'Sucked in from the Very 1st Episode': Why Is 'The Hunting Wives' So Popular?
Since its July 21 release, the television series, based on the novel by May Cobb, has evolved into a cultural moment, racking up over 11 million views on Netflix, per Deadline.
On TikTok, thousands of viewers are sharing their thoughts on show's roller coaster of twists and soap-level drama.
Where did all this buzz come from? Here's what to know about the show's appeal and the phenomenon it sparked.
What is 'The Hunting Wives' about?
Originally created for Starz, the erotic thriller was acquired by Netflix.
"The Hunting Wives" follows PR exec Sophie O'Neil (Brittany Snow) as she moves from Boston to East Texas with her architect husband Graham (Evan Jonigkeit). She immediately finds herself out of place in an inner circle of wealthy Southern housewives who call themselves the "Hunting Wives."
These women seemingly couldn't be more different from Sophie: Not only does the elite clique embrace gun culture, but also they also adopt an unabashed stay-at-home lifestyle that is foreign to her. When Sophie asks her new friends what they do for work, they emphasize that their job is to 'wife.'
Along with culture shock, Sophie grapples with her looming dark past through frequent flashbacks.
Sophie eventually becomes enthralled by the group's queen bee, Margo Banks (Malin Åkerman), the wife of Graham's boss, Jed (Dermot Mulroney), an oil tycoon running for the governor of Texas. Margo takes Sophie under her wing, and their friendship quickly escalates into a steamy affair.
A throughline of the show is its twisty murder plot. After local teenager Abby (Madison Wolfe) is found dead, Sophie finds herself inconveniently tangled in the mystery. As the town searches for the culprit, its residents cultivate messy love triangles and secret relationships on the side.
Why has 'The Hunting Wives' become such a phenomenon?
Part of the appeal of the 'The Hunting Wives' is that it goes there — all manner of daring places.
Each character is shamelessly committed to making jaw-dropping decisions. Take, for example, Margo's affair with an 18-year-old high school student who also happens to be Abby's boyfriend. Or Sophie's decision to rashly secure a firearm, a choice that backfires after she blacks out on the night of Abby's death ... and her gun turns out to be the murder weapon.
Then, of course, there are the show's multiple murders and frequent extramarital escapades.
'The Hunting Wives' consistently prioritizes steamy scenes over sensible plotting or nuanced characters, juicy twists over deep emotions or big ideas. It might all be incredibly frustrating, if it were not also so wildly entertaining,' The Hollywood Reporter writes of the show.
The show's hype is not necessarily due to its quality: Some fans on Reddit point out, Margo's wig looks (perhaps purposefully) unrealistic, and there may be more than a few plot holes.
Instead, the series' shock factor is what makes it bingeable.
'Look, it isn't Emmy award winning TV. The acting only ranges slightly fair. The characters are terrible people,' one Reddit user writes. 'But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sucked in from the very first episode.'
'Everything has been said regarding it being the perfect summer sleazy schlockfest we all love,' another adds.
In addition to its wild plot twists, the show's depiction of Margo and Sophie's queer relationship has led to chatter.
Them, an LGBTQ+ publication, writes that 'The Hunting Wives' might be 'the gayest show of the year." Many fans have posted their reactions to Margo and Sophie's relationship, crediting the show's suggestive scenes for their sexual awakenings or awkward watch moments with family members.
'With all of the attention the show is receiving, viewer reactions have proved feverish, with fans across party lines gamely questioning their sexuality after witnessing Margo's effects on Sophie,' NBC Out writes of this phenomenon.
Watchers also have also found themselves enthralled by the series' political message.
'When you first start watching the show, it's just a very fun, campy romp… It really feels like they are glamorizing this certain type of lifestyle. But, in actuality, it is such a scathing review of the hypocrisy of the nuclear family (and) God fearing Republicans,' one reviewer theorizes on TikTok.
'Perhaps the show's most intriguing wrinkle involves incorporating just enough political references to feel like a satire of Southern-fried hypocrisy,' Slate writes.
This layer adds, for some, enough to turn the show from a beach read on screen to something a little deeper.
However, not everyone is a fan — some criticize the show for being too vulgar or underdeveloped.
But the show's blend of lustful romance, a messy murder plot and perhaps a bit of political humor is what has many fans knocking on Netflix's door for another salacious installment.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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