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The year is 1857. A woman is sitting in a meadow in southern Utah Territory, casually explaining her plans to settle in the Salt Lake Valley, when she’s cut off mid-sentence by a pointed object that bursts from her forehead with a bone-cracking crunch. She remains upright for a moment — silent, eyes open and blood oozing from her wound — then falls over dead, revealing the long shaft of an arrow lodged in the back of her skull.

The next two-plus-minutes of Netflix’s “American Primeval” are a dizzying display of nonstop mayhem. The sky is instantly filled with flying arrows, falling victims right and left, as attackers on horseback and on foot zoom in and out frame, shooting, stabbing, scalping and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The camera snakes through the action, capturing a succession of brutal deaths (including the shooting of a minor character played by director Peter Berg), always...

Westerns require a certain snap, crackle and pop: the sound of a boot dragging on gravel, the jolt of a shotgun blast, the clip-clop of horse hooves. To make those noises and more for Netflix’s brutal miniseries “American Primeval,” nine-time Oscar-nominated sound designer Wylie Stateman and Emmy-nominated co-supervising sound editor Anne Jimkes-Root took their cues from director and

exec producer Peter Berg, whom they’ve worked with on previous projects including “Friday Night Lights,” “Lone Survivor” and “Painkiller.”

“Pete said, ‘I need this to feel raw; I need the [characters’] decisions to be immediate and in the moment,’” Stateman said. That sense of the visceral is of a piece with the unrelenting tone of “Primeval,” which tells the story of an East Coast mother, Sara (Betty Gilpin), and son, Devin (Preston Mota), who head west with taciturn mountain man Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) as their guide. They traverse hazardous terrain on...

Peter Berg's latest project is Netflix's American Primeval, a harrowing tale centered around the Utah War of 1857. "I knew that part of America, southern Wyoming and Utah, was very untamed and wild in the 1800s, and I knew that Brigham Young was in Salt Lake City. I knew there was some tension, and I thought that would be an interesting spot to drop an adventure story," the producer and director tells Gold Derby.

Creator-writer-producer Mark L. Smith and Berg "started doing a lot of research on that part of the country at that time, and learned about the Mormon Church in the 1850s, the Native American tribes that were being decimated, and what the U.S. Army was doing out there to try and keep everybody from killing each other." They later delved into the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and decided to "stage [their] tale" around that specific environment.

"Everything" was...

American Primeval, Netflix’s ultra-violent answer to Yellowstone, was released earlier this year as a six-episode limited series. For those who watched it, it appeared that the definitive nature of the bleak ending had sealed the show’s fate. However, according to series director Peter Berg, Netflix is considering bringing back the Western drama for Season 2. Spoilers ahead for the American Primeval finale.

During an interview with Esquire, Peter Berg (Deepwater Horizon) revealed that the filmmaker and the rest of the American Primeval crew are currently trying to figure out how to make Season 2. The series, which is set in 1857 in the Utah Territory, saw most of its main characters perish by the end of the six-episode season. However, as Berg notes, they are still interested in telling another story about the children that survived the cruelty of the wild west. This means that the show's creators have to lock...

Take a look at the ‘Old West’, live-action episodic TV miniseries, “American Primeval”, directed by Pete Berg, starring Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier and Shea Whigham, now streaming on Netflix:

“…in 1857 America, up is down and pain is everywhere, as innocence and tranquility are losing the battle to hatred and fear.

“Peace is the shrinking minority, and very few possess grace.

“Even fewer know compassion.

“There is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Quick LinksWho Was American Primeval's Jacob Pratt?What Happened to Jacob and Abish?

The following contains spoilers for American Primeval, now streaming on Netlflix. It also contains a mention of suicide.

With Westerns like Yellowstone reigniting the genre for TV, Netflix decided to take things in a raw and unadulterated direction. The streamer achieves this with the shockingly gory American Primeval, which focuses on the 1850s and the Utah War.

The series depicts American soldiers, the Mormons and Natives battling for territory. Along the way, the show maps out one of the most tragic love stories of its genre. But it's not the one fans think is on top of the list. It's a darker story, focusing on Dane DeHaan's Jacob Pratt and his wife, Abish.

Who Was American Primeval's Jacob Pratt? Jacob Was an Injured Mormon Trying to Find His Wife Image via Netflix

While DeHaan is...

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers for American Primeval ahead!

Netflix took a bold decision with American Primeval, a Western high-stakes drama miniseries. It’s set in the Utah Territory of the 1857 era and tries to paint a picture of people’s lives during the expansion of the American West.

A still from American Primeval | Netflix

The story follows Sarah Holloway, who ventures on a journey and meets Isaac Reed across the way. It begins as an engaging survival story but soon goes into a downward spiral, leaving everyone utterly confused and disappointed.

American Primeval’s poorly executed plot twist Betty Gilpin as Sarah Rowell in American Primeval | Netflix

Netflix’s American Primeval should be credited for initially drawing viewers into its unforgiving and grim world. The tension reaches its peak when enemies begin to relentlessly pursue Sara and Isaac across the frontier. But a significant twist in the final episode left a bitter taste in viewers’ mouths.

American Primeval is one of the most popular Netflix shows of 2025 so far! After fans tuned in for the first season of the series, everyone is looking for another Western series to watch. If that describes you and your search, we have you covered!

The new series from writer Mark L. Smith and director Peter Berg follows a mother and her son, Sara and Devin, played by Betty Gilpin and Preston Mota, on a journey West in 1857. After getting caught up in an attack, Sara and Devin find themselves in the middle of a conflict between the US Army, Brigham Young and the Mormon people, and the Indigenous people. With the help of Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch), Sara tries to stay a step ahead of those who wish her harm.

There's already some chatter about a possible prequel series, so while we wait for more information, you should check out...

American Primeval recently premiered on Netflix, and since then, it’s managed to garner quite a fanbase. Set in 1857, the series chronicles a number of stories that all converge in America’s Utah territory during the turbulent time of westward expansion. A dark western thriller, the series showcases ongoing clashes between the U.S. Army, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Lds), and multiple indigenous tribes. The catalyst of the series begins with the Mormon-sanctioned Mountain Meadows Massacre and then continues to display Brigham Young’s (Kim Coates) efforts to control Utah outside the confines of the United States, no matter the cost.

While the series also tells the story of Sara (Betty Gilpin), her young son Devin (Preston Mota), and their reluctant guide Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), who is helping them in their efforts to travel west, American Primeval's overarching narrative focuses on the bloody and...

American Primeval is the most popular Netflix show of 2025 so far! It's still early, but fans want to know if American Primeval season 2 is happening and what's next for the series from writer Mark L. Smith and director Peter Berg.

American Primeval starring Betty Gilpin and Taylor Kitsch premiered on Netflix on Jan. 9 and has been a huge hit for Netflix since then. The series follows Sara (Gilpin) on her journey West in 1857 with her young son, Devin (Preston Mota). After Sara and Devin are caught up in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Isaac Reed (Kitsch) tries to lead them to safety, but dangers lurk in these lands. The series was inspired by real events.

While the American Primeval ending doesn't necessarily set up a clear second season, there's definitely some story left to be explored in American Primeval season 2. It doesn't sound like Berg and Smith are interested in taking the story in that direction.

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the ending of American Primeval.Kicking off 2025, Netflix recently dropped the Western miniseries American Primeval, an incredibly brutal horse opera that blends real-life history with a fictional narrative. The series stars Taylor Kitsch as Isaac Reed and Betty Gilpin as Sara Holloway, who find themselves paired together after the latter is set on reuniting her son, Devin (Preston Mota), with his estranged father in Crooks Springs. However, things don't quite go as planned, and in this six-episode miniseries, the trio — joined also by the silent runaway Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier) — venture across the bloody frontier, pursued by Mormons, Indians, bounty hunters, and more. But how did the story end? Well, it ventures a little bit off the historical trail to deliver a powerful ending viewers won't easily forget.

Since its Netflix debut on January 9, American Primeval has been making headlines as one of the most brutal, gritty must-watch Western sagas ever to grace our television screens.

Taking place in 1857 Utah, the series follows fugitive mother Sara Roswell (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota) as they navigate the lawless terrain with their guide, Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch). It depicts the bloody, violent collision of early American settlers with indigenous tribes, cultists, religion, bounty hunters, the U.S. government, and ruthless ole Mother Nature herself.

In the wake of its success, questions abound as to whether the story is based on actual events. The answer, my dear friends, is yes, American Primeval is based on the true and deadly story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. It also portrays real-life people. Director Peter Berg said he found inspiration for American Primeval in 2020 after reading a story about the Utah War.

Brutally violent and bloody, American Primeval recently arrived on Netflix and has remained on the platform’s Top 10 list since then. The show tells the story of various groups all fighting for survival and control in 1857 during the tumultuous time of the Wild West, particularly in the territory of Utah. During a time when Brigham Young and his forces, the American government, and numerous Native tribes were all at odds about what belonged to whom, those brave enough to venture West were often caught in the crossfire.

The catalyst for the show’s narrative begins with the Mormon-sanctioned Mountain Meadows Massacre, where Young’s militia was responsible for the murder of over 120 people who were part of a wagon train traveling west. Narrowly surviving the massacre, Sara (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota) remain adamant about continuing their journey. As a result, a local outdoorsman, Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), reluctantly agrees to guide them.

American Primeval is Netflix's response to the latest rise in Western projects in Hollywood, and while it's a hit among audiences, the critics are a little bit more hesitant to buy into its story. The TV miniseries, created and written by Mark L. Smith, is partially inspired by a true story. American Primeval primarily revolves around the Mountain Meadows Massacre during the Utah War in 1857. It focuses on the fight between Native Americans, settlers, and Mormons over the Utah Territory and how all the groups turned to violence to gain control of the land in the Old West.

Given American Primeval's story, the Western genre's comeback, and the show's stellar cast (which includes Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin), it's not surprising it has been sitting at the top of Netflix's charts. The miniseries has experienced massive success since its premiere on January 9, 2025. However, while American Primeval's impressive...

American Primeval creator and director Peter Berg gives a surprising update on the chances of a spinoff. American Primeval has quickly established itself as a hit since it premiered in early January. The ultra-violent Western consists of six episodes, with The Revenant's Mark L. Smith writing the script. It takes place in 1857 during the Utah War, focusing on the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Isaac (Friday Night Lights actor Taylor Kitsch) and Sara (Glow's Betty Gilpin) are at the center of the story, as their journeys anchor the surrounding chaos.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Berg responded to the idea that Isaac would be a solid choice as the focus of a prequel. Berg, who is known for directing films such as Patriots Day and Friday Night Lights, reveals that there are talks underway about an American Primeval spinoff and that it would be an approach they would...

[This story contains mild spoilers from Netflix’s American Primeval.]

In a television landscape where Taylor Sheridan has largely cornered the market on stories about western expansion with Yellowstone and its spinoffs 1883 and 1923, American Primeval has stood out for its exploration of the Utah Territory and the role settlers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Lds) played in halting migration to the area. The efforts of which culminated in the gruesome 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre, depicted in the Netflix miniseries, that left some 120 travelers dead.

The six-episode Western drama written and created by Mark L. Smith and directed by Peter Berg, follows the journey of Sara (Betty Gilpin), a woman on the run, who seeks out a guide at Fort Bridger in Wyoming to assist her in transporting her young son Devin (Preston Mota) to his father in Missouri. It’s at the fort founded by Jim Bridger (Shea Whigham) that she encounters Isaac Reed...

American Primeval episode 6, the series finale, begins shortly after the events of episode 5. Virgil (Jai Courtney) and the bounty hunters finally caught up with Sara (Betty Gilpin). Virgil ties her up on a horse and heads for Fort Bridger, trying to put as much distance between themselves and Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) as possible.

Elsewhere, Abish (Saura Lightfoot-Leon) has convinced Red Feather (Derek Hinkey) and the Shoshone that the Mormons led by Wild Bill (Alex Breaux) and James Wolsey (Joe Tippett) will not stop looking for her until she is killed. At this point, she is the only remaining survivor from the attack that they know about. She's the one who could pin the attack on Brigham Young's forces, so they need to eliminate her. After they wiped out the US Army forces, they'll be heading to the Shoshone next.

Isaac rescues Sara and kills Virgil

In the first scene of...

Right at the top of 2025, Taylor Kitsch landed his latest television series hit with the release of American Primeval on Netflix. The series dropped on Jan. 9 and has remained in the daily top 10 most popular ranking since its release. But if you're a fan of the actor, then you know this isn't his first rodeo on the small screen.

In fact, his breakthrough role was in a television series you might have heard of called Friday Night Lights. Ring any bells? Of course it does! He played the troubled bad boy football player Tim Riggins that stole everyone's hearts. But between American Primeval and Friday Night Lights, Kitsch has starred in plenty more shows.

After watching his new hit Netflix limited series, are you looking to add more Taylor Kitsch to your watch list? We're sharing six of the series he has starred in and suggesting whether to watch or skip each title.

American Primeval episode 4 ends with the Mormons learning the US Army is about to attack thanks to a traitor in the US Army's ranks. We know Wild Bill and Brigham Young will not let that happen, and it sets up a major showdown between the Mormons and the US Army in American Primeval episode 5.

In addition, Devin (Preston Mota) just broke his leg after getting it stomped on by a horse. Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), Sara (Betty Gilpin), and Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier) take shelter in a convenient cabin while Devin heals.

Overall, American Primeval episode 5 is the shortest episode of the season. You'll notice this recap is notably shorter, as well, compared to the other American Primeval recaps. While there are some major events, the penultimate episode moves the many pieces around for clashes in the finale.

The Mormons attack Captain Dellinger and the US Army forces

In the first scene of American Primeval,...

Netflix's new Western series has become a global success. Producing original movies and TV shows since the early 2010s, the streaming service's catalog of Western content now offers a diverse range of stories exploring the rugged charm of the American frontier. Longmire was A&e's highest-rated original drama before Netflix picked it up in 2014, starting with season four, and releasing the sixth and final season in 2017. Around that same time, the Western miniseries Godless was also released on Netflix to rave reviews.

The Coen brothers' Western anthology film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, was released on Netflix in 2018, presenting six separate tales that blend humor and tragedy and showcase the unpredictability of frontier life. The Harder They Fall, released on Netflix in 2021, is one of the few Westerns with a predominantly Black cast, showcasing a diverse narrative and fresh perspective within the genre. Now, Netflix's new Western series, which...

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American Primeval is a Western thriller drama series created by Mark L. Smith. The Netflix series is set in 1857 during the Utah War, and it revolves around the violent feuds and schemes to gain control over the American West. American Primeval stars Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier, and Shea Whigham. So, if you loved the gritty Western backdrop, thrilling story, and compelling characters in American Primeval, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Hell on Wheels Credit – AMC

Hell on Wheels is a Western thriller drama series created by Joe and Tony Gayton. The AMC series follows Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier who joins the railroad construction to find the Union soldiers who killed his wife and son during the Civil War.

American Primeval on Netflix is a violent and intense look at the American frontier. Set during the 1850s, American Primeval includes characters in search of safety and prosperity, although their interests clash with dire consequences. Numerous groups and individuals in American Primeval compete for personal, political, and religious freedom. Indigenous Americans, Mormon settlers, and the federal government all have vested interests in Utah Territory. The key characters each shape how the story unfolds and the actors' stellar performances bring the American West's gritty action to life.

Many of the names in American Primeval are from history and several of the faces of the performers are very familiar. Here's a look at the characters and the cast of American Primeval.

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4.5/5 American Primeval DramaHistoryWesternThriller

Release Date January 9, 2025Cast Taylor Kitsch, Jai Courtney, Dane DeHaan, Betty Gilpin, Nick Hargrove, Kyle Bradley Davis,...

American Primeval episode 3 continues the cat-and-mouse game between Sara (Betty Gilpin), Devin (Preston Mota), Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), and Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) and those pursuing them.

The third episode slows the pace down a tad as the different groups move around the region, setting up many battles to come between Brigham Young and the Mormons, Jim Bridger of Fort Bridger, Red Feather and the Shoshone people, Sara and Isaac's group, and Virgil's band of outlaws.

Sara, Devin, and Isaac are caught in a trap American Primeval. Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell in Episode 103 of American Primeval. Cr. Matt Kennedy/Netflix © 2023 | Netfli

After Isaac takes out a camp and steals their horses at the end of episode 2, the party continues their way toward Crooks Springs, but Virgin (Jai Courtney) and his outlaws are close behind.

The group camps along the river, and we learn that Devin's father doesn't know that they are coming.

Netflix is riding into the new year with one of the most brutal depictions of expansion in the American West thanks to a relentlessly intense mini-series called American Primeval. Created and written by Mark L. Smith, with direction by Peter Berg, American Primeval revolves around Sara (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin (Preston Mota) traveling through harsh and unforgiving territory with a survivalist, Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), to escape a grim fate and find a new home. While making the journey, they experience violent collisions with cults, religious zealots, cutthroats, and lawmakers willing to kill to create a new world.

To mark the arrival of American Primeval, we spoke with the show’s director, Peter Berg, the Indigenous Consultant Julie O’Keefe, and lead actors Betty Gilpin (Sara), Taylor Kitsch (Isaac), Dane DeHaan (Jacob Pratt), Kim Coates (Bringham Young), Derek Hinkey (Red Feather), and Saura Lightfoot-Leon (Abish Pratt) about their respective roles,...

If you're one of the millions of people who watched Netflix's newest hit American Primeval over the weekend, then you already know how brutal the series can be at certain points. Should you have yet to see it, just know that it's a show that doesn't flinch when it comes to detailing the fight between religion and culture in the American West, and even goes so far as to show one character being (partially) scalped during the Mountain Meadows Massacre in Episode 1. Now, actor Dane DeHaan reveals what it was like being on the receiving end of a knife during that gut-wrenching sequence.

Speaking with Decider about American Primeval, DeHann – who portrays Jacob Pratt – dished on what it was like filming the scalping, and playing its aftermath. "It's intense to be scalped," he said, adding that the moment was one of his favorites to shoot in the series, if...

Quick Links A Bloody Introduction in 'American Primeval' The Western Genre Is Rarely This Violent The Real-Life Massacre That Inspired the 'American Primeval' Scene

Netflix's American Primeval marks the revival of cutting-edge storytelling in the epic Western genre. The Western series, starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin, kicked off the new year to a bloody, violent start. Written by Mark L. Smith, who also co-wrote the screenplay for The Revenant, the striking television show offers viewers a brutal depiction of what it meant to live during a tumultuous time in history, filled with death and uncertainty. Set in Utah in 1857, the story follows Isaac Reed (Kitsch) as he encounters Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin Rowell (Preston Mota), as they fight for survival living on the frontier while different factions fight for control over Utah and southern Wyoming.

American Primeval doesn't hold anything back, especially the violence.

American Primeval, a six-part miniseries on Netflix, stars Shae Whigham, Taylor Kitsch, Kim Coates, and Betty Gilpin as it explores the gritty and harsh life on the American frontier. The Western is based in part on real events that took place in Utah during the 1850s and incorporates many of the same brutality and fortitude exhibited by the people who lived through them.

The bloodshed in American Primeval may not be a surprise to fans of show creator and writer Mark L. Smith. Smith co-wrote 2015's The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio with director Alejandro G. Inarritu. Like American Primeval, The Revenant was also based on the life of a real frontiersman named Hugh Glass and featured acts of extreme violence, notably the famous bear mauling scene.

Director and executive producer of American Primeval, Peter Berg, and the other makers of the miniseries went to great lengths to ensure a level of authenticity,...

Netflix’s American Primeval ends on a bittersweet note as the fates of Isaac and Sara come full circle in the six-episode series. Directed by Peter Berg and starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin, the Western miniseries takes place in the chaotic and lawless Utah frontier of 1857, depicting a grim and violent struggle for survival as settlers, cultists, and Indigenous Tribes clash in brutal battles for control of newly claimed land. Written and created by Mark L. Smith, American Primeval garnered varied critical reviews, but vastly positive reviews from viewers.

According to Netflix's Tudum, in the finale, Isaac (Kitsch) sacrifices himself to save Sara Rowell (Gilpin). Sara, who began her story by fleeing Philadelphia after a violent confrontation, emerges as a survivor ready to forge a new path in California with her son, Devin Rowell (Preston Mota), and Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a runaway Indigenous girl. Berg and Kitsch revealed...

American Primeval, Netflix's newest limited series that was released earlier this week, has quickly moved up to the top of the charts on the streaming platform. The series is currently at the #1 spot in the top ten TV shows section on the service, with viewers flocking to watch the limited series. The entirety of the 6-episode show is directed and executive produced by Peter Berg and written by Mark L. Smith, giving American Primeval a consistent creative vision throughout. Taking place in 1857 Utah, the miniseries focuses on the violent conflicts between groups of Native Americans, the U.S. Government, and pioneers, undoubtedly making it an enthralling watch for viewers.

The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast, with Taylor Kitsch being one of the standouts in the series as Isaac, a guide who attempts to help Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) on her journey with her son to reunite with her husband.

Netflix has gone to the Old West to land a new hit for the streaming platform. Shortly after the release of the new miniseries American Primeval, the series has already been pulling in some big success on streaming.

Per FlixPatrol, American Primeval is currently ranked at No. 3 globally for the top TV shows on Netflix, behind only Squid Game (which recently returned for its highly anticipated second season) and Missing You. In the United States, along with several other territories, American Primeval is doing even better by holding the No. 1 spot, putting it above the new docuseries Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action as well as Squid Game. The wave of immediate success comes days after American Primeval premiered on Jan. 9.

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From the director of “Friday Night Lights,” “Deepwater Horizon,” and “Patriots Day” and the screenwriter of “The Revenant,” comes a revisionist western miniseries titled “American Primeval” (2025) that seeks to unearth another brutal and bloody annal of the American West. Through a gritty and visceral approach, the film shows brutality with unflinching candor.

American Primeval (2025) Season 1 Episode 1 Recap: Who is Sara Rosell?

Sara Rosell (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota) are the first of the protagonists the viewer is familiarized with as the world of American Primeval comes into focus—1857 when the Utah Territory was caught in a faction war all on its own between Native Americans, the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), the US Government, and the wanderers and settlers of the Wild West. Rosell seems to be one of those characters who had come from Philadelphia and is now ready to set out on a journey...

American Primeval episode 1 ends with a massacre of a group of settlers at the hands of Brigham Young's Mormon legion. It's one of the most violent scenes we'll see this year. Well, in American Primeval episode 2, things get even bloodier and more violent.

Before we jump in, let's revisit what happened in episode 1, shortly. Sara (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin (Preston Mota), are crossing the Utah Territory in 1857 with a group of Mormons and other settlers heading for parts of the American West. Upon crossing, they are attacked by a Mormon legion and some hired Indigenous people. Luckily, Sara and Devin escape the mayhem, but they are pursued by their attackers, as well as Virgil (Jai Courtney) and his band of outlaws who know there's a bounty on Sara's head for murder and robbery back East.

So, that's where things stand heading into episode 2!

Red Feather lets Jacob Pratt Live American Primeval.

New Western series American Primeval is now streaming with all 6 episodes on Netflix. And I can tell you right now that this one is not for the faint of heart. You need to be able to handle violence in this bloody story that sees conflicts between Native Americans, white settlers, and the very religiously strict Mormons. With the way the season ended, is an American Primeval season 2 likely? Let's discuss! Spoilers Below.

Justin Lubin/Netflix © 2024

As of this writing, Netflix has not renewed or cancelled the show. However it is billed as a limited series. Most of the time that means the series was intended to only be one season, though many times a limited series has been two or even three installments. So that doesn't mean a second season for American Primeval can't happen. Looking at it story wise however, is a potential American Primeval season 2 really even needed?...

Netflix's new violent and graphic Western series, American Primeval, comes to an epic conclusion in episode 6, the series finale.

After watching all six episodes of the series, we're here to share what happens to all of the main characters, including Sara, Devin, Abish and Jacob Pratt, Two Moons, Isaac, Red Feather, Jim Bridger, Brigham Young, and more. Those characters are played by Betty Gilpin, Preston Mota, Saura Lighfoot-Leon, Dane DeHaan, Shawnee Pourier, Taylor Kitsch, Derek Hinkey, Shea Whigham, Kim Coates, and more.

Spoilers ahead for the American Primeval finale!

Sara, Devin, and Two Moons make for California American Primeval. (L to R) Shawnee Pourier as Two Moons, Preston Mota as Devin Rowell and Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell in Episode 106 of American Primeval. Cr. Justin Lubin/Netflix © 2024 | Netflix

For six episodes, Sara Rowell (Gilpin) dragged her son, Devin (Mota), around the American West in 1857, pursued by a Mormon legion...

Warning: Spoilers for American Primeval.

Directed by Pete Berg, Netflix’s newest dark western thriller, American Primeval, has finally arrived on the platform, and it’s just as violent and brutal as it claimed to be. The limited series takes place in America’s Utah territory in 1857 during a time when control of the American West was volatile. With clashes between the U.S. Army, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Lds), and multiple indigenous tribes, disputes regarding sovereignty, religious exercise, and territory inevitably come to a head in the bloodiest of ways.

In a place seemingly beyond the confines of the law, one woman, Sara (Betty Gilpin), and her young son, Devin (Preston Mota), aim to travel west in an effort to outrun the consequences of their past. However, after narrowly escaping with their lives during The Mountain Meadows Massacre, it’s clear their journey won...

American Primeval, the new Netflix original Western series from Mark L. Smith and Peter Berg, begins in the Utah Territory in 1857. A mother, Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin), and her young son, Devin (Preston Mota), are waiting for transport in Nowhere, Missouri to meet up with Devin's father. They've hired help for a wagon ride to Fort Bridger, where they will head further West to Crooks Springs with a different party. Quickly, things go way off the rails.

That's the norm for this new Netflix series, which is probably the most violent and gory series you'll see all year. At Fort Bridger, Sara and Devin's transport is already gone, and things go from bad to worse quickly as a fight breaks out and two men are killed while Sara is talking to Mr. Bridger (Shea Whigham) about arranging another passage. This is no place for a child.

Fort Bridger, owned and operated by Jim Bridger,...

If you’re looking for another western to watch these days, “American Primeval” is here to try and fill that gap.

Now streaming on Netflix, the six-episode miniseries takes place in 1857, and is “a fictionalized dramatization and examination of the violent collision of culture, religion, and community as men and women fight and die for control of this world,” following them as they head west.

Starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin, the series has quite a few familiar faces in it. Here’s who you need to know.

Netflix Isaac (Taylor Kitsch)

Taylor Kitsch leads “American Primeval” as Isaac, a man whose past trauma has led to a whole lot of long-term effects. You might know Kitsch for his role as Tim Riggins in “Friday Night Lights,” or from “The Terminal List” and “True Detective.”

Netflix Brigham Young (Kim Coates)

Brigham is the leader of the Mormon Church and his Mormon army,...

One week after dropping a new Harlan Coben Netflix show, Missing You, Netflix rolled out the most violent, graphic, and brutal show you'll watch this year, American Primeval from Mark L. Smith and directed by Peter Berg.

Betty Gilpin and Taylor Kitsch star in the new Western series along with Jai Courtney, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Shea Whigham, Kim Coates, Daniel Dehaan, Derek Hinkey, Preston Mota, Lucas Neff, Joe Tippett, Shawnee Pourier, and more.

There are six episodes in American Primeval, and overall, the reception to the series from critics and viewers has been pretty mixed so far. I expect it'll stay that way or even get worse.

What is American Primeval about? American Primeval. Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell in Episode 102 of American Primeval. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024 | Netflix

The Netflix series is set in the Utah territory in 1857, prior to the start of the American Civil War. The story revolves...

Netflix has just debuted the new miniseries American Primeval, and the show's Rotten Tomatoes score has been revealed. The response to the series is proving to be divisive so far, drawing reviews from critics that put American Primeval firmly into the middle of the road.

On Rotten Tomatoes, American Primeval has debuted with a score of 56%. This labels the movie as "rotten" by the review aggregator website, which only considers movies scored with a 60% or above to be "fresh." The number will likely fluctuate as more critics add their reviews in the coming days, but it remains to be seen if that number will end up getting higher or lower. At this point, it's hard to say, given how divisive the reviews are with all of the reviews which have been added.

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The star of Netflix's recently released Western miniseries American Primeval, revealed that he broke his foot during a stunt while filming Episode 2. American Primeval, created by Mark L. Smith and directed by Pete Berg, is a gritty, six-episode limited series set in early northwestern America. The American Primeval cast is led by Taylor Kitsch, who portrays Isaac, sustained an injury while filming a fight scene.

During an interview with Decider, Kitsch reveals that he sustained the injury while filming a scene at a skinning camp. The scene involves Isaac defending Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son, Devin Rowell (Preston Mota), from a group of ill-tended bear trappers. Check out Kitsch's comment below:

"'I broke my foot in this and I think that was in episode 2 at the skinning camp"

Kitsch shares more details of his experience to People, explaining that a fellow stunt performer landed on his foot,...

With America already on fire just a few days into the year when a convicted felon will ascend to the country’s highest office for a second time, few among us need any additional reminders that life in the United States often feels dangerous, daunting, and devoid of basic human decency. Sitting on the precipice of a billionaire oligarchy, watching the funeral of our most principled, self-sacrificing president, it’s easy to contend things are only getting worse, but Peter Berg’s latest episodic endeavor (alongside “Friday Night Lights” bud Taylor Kitsch) is here to tell you otherwise.

Things aren’t getting worse. America has always been awful. It only seems so bad right now because it’s our turn to live through hell.

Written by Mark L. Smith, “American Primeval” is a familiar western tale making a big, broad statement about how the “wild and untamed” lands of Utah...

Streaming on: Netflix

Episodes viewed: 6 of 6

American Primeval is a Western set before the Wild West was formed. As such, there are no saloons or cowboys here, not in a traditional sense. Nostalgia has been stripped away completely, scalped in favour of a grimy, far more authentic journey that takes us back to how the so-called land of the free really came to be.

Written by The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith, American Primeval revisits similar bleak territory with an extremely violent brutality that makes for an uncomfortable watch. But you're not supposed to feel comfortable. That's the whole point. Episode 1 establishes this quickly through the eyes of Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota), who experience bloodshed firsthand and continue to do so relentlessly, caught between warring factions at every turn. At times, it's almost too relentless, but even in constant survival mode, flashes of humanity...

American Primeval is now streaming on Netflix, a brutal new Western miniseries that serves as the streamer's response to the current resurgence of the genre. Starring Betty Gilpin and Taylor Kitsch, American Primeval takes place in 1857 in the Utah Territory, at the peak of a bloody, widespread conflict fueled by culture, religion, and the need for survival. While it seems the new Netflix show lives up to the hardcore violence promised by the streamer, many critics believe American Primeval may be too grim for its own good.

With just more than eight reviews counted thus far, American Primeval is floating around 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus from critics seems to be that the series successfully captures the brutal tone teased in the trailers, but the story falls flat despite some star power in front of and behind the screen. Dylan Roth of The Observer gave the Netflix series a rotten rating,...

Netflix's American Primeval is finally here, and here is a full breakdown of the cast and crew of the Western drama series. American Primeval is one of the most exciting Netflix shows of 2025, with the series coming from director Peter Berg and The Revenant writer Mark L. Smith. The series packs a star-studded cast, so here is who you can expect to see in American Primeval and who they are playing.

American Primeval is a dark and gritty take on the Western genre, with it telling the story of a mother and son who must traverse the dangers of the frontier with the help of a guide. American Primeval is full of tragedy, violence, and heartbreaking moments, with it attempting to highlight how difficult the conditions of the time were. The actors who star in American Primeval do a fantastic job at conveying this dark tone, and here is who they are.

America’s past is pock-marked with cruelty, blood and deceit, and while more and more films and movies have tried to show that reality in recent years, actually sitting down to watch bullets fly, bones break and entire populations get wiped out can still feel like a Hollywood gut-punch. Is it entertaining to plop down on the couch to watch a few hours of death after death, rape and religious genocide?

“American Primeval” certainly thinks so. The new six-part Netflix series helmed by “Friday Night” Lights director Peter Berg and written by “The Revenant’s” Mark L. Smith, “American Primeval” revels in its own muck. A fictionalized account of life out west around the 1857 Utah War, which pitted the U.S. Army against Brigham Young’s Mormon militia, “American Primeval” is a dirty but delicate web of intrigue and brutality sparked by a mother and child’s quest to find safety and escape a bounty.

Plot: While exploring the American West, a small group travels across the plains, experiencing violent collisions with cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world.

Review: When most people think of the Western genre, they envision actors like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, James Stewart, and Gary Cooper playing six-shooter superheroes with leathery skin, shiny spurs, and a devil-may-care attitude. As icons of an idealized American West, these men often shine as paragons of virtue, justice, and heroism. Still, history bends to the will of the storyteller, someone who can glorify the cowboy and make their actions appear pure and righteous. American Primeval offers no such quarter to its gun-slingers. Though the series presents a fictionalized and dramatized recount of 1857, its depiction of harsh living conditions, cutthroat politics, and relentless violence is all too honest. Saddle up, folks! We’re riding along one of Netflix’s...

After one of many calamities befalls the bedeviled pioneers traversing the unforgiving landscape of American Primeval, we hear these words of cold comfort: “It’s just pain.” Is it ever. Relentlessly brutal and thus soul-crushingly and mind-numbingly predictable, Netflix’s six-part odyssey into a Western hellhole, from director/executive producer Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) and writer Mark L. Smith (The Revenant), is more a test of endurance than entertainment. Wagon Train (for those with long TV-Western memories) was never like this, though perhaps it should have been. Describing Primeval as the Wild West hardly does it justice. Deadwood was a Magic Kingdom of escapism compared to this vision of the forbidding Utah territory of 1857. Into this lawless land (filmed on painstakingly authentic location in New Mexico) wanders a woman of mystery, Sarah Rowell (the ever-fearless and excellent Betty Gilpin) and her young son Devin (Preston Mota), en route to...

The Revenant is one of my favorite movies of all time, blending historical fact and fiction with memorable action and characters, with grim realism tying the story together. So I was excited to learn that one of the film's writers, Mark L. Smith, would be teaming up with director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor; Patriots Day) for American Primeval, a Western miniseries on Netflix set during the mid-19th century. The story promised a gritty look at the most lawless part of the United States in 1857, with a premise of intriguing ideas that felt reminiscent of Smith's impressive 2015 drama.

American Primeval is a Netflix limited series that follows the lives of several men and women in the middle of the expansion of the American West. Social dynamics clash as men and women battle for a piece of the new world against rivals and each other.

Release Date January 9, 2025Rating Not Yet RatedGenres Drama,...

2024 was one of the best years in memory for the Western genre. There were excellent and accurate Westerns like The Dead Don't Hurt, The Settlers, and The Thicket, expensive, bloated epics like Horizon: An American Saga, fun genre-benders like The Last Stop at Yuma County and Place of Bones, and interesting true stories like End of the Rope and The Night They Came Home. It seems like the trend is continuing, with the first great series of 2025 being a barn-storming historical Western with unforgettable performances. American Primeval is a phenomenal Netflix series with enough action, intrigue, history, and artistry to please nearly everybody.

Feeling like a mix between The Searchers, Deadwood, A Fistful of Dollars, and The Revenant (which was also written by Mark L. Smith), American Primeval has a large cast spread out across multiple storylines that all intersect in fascinating ways. Jacques Jouffret's cinematography oscillates between brutal...

“There is only brutality here.”

This is a line from a letter that a U.S. Army captain, played by Lucas Neff, writes to his loved ones back home, midway through the new Netflix miniseries American Primeval. It’s an unfortunately apt statement, albeit not a surprising one if you know that the show was created by The Revenant screenwriter Mark L. Smith. Smith has written a wallow that repeatedly mistakes suffering for profundity, and seems to take more pleasure out of finding nasty ways to kill characters than it does...