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
- 3 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
Unsentimental, bold and gripping.
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.
Brutal & Brilliant
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.
Costner should have made a mini series.
This series was awesome. Raw, violent and good character development. It's how the West was developed and involves many parties; Indians included.
I have a newborn at home and was up 1am till now and watched the entire series. Very well done. I assume it's a limited series and don't have additional seasons which is said.
The ensemble cast is ridiculous and awesome. Some big names only are in one episode but make the series what it is.
Costners American Boring Saga was painfully slow and I still am scratching my head trying to figure a plot if there is one.
This series gets you right into a plot of families expanding west and the trials and tribulations they experienced getting West.
Very appropriate name for series - epsisoeds 47 mins long and move fast. I am a huge fan.
I have a newborn at home and was up 1am till now and watched the entire series. Very well done. I assume it's a limited series and don't have additional seasons which is said.
The ensemble cast is ridiculous and awesome. Some big names only are in one episode but make the series what it is.
Costners American Boring Saga was painfully slow and I still am scratching my head trying to figure a plot if there is one.
This series gets you right into a plot of families expanding west and the trials and tribulations they experienced getting West.
Very appropriate name for series - epsisoeds 47 mins long and move fast. I am a huge fan.
Gritty and brutal take on the American West
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.
A real Western
To be honest, I don't expect much from original Netflix shows anymore. Netflix was never of HBO or Hulu level for that matter and even Prime is slowly gaining ground on the quality of its' shows. American Primeval comes at a time when Netflix really needs a proper show.
15 years ago, 22-episode seasons were the norm, when we had to wait for a whole calendar year or more to see what happens next. Then, Netflix dropped all episodes at once, which is fine for binge watching but you end quite quickly with nothing to watch, plus it's tiring to watch many many episodes in a few sittings.
And then the limited series trend is back, where we practically talk about an extend film. And this is what American Primeval is. An extended film, which has the perfect pace to develop the characters enough for the spectator to care while not dragging the plot.
With me not being a US citizen, it was a great opportunity to read into this part of American History, about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a story which I handnt come across in other featured films or TV shows. It also gave me the incentive to look into the Mormon religion as I was only aware of its existence. While this series is not entirely historical accurate concerning the flow of events, it seems that it does depict the general frame of the events that unfolded and the basic parties involved.
It is as violent as it should be to bring the audience the actual conditions and battles people of these times had to face.
Acting by most if not all actors is top notch but I have to say I found Betty Gilpins' character (Sara Rowell) a bit exaggerated. Taylor Kitch delivers but Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger and Kim Coates as Brigham Young are extraordinary.
Principal photography is beautiful, all scenes and direction by Peter Berg is outstanding.
If you want an interesting Limited Series to binge watch over a weekend (or a... Day!) and don't mind the brutal depiction of the Old American West, this is a perfect choice!
15 years ago, 22-episode seasons were the norm, when we had to wait for a whole calendar year or more to see what happens next. Then, Netflix dropped all episodes at once, which is fine for binge watching but you end quite quickly with nothing to watch, plus it's tiring to watch many many episodes in a few sittings.
And then the limited series trend is back, where we practically talk about an extend film. And this is what American Primeval is. An extended film, which has the perfect pace to develop the characters enough for the spectator to care while not dragging the plot.
With me not being a US citizen, it was a great opportunity to read into this part of American History, about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a story which I handnt come across in other featured films or TV shows. It also gave me the incentive to look into the Mormon religion as I was only aware of its existence. While this series is not entirely historical accurate concerning the flow of events, it seems that it does depict the general frame of the events that unfolded and the basic parties involved.
It is as violent as it should be to bring the audience the actual conditions and battles people of these times had to face.
Acting by most if not all actors is top notch but I have to say I found Betty Gilpins' character (Sara Rowell) a bit exaggerated. Taylor Kitch delivers but Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger and Kim Coates as Brigham Young are extraordinary.
Principal photography is beautiful, all scenes and direction by Peter Berg is outstanding.
If you want an interesting Limited Series to binge watch over a weekend (or a... Day!) and don't mind the brutal depiction of the Old American West, this is a perfect choice!
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Did you know
- TriviaWriter Mark L. Smith's second Western screenplay after The Revenant (2015).
- GoofsThe show depicts the Mormons attempting to buy Fort Bridger. The actual purchase of the fort took place two years before the events of the show.
- 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
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- Also known as
- Hồng Hoang Nước Mỹ
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 50m
- Color
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- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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