Netflix's new six-part miniseries, 'American Primeval,' dives into the raw and brutal struggles of a fraught American West circa 1857. This miniseries, by Mark L. Smith and director Peter Berg, sets an intense tone of unflinching brutality, presenting a grim representation of life in the pioneer era. Echoing the famous words of Thomas Hobbes, life here is depicted as 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.'
The plot unfolds in the Utah Territory, a hotbed of escalating tensions among various groups - gold rush pioneers, native American tribes, zeal-driven Mormons and a peacekeeping U.S. Army. Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota) find themselves in the midst of this chaotic landscape as they journey to meet Sara's husband, with escalating conflicts and unforgiving circumstances hot on their heels.
From the ensemble cast smudged with historical grimes to expertly crafted sets and visually striking cinematography, the show also benefits from Peter Berg’s vivid direction. Despite its predictable brutality as its central theme, 'American Primeval' stands out with its striking representation of historical conflicts.
However, the show falters as it treads on familiar territory without introducing any novel insights. Its focus remains firmly on the external trials and tribulations and fails to explore the internal landscape of its characters, making it harder for viewers to find sources of empathy. Though the series exhibits grim authenticity, it tends to lean heavily on violence and lacks in substantive character development.
'American Primeval', full of brutality, resentment and the relentless struggle for survival, offers an intense viewing experience but does little in terms of charting a new narrative path. The series gravitates towards violence without offering many nuanced perspectives, echoing a familiar narrative about the American West without finding a fresh spin. The finale falls into predictability, confirming the grim depiction of a brutal era but without offering much of a journey to its audience.
