American Primeval

I watched this over the course of a snow bound day and was glad to see a western story that was very different from the "popular" western series of the past years. Netflix released this as a complete limited series, which is such a relief after suffering through a bunch of series done in the old Big 3 network style of an episode a week.

We all know the network that released those recent series, and I do wish they would wake up to the fact that streaming did away with most of the viewers willing to put up with that game. Also, the recent western series are all done by the same guy using the same set of supporting actors, for the most part. That guy's work has worn out its welcome for me.

Anyway, this fine western has no episode filler, no interminable intro, and not too much anachronistic wokeness in the story line. The anachronisms in the weaponry and costumes isn't too much to bear and doesn't become a deal-breaker.

This story breaks the mold of western series, in several ways. It's storytelling that gets right to the point without all the padding that an ongoing TV series always has. We know right away when a character is a villain, without a multi-episode side story.

Western fans could well end up making this a very widely watched miniseries. I doubt that its success would convince the current makers of the old pattern of dragged out series, but that old model is dying off anyway.

I do hope that Netflix updates the IMDB pages for this show to give cast credits to some good actors who aren't listed, such as Irene Bedard and Jeremiah Bitsui. The cast is excellent, IMO.

Similar vibe to The English (2022). Very well made. Great to have a quality production that's a Netflix original series amongst the mass of mediocre content they pour out so generously. It's violent but that period would have been I imagine, therefore, there's rape, hangings, children killed etc so if that bothers you, then I'd avoid. The tone is immediately bleak as is the prospect of any character being killed at any second. Judging by the lengths people go to with such effort just to stay alive another day, it's a wonder whether they'll have enough cast to fill the six episodes. Needless to say, I like it. 4.5 stars.

To be honest, I don't expect much from original Netflix shows anymore. Netflix was never of HBO or Hulu level for that matter and even Prime is slowly gaining ground on the quality of its' shows. American Primeval comes at a time when Netflix really needs a proper show.

15 years ago, 22-episode seasons were the norm, when we had to wait for a whole calendar year or more to see what happens next. Then, Netflix dropped all episodes at once, which is fine for binge watching but you end quite quickly with nothing to watch, plus it's tiring to watch many many episodes in a few sittings.

And then the limited series trend is back, where we practically talk about an extend film. And this is what American Primeval is. An extended film, which has the perfect pace to develop the characters enough for the spectator to care while not dragging the plot.

With me not being a US citizen, it was a great opportunity to read into this part of American History, about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a story which I handnt come across in other featured films or TV shows. It also gave me the incentive to look into the Mormon religion as I was only aware of its existence. While this series is not entirely historical accurate concerning the flow of events, it seems that it does depict the general frame of the events that unfolded and the basic parties involved.

It is as violent as it should be to bring the audience the actual conditions and battles people of these times had to face.

Acting by most if not all actors is top notch but I have to say I found Betty Gilpins' character (Sara Rowell) a bit exaggerated. Taylor Kitch delivers but Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger and Kim Coates as Brigham Young are extraordinary.

Principal photography is beautiful, all scenes and direction by Peter Berg is outstanding.

If you want an interesting Limited Series to binge watch over a weekend (or a... Day!) and don't mind the brutal depiction of the Old American West, this is a perfect choice!

Captivating show although the story line is not too deep, but yet riveting and explanatory enough as clues are revealed throughout the mini-series. Bloody, action packed, beautiful terrain, and reminiscent of "the revenant" and "hostiles".

Great cast overall with Taylor Kistch who is perfect for his character, not too much time is spent diving into his backstory, but he is made for the mysterious and dangerous vibe.

The gloomy environment is in line with the times, 1800s wasn't exactly the "happiest" of times in America. It is interesting how it paints a different perspective of some of the sacrifices folks from different cultures and views had to make in order to coexist.

I loved American Primeval even more than I thought I would. It's a brutal and gritty take on how the American West was started. First of all I love this genre, second I love Peter Berg (Lone Survivor, Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, Patriots Day, Hancock, etc) and lastly it has an amazing cast starring Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Jai Courtney, Dane DeHaan, Shea Whigham, etc. On top of all that it was also beautifully shot, the cinematography was amazing. This is a hard watch but a great one. My brother and I binged all 6 episodes in one day, that's how good this show was. If you're a fan of Westerns (and even if you're not) the give this series a chance...you won't be disappointed.