makes Sophie come out of her shell. She becomes intertwined with the reckless world of the Hunting Wives; a group of wealthy, privileged, gun-toting women. As Sophie mixes with the Hunting Wives, she succumbs to the irresistible charm and seductive nature of Margo and her clique. Before long, her former vices resurface… and things, slowly but surely, get deadly.
This series thrives in the dynamics it creates, with the central relationship being the unlikely duo of outgoing socialite Margo and shy mother Sophie. Sophie first bumps into Margo at a party. Margo has an almost bewitching, spellbinding allure to her, which hooks Sophie in immediately. As the two meet more often, Margo slowly, methodically begins to loosen Sophie’s vices. After being involved in a mysterious car accident, Sophie’s husband Graham had made her give up drinking and driving. But Margo, being immensely manipulative, hooks Sophie onto her side, reawakening her long-buried desires.
Ackerman breaks out as the star of the series. Wild and carefree, there’s an unpredictability to her actions. She’s completely alluring; you can’t take your eyes off her. Whether it’s days out hunting and shooting, or staying in playing games like spin-the-bottle — she always finds a way to bring the spice.
The unlikely duo of Margo and Sophie remains the standout element of the series, delivering addictive and endlessly entertaining moments. When the focus shifts away from them, however, we follow a secondary storyline of teen love between Abby (Madison Wolfe) and Brad (George Ferrier). This subplot leans heavily into teen drama and feels haplessly predictable, lacking the spark and intrigue of the main narrative.
From the get-go, though, this series is a fascinating deep dive into culture differences, marriage, social dynamics, and even politics. Each character is inherently flawed, but you root for so many of them, particularly Sophie, who she gets drawn into a manipulative crowd, but her heart remains in the right place. Sophie has a traumatic and mysterious past of her own, but the show keeps its secrets close, gradually dropping hints as it progresses. In that respect, you could call the overarching plot a relatively slow-burn.
Verdict
The Hunting Wives deserves a lot of praise for being so utterly uncompromising in its goal. It sets out to be a raunchy, juicy, and binge-worthy drama, and it achieves this with ease. There’s no holding back. It can be funny (you’ll mostly chuckle at its uncompromising outrageousness), while it deals with topics such as alcoholism, manipulation, and self-discovery. It strikes a fine balance between drama, mystery, and comedy — but everything is all wrapped up in its overriding blanket of seductiveness, which is admittedly more than a little gratuitous at times.
In addition, there’s a couple of characters, most of all Margo, who feel a little more like tropes than actual grounded, human characters. Despite my criticisms, some of which may be a little harsh, there’s still a lot to like about this series. The story is gripping and the myriad plot twists are guaranteed to have you coming back for more!
Watch The Hunting Wives if you love:
- What/If
- Behind Her Eyes
- Sirens
- Dead to Me
The Hunting Wives is now streaming on Netflix in the U.S. You can also check out our interview with stars Brittany Snow and Malin Ackerman here.
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