Rebecca Cutter, creator of Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, defends the show against criticism over its depiction of problematic behaviors and unconventional relationships. Based on the 2021 novel of the same name, the steamy murder mystery stars Brittany Snow as Sophie, a woman who relocates to Texas alongside her husband and becomes entangled with a local group of wealthy, secretive women, known as the Hunting Wives.
From forbidden relationships to target practices, the series delves into the themes of sex, murder, and secrets that have divided viewers. While many enjoyed the series’ over-the-top nature, some find the plot implausible and the depiction of inappropriate relationships, excessive drug use, and dangerous behaviors problematic.
In an interview with New York Post, Cutter responded to the audience calling the show «insane.» The showrunner explained that The Hunting Wives is a show about everyone «behaving so badly,» and it’s as «fun and juicy and sexy» as she intended. Check out her comment below:
It’s so fun, and juicy and sexy. Everyone is behaving so badly. I wanted to do an exploration of women behaving badly, unapologetic sexual conquest running rampant, and just something fun.
What This Means For The Hunting Wives
Margot Is An Anti-Hero In The Hunting Wives
Despite the criticism, The Hunting Wives received generally positive reviews. The series has an 82% critical approval rate and a 72% audience approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes. In the same interview, Cutter shed some light on what made her want to create a show about morally dark women, sharing that the series is essentially about the «fantasy of freedom or power» that many «middle-aged women» feel is missing from their lives.
She also shared that with Margot, who did a nice thing pulling Sophie into her social circle, «falls into» the category of anti-heroes, and with that category primarily occupied by men, she wanted to create more «female anti-heroes» on-screen.
In the Netflix show, the Hunting Wives are as wild and misbehaving as they can be, but they are also based on what happened in the novel. From affairs with both men and women to relationships with men half their age, driving irresponsibly, and murder, the steamy mystery simply doesn’t hold back from including the juicy details depicted in the books.
Our Take On The Criticism The Hunting Wives Faces
The Hunting Wives Doesn't Shy Away From The Worst Behaviors
The Hunting Wives depicts some of the worst things a woman could do, and, understandably, it may have caused discomfort among viewers, but just like what Cutter explained, relationships between older women and younger men do exist in the real world, and so do other morally dark behaviors.
The only thing that’s different is that The Hunting Wives is being honest about it on screen. The hit Netflix series is wild, twisted, and sexy. At the same time, it’s bold and unapologetically explicit, and it’s certainly not the first piece of media to feature anti-hero female leads
Source: New York Post
The Hunting Wives: Sophie relocates from the city to East Texas, becoming intertwined with a group of affluent socialites led by an enigmatic figure. As she delves deeper into their glamorous yet concealed world, she uncovers the housewives' hidden and lethal secrets. Released in 2025, this series explores intrigue and deception.
