It follows the gritty and adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West, the violent collisions of cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world.It follows the gritty and adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West, the violent collisions of cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world.It follows the gritty and adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West, the violent collisions of cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world.
- Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
- 2 nominations total
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Summary
Reviewers say 'American Primeval' is visually stunning with strong performances by Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin. It captures the raw frontier spirit but faces criticism for erratic pacing and underdeveloped characters. The brutal violence and historical accuracy are debated, with mixed opinions on its portrayal of cultures and conflicts. Themes of survival and cultural clashes are noted, though some feel they are underexplored. The series is seen as bold yet flawed.
Featured reviews
At a time when streaming platforms are inundated with content that often feels formulaic, it's rare to encounter a series that grips you with such immediacy and authenticity. This miniseries, which I stumbled upon purely by chance on its premiere day, turned out to be a remarkable discovery-an unassuming masterpiece that exceeded my expectations in every way.
What sets this series apart is its unflinchingly unsentimental approach to storytelling. By eschewing overly contrived emotional cues, it allows moments of genuine emotional depth to emerge organically, packing an understated yet profound impact. It's a raw, fast-paced, and intense experience that remains grounded and purposeful, never slipping into excess or artifice.
Visually, the series is a triumph. The meticulous attention to detail-whether in the period-accurate costumes, evocative set designs, or the dynamic and immersive camerawork-creates an unparalleled sense of presence. You're not merely observing events unfold from a distance; you're drawn into the action, experiencing the urgency and stakes alongside the characters.
While I often find action-heavy narratives reliant on spectacle at the expense of substance, this series defies that trend. Here, the brisk pacing and raw, visceral moments of violence serve as an extension of the story's thematic core, amplifying its authenticity rather than detracting from it.
From the first episode, the series establishes a gripping rhythm that's impossible to resist.
If this miniseries isn't recognized during awards season, it would be nothing short of an oversight. The precision of its costume design, the evocative score, the sharp direction, and the captivating performance by its lead actress deserve every accolade.
In many ways, this is more than just one of the best Netflix offerings in recent memory; it's a reminder of what storytelling can achieve when ambition meets artistry. For an industry that often prioritizes marketability over originality THIS is why I still am a subscriber.
What sets this series apart is its unflinchingly unsentimental approach to storytelling. By eschewing overly contrived emotional cues, it allows moments of genuine emotional depth to emerge organically, packing an understated yet profound impact. It's a raw, fast-paced, and intense experience that remains grounded and purposeful, never slipping into excess or artifice.
Visually, the series is a triumph. The meticulous attention to detail-whether in the period-accurate costumes, evocative set designs, or the dynamic and immersive camerawork-creates an unparalleled sense of presence. You're not merely observing events unfold from a distance; you're drawn into the action, experiencing the urgency and stakes alongside the characters.
While I often find action-heavy narratives reliant on spectacle at the expense of substance, this series defies that trend. Here, the brisk pacing and raw, visceral moments of violence serve as an extension of the story's thematic core, amplifying its authenticity rather than detracting from it.
From the first episode, the series establishes a gripping rhythm that's impossible to resist.
If this miniseries isn't recognized during awards season, it would be nothing short of an oversight. The precision of its costume design, the evocative score, the sharp direction, and the captivating performance by its lead actress deserve every accolade.
In many ways, this is more than just one of the best Netflix offerings in recent memory; it's a reminder of what storytelling can achieve when ambition meets artistry. For an industry that often prioritizes marketability over originality THIS is why I still am a subscriber.
I did not know what to expect with this, but right from the outset the tone was set. Brutal, unforgiving, hard, and believable. This is based on a little known and hardly talked about piece of American history. It's not pretty. But it has you hooked from the beginning. I rarely give a rating this high but the production values, writing, acting, and direction were first class. There are not many people to feel sorry for in this tale, but when you find them, they are worthy of your emotions. You won't look atbMormons the same way again. A sort of ending that has a mixture of predictability, pathos, and unpredictability. Great battle scenes have you ducking, and grateful you are not there.
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.
American Primeval is one of the better shows I've seen in the last year and I've seen some terrific shows so that's saying something. This miniseries shows how shockingly cruel and violent the West really was. I have to warn you that there are some really violent and gory scenes so if that bothers you then this show might not be for you. It has several different plots to follow but all of them are captivating. It doesn't shy away from how ugly and savage people were for their desire to get land. I know the year just started but this is still going to end up being on most peoples best of the year list. I was entertained from the very first episode to the last and can't recommend this show enough.
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.
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Did you know
- TriviaWriter Mark L. Smith's second Western screenplay after The Revenant (2015).
- GoofsBy 1850, St. Louis had become the largest U.S. city west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the second-largest port in the country, with a commercial tonnage exceeded only by New York City.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Matt Walsh Show: The Real Crisis Young Men Are Facing Today (2025)
- How many seasons does American Primeval have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- American Primeval
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 50m
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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