Buried under a dog named Sweetie: The Abandons' most twisted cover-up explained

The Abandons begins with a violent act that changes everything for the families at Jasper Hollow. This Netflix western drama presents a dark story where a dog's death becomes the key to hiding a murder. The series stars Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson in a fierce battle over land and power in 1850s Washington Territory.

The plot centers on Willem Van Ness, who attempts to assault Dahlia Teller after a drunken night in town. Dahlia stabs him with a pitchfork in self-defense, and her adoptive mother, Fiona, completes the act to protect her daughter from further harm.

This leaves the families with a body to dispose of and a difficult decision ahead. The situation becomes even more complicated when Constance Van Ness sends her men to kill Walter Paxton's beloved dog, Sweetie. This cruel act serves as punishment for Walter's refusal to cooperate with the Van Ness family's aggressive land acquisition plans.

Walter discovers Sweetie's lifeless body and immediately understands Constance's involvement in the murder. He carries his dead companion to Fiona's house, where he encounters the group discussing Willem's body. The timing proves crucial for the families deciding whether to report Willem's death to authorities. Walter's arrival with Sweetie changes everything for the group.

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The democratic vote and Sweetie's final purpose in The Abandons

The families hold a vote using sticks and stones to decide their fate. Each household gets two votes to determine the course of action. Fiona's family chooses silence to protect Dahlia. The other families split their votes between going to the law and staying quiet. The vote reaches a tense stalemate.

Walter walks in carrying Sweetie at this critical moment. His grief and anger toward Constance make his choice clear. He votes for silence, breaking the tie in favor of keeping the secret. This decision leads to a clever plan in which Willem would be buried deep underground, with Sweetie placed above him as cover.

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A grave within a grave in The Abandons

The Abandons shows how the families use Sweetie's burial as a cover for their crime. They dig a deep grave by the river. Willem's body goes into the bottom layer. Sweetie's body is placed on top of it. This creates a protective barrier. If anyone digs up the grave, they will find the dog and assume nothing lies beneath. This burial represents death protecting death in the harsh Old West.

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Walter's connection to Sweetie in The Abandons

Walter Paxton lives as a broken man in The Abandons. He had lost his wife and children to illness. He buried them under his house to stay close to their memory.

Sweetie becomes Walter's only companion after his family's death. The dog follows him everywhere and provides love that he cannot share with people. This bond makes Constance's decision to kill Sweetie cruel. The murder serves as a warning to other families.

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The unraveling of the secret in The Abandons

The Abandons builds tension around how long the secret stays buried. The grave remains undisturbed for months while Constance searches for her son. She suspects Fiona's family but lacks proof of involvement.

The truth surfaces when Samara Alderton betrays the group. She tells Garret Van Ness about Willem's burial location. Garret's men find Willem's body where indicated. Walter faces another loss when he must dig up his family's bodies. The last grave is Sweetie's, still containing Willem beneath.

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The moral complexity of the cover-up

The Abandons explores difficult ethical questions through this storyline. The families protect Dahlia after she defends herself from assault. Their decision reflects the limited options available to women seeking justice in 1850s frontier life.

Constance's killing of Sweetie highlights the power imbalance between the wealthy Van Ness family and struggling landowners. The dog's death highlights how powerful individuals can inflict pain without consequence. Neither family operates from purely righteous motives.

The Abandons uses Sweetie's death to examine loyalty, justice, and survival in the Old West.