by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
In 2025, I’m challenging myself to watch more TV and movies about topics I’m unfamiliar with. Since there’s so much stuff to watch, it’s time to expand my horizons into different genres. Westerns were on the list, yet TV isn’t the best place to watch them. Unless you’re a die-hard Taylor Sheridan fan, you might struggle to find a Western that will be for you. As a history nerd, it’s a little weird that I don’t watch more, since they’re a glimpse into a tumultuous time in America’s expansion. Thankfully, the first Western I tried to watch this year checked many of my boxes.
American Primeval shows several groups, such as the Mormons, U.S. government, Indigenous people, and immigrants, as they scramble to lay claim to the lands around Utah. We follow Sara (Betty Gilpin), who flees to California in search of her family. During the journey, she partners with Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) after her caravan is ambushed in what would eventually be known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
There’s something about American Primeval that feels grand in scope. The story spans six episodes as the government starts to investigate the ambush that Sara survives, but what makes the show truly epic is its look and feel. Gorgeous cinematography puts on display some incredible scenery in the American West. In addition, the set design and costumes are outstanding. In fact, all the technical aspects are impressive.
American Primeval does a great job blending all the of its stories to tell a compelling story. Credit to Mark L. Smith, who wrote hits such as The Revenant and Twisters — he knows how to make the West a grand landscape that feels equally majestic and threatening. We have several main arcs to follow in this series. The first is Sara and her quest to find her family in California. We also follow Captain Edmund Dellinger (Lucas Neff) as he begins to investigate the massacre. Then, the Indigenous groups, specifically the Shoshone tribe, are struggling to balance the desire for peace and the rage they feel that white men are taking their land. Finally, the Mormon military tries to keep their lands while expanding their influence. Smith blends these stories so well, making you care about each one.
From a performance standpoint, Gilpin and Kitsch are fantastic together. They both have incredible backstories, and can handle the complex parts of their respective characters. Kitsch in particular is outstanding because he nails the tragic backstory and the motivation to keep those around him alive. American Primeval is extremely lucky to have two gifted performers who breathe life into characters who could have easily been a generic and soulless representation, as seen in other movies. Yet they both add power to the roles by performing with pain and emotion.
Action scenes are essential to Westerns, and American Primeval has some outstanding set pieces. The scene with the actual massacre in the first episode is a fantastic example of how to make a battle sequence feel claustrophobic and chaotic. We mainly follow Sara — her companions are Jacob (Dane DeHaan) and his wife Abish (Saura Lightfoot-Leon), but they split up after the massacre. I was on the edge of my seat that entire sequence. Sara is shown trying to find shelter and safety with her son Devin (Preston Mota), but she keeps getting pushed into the foray with dangerous consequences. The sequence is uniquely shot, feeling like a oner. This was a fantastic choice, as it shows how chaotic life must have been.
Along with an outstanding story and great action, American Primeval also employs amazing themes. One that is touched upon quite frequently is the American Dream, and how different and complex it is from person to person. Through so many other dangers in the West, the American Dream can sometimes feel unattainable. This feeling is present even today. What American Primeval does so well, though, is to capture what about the American Dream feels so unrealistic. Dreams are hard to achieve, even more so when everything around you is against you. Whether it’s racism, ambition, the weather, or chance, the obstacles that must be overcome sometimes make your dream a nightmare. For Sara, just getting to where the story begins is a challenge. However, the series showcases just how much she struggles to reach her ultimate goal, and she constantly questions whether she’s making the right decision. Moreover, Dellinger’s idea of America does not mesh with the reality of the situation. It’s heartbreaking when he learns that America is not what he thought it would be. However, a lesson many people know in American Primeval sets it apart from other shows in this genre.
Religion is also another central theme of American Primeval. The series has two competing ideologies: Mormonism and the religion and beliefs of the Shoshone people. It comes to a head when the two groups meet and conclude that one has to be correct, and the other has to be wrong. The competing belief systems are similar to one another, but they also justify oppression. That shared justification creates so much conflict that it separately drives people away from both belief structures. It’s a tough pill for the two groups, leading to deadly results throughout the series.
Violence and the use of war are the final themes worth mentioning. American Primeval is not for the faint of heart. It’s incredibly violent, but not so over the top that it is excessive. Several sequences show what people are willing to do to get what they want. Furthermore, the approaches to violence in each group are vastly different. The Shoshone tribe uses violence to save themselves and to enact vengeance on those who have oppressed them. The Mormon militia is fighting for their lands and freedom to worship God the way they think is right. Finally, the U.S. government is fighting all these people, because they’re trying to bring peace to a chaotic land. All the other groups use violence for their greed, or to watch the world burn. It’s scary, though, and it is still relevant today, like many of the show’s other themes.
American Primeval is a pleasant surprise, because on top of being a fun action show, it actually has something to say. It is oddly relevant in its themes, showcasing how a divided country looks to coexist. Outstanding performances and dynamite visuals, costumes, and music are just the icing on the cake.
Rating: High Side of Liked it
American Primeval is currently streaming on Netflix
You can read more from Mike Hilty and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd