Currently showing on Netflix is the limited series American Primeval. The series is 6 episodes long and is set in 1857 America.
American Primeval
At the start of the story, we are introduced to a woman who identifies herself as Ms. Roswell. She is with her son at a railway station under construction anxiously waiting for someone. She keeps telling her son that soon they will be with his father.
They are met by another man who takes them to some sort of outpost/fort (Fort Bridger) where she is to meet a man named Jim Beckworth. On getting there, she is told by James Felix Bridger that Jim Beckworth has left three weeks earlier to avoid traveling under bad weather conditions.
Ms. Roswell continues to insist that she needs a guide to take her and her son to Crooks Springs where she is set to reconcile with her husband.
Mr. Bridger tells her it’s a dangerous endeavor to go on that journey this time of the year, which is the reason her original guide had already left but she insists she would pay for a new guide notwithstanding.
Upon her insistence, Mr. Bridger decides to see if he can secure someone to act as her guide for the journey. He informs her that most people traveling through his fort are not to be trusted but that there is one man he knows who will keep his word and has knowledge of the land.
At this stage, we are introduced to Isaac Reed. He makes a memorable entrance but his meeting with Ms. Roswell does not go as planned. He turns down the offer to be her guide as he has no business in Crooks Springs.
The Start of the Journey
Back at the fort, we are introduced to new characters – Jacob Pratt, his wife Abish, and their traveling companions. There are all Mormons who are traveling in the direction Ms. Roswell is seeking to go.
Ms. Roswell approaches Jacob to see if she and her son can join their group, assuring him of their independence and self-reliance. Initially refusing, Jacob, after some nudge from his wife, agrees.
We are then introduced to a Native American girl, who is seen stealing a knife. We later learn she is non-verbal. After an incident in her home, she runs away and hides at the back of Ms. Roswell’s carriage.
Jacob, his travel companions, Ms. Roswell, and Devin set off on their journey on their different horses and carriages. They soon meet up with a larger group of men, women and children who have agreed for them to join the travel group for a fee.
Shortly before Jacob and companions join the group, there is a verbal confrontation between Mormon ‘soldiers’ who occupy the land they are passing through and the head of the larger group.
We quickly learn that this group is allowing Jacob and his companions to travel with them as bait to see if the Mormon soldiers will attack “their own kind.”
The First Attack
We are shown a clip of Isaac Reed, although he refused to escort Ms. Roswell, he is seen watching the larger group from a distance.
Not long after, there is an attack on the larger group. Ms. Roswell and Devin escape with the aid of Isaac Reed.
Abish and several of her female companions are held hostage and we learn some interesting facts about Ms. Roswell’s past.
We are also introduced to other groups and interesting characters including the Wolf Clan, Governor Brigham Young, Red feather, and Captain Edmund Dellinger.
Performances and Characters
Betty Gilpin delivers a standout performance as Sara Roswell. She certainly took my emotions on a rollercoaster. From anger to irritation and eventually fondness, she nailed the complexity of her character.
Taylor Kitsch plays Isaac Reed, now that was great acting! He was intense and I enjoyed every second of it.
Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger was perfectly cast. He brings wit, calmness, and a cool demeanor to the role. The banter and tension between him and Governor Brigham, portrayed by Kim Coates, were highlights of the series. Both actors brought their A-game.
Shawnee Pourier plays Two Moons, she plays a non-verbal character. She has no verbal lines in the movie but honestly makes you care so much about her safety, which is a difficult thing to convey. So, thumbs up to her.
Dane DeHaan plays Jacob Pratt. I liked Jacob, Dane does a great job with this character and makes you feel his pain, but his storyline was just pitiful.
Derek Hinkey plays Red Feather, I liked his presence and how he carried himself.
Other key performances include Saura Lightfoot-Leon as Abish Pratt, Preston Mota as Devin Roswell, Lucas Neff as Captain Edmund, and Joe Tippett as James Wolsey.
What I Loved About American Primeval
The first 15 minutes of the series I was a little skeptical on whether I wanted to commit to 6 episodes. By the time I hit the 30 minutes mark, I was fully invested!
I loved the action in this. It was very visual, you could see it all happen as though you were right in the middle of it.
There were portions I could predict what would happen next but there were areas I definitely did not see coming.
My Least Favorites
I’m not sure if this is a positive or a negative, but the series features a lot of characters and storylines, requiring viewers to stay engaged and invested. Personally, I enjoyed having multiple narratives, but I can see how it might not work for everyone.
I wanted more insight on how Abish and Jacob came together. They mentioned Eden, Abish’s sister, passing away. However, Jacob and Abish seemed so in love at the start. As the story develops, Abish didn’t seem eager to return to him, and I wasn’t quite sure why.
While we learn about Isaac Reed’s family and the events leading to this current state of mind, I couldn’t pinpoint which group was responsible for causing him so much pain.
Lastly, the chemistry at the end didn’t fully work for me. There were subtle hints earlier, which I enjoyed but by the finale, it felt rushed and overly intense.
Would I recommend American Primeval?
Absolutely! It’s an excellent watch. The show explores manipulation, deceit, and the struggles faced by straight-and-narrow characters like Captain Edmund.
My Rating
I’d give this limited series a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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