American Primeval, on Netflix, is an intense, unflinching look at the brutal world of the American frontier, and it immediately draws comparisons to The Revenant. Both share a raw, immersive atmosphere, plunging viewers into the harsh realities of survival in an untamed land. The series delivers the same bone-chilling cold, violent clashes, and unforgiving landscapes that made The Revenant so gripping.Â
However, American Primeval takes a broader approach, weaving multiple character arcs into its narrative rather than focusing on a singular journey of revenge. While The Revenant is a visually poetic experience with long, meditative shots.
From start to finish, it’s an intense, gripping, and immersive journey into the brutal and unforgiving American frontier of the 1850s. The storytelling is raw and unflinching, making you feel like you’ve been transported back in time, facing the same dangers, hardships, and moral dilemmas as the characters.
The Western Storyline
The series portrays Native Americans with a poignant empathy, igniting a deep curiosity within to explore their history. In the untamed wilds of the West, life was as fragile as winter wheat, easily swept away by the slightest gust of wind. Whether it be a captain of the Federal Army, a lone bounty hunter, or a proud Native American warrior, each appeared as the protagonist in the viewer’s eyes, only to wither and fade into the sunset as the episodes unfolded. Even a simple “good day” held a chilling undertone, for if one hesitated to draw their gun after such a greeting, annihilation could swiftly follow.
The Best Part
American Primeval leans into relentless action and a more traditional storytelling approach, making it more binge-worthy. Running alongside this was the powerful intersection of other narratives surrounding the Mormon expansion into the west, where no pious misguided religiosity or shedding of blood was spared.
The American Primeval lets you know how absurdly dangerous travel was before this county was settled, before the establishment of law and order and any type of infrastructure.Â
Things That Could Have Been BetterÂ
American Primeval is definitely one of those shows that tries to act deep and gritty but ends up feeling like it thinks the audience won’t question anything. It’s like they cranked up the brutality and “rugged frontier”.
The main female character basically gets everyone killed because she can’t listen to the people who are far more intelligent than she is. All whites were evil except a murdered woman with a bounty on her head, her kid, and a white guy raised by Indians, all of whom murder their way out West. Indians lecture on the white people’s need to kill. Mormons were apparently all mass murderers also.
The Characters
The acting is top-class. Not one duff character—all are believable, equally likable or reprehensible, or even morally ambiguous. Taylor kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Preston Mota, Derek Hinkey, Shawnee Courier, and Shea Whigham are awesome.
The lady and Mr Reed having a thing felt pretty silly and just thrown in to give some romance to the story, it might have been better to have a little thing just starting between them before Mr Reed dies. Also, the thing of Jaccob looking for these hooded men who killed his wife.
Also Read…Â
The Conclusion
A real eye-opening adventure and bold, never boring script with a great cast and plenty of twists and turns to keep the viewer not only engaged but thrilled and excited. 7 great episodes with good characters and some truly evil villains. The Sound quality of the dialogue was truly awful, often lost, buried, or overshadowed by explosions, gunfire, screams, etc. If you’re looking for a series that’s intense, beautifully crafted, and historically rich, American Primeval is a must-watch.
IMDb rating – 8/10
Written by Nilesh Shiv