As the opening episode of American Primeval begins, viewers are taken to the Utah Territory in 1857. The US Army, Mormon Militia, Native Americans, and pioneers are locked in a brutal war for survival. Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) waits with Devin Rowell (Preston Mota) who keeps asking when the man is coming. Devin asks if the man knows where they are and whether Sara knows where they are. Sara says they’re in some place in Missouri. She wants to take Devin to Utah to be with his father in a real town. Devin thinks they should continue to California. John Frye (Clint Obenchain) from St. Louis arrives moments later. Sara says she has the fee. She asks if it’ll be enough to get them to Fort Bridger. John asks about the child. Sarah explains they’re to meet a Jim Beckworth and his party for the balance of their passage. She wants to get started because they’re already running late.

At Fort Bridger in Southwest Wyoming, Robert is told to sit still so they can deal with his wound. Robert tells Butts he feels more like a blacksmith than a doctor. Butts says he is a blacksmith. Robert points out Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier) when she steals a knife. Sara and Devin make it to the camp. Mr. Frye tries to get rid of the kids who surround the wagon. Next, Sara learns that Beckworth has already left. Jim Bridger (Shea Whigham) speaks to them. Jim tells Sara that Beckworth is gone. He questions why there are Mormon wagons nearby. During the chaos, one man shoots Frye. Jim bashes his face in with a shovel. He tells his men to string up the Frenchman. Sara speaks to Jim in private. Sara steps outside and tells Devin this is not suitable for them to see. Sara and Devin return to Jim who recommends returning to Boston. Sara says her husband is waiting for them at Crooks Springs. She wants a guide to Crooks Springs.

Jim tells her what route she’d have to take and why she likely wouldn’t make it to Crooks Springs. Jim says war is brewing in this territory with Brigham Young trying to make his kingdom. President Buchanan is sending in troops to stomp it out. Every one of them is more than content to kill some immigrant mother and her child. Sara still wants an escort. Jim takes them to a camp up ahead. Sara acts like she’s distraught when she sees Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch) naked despite just seeing two people slaughtered. Sara says they would pay him five hundred dollars to take them to her husband. She increases the pay to $750. Jim reminds Isaac that her offer is well above the ground rate for that distance. Isaac says he doesn’t need his help. The Mormons pick up supplies at the store in Fort Bridger. Jacob Pratt (Dane DeHaan) and Abish (Saura Lightfoot-Leon) talk about being Mormons. Jacob says they were just wed. Brother William’s wives are Oaklyn (Frankie J. Mitchell) and Ezrie (Olivia Taylor).

Sara asks Jim who else they should speak to. He admits it’s a dice roll. He doesn’t know the lot of them from Adam’s dog. Jim says just as many would rather rob her and leave her for dead. Sara suggests taking her chances with the military. Then, she asks about the Mormons. Jim says they come with a whole set of other problems. Devin likes the fort. He asks how you get a fort like this. Jim tells him you build it. Sara speaks to Jacob about taking her along with them. Abish thinks they should help. Jacob worries Mr. Fancher will turn them away if they show up with more people. Virgil Cutter (Jai Courtney) seems to be listening to them from nearby. Jacob relents and agrees to let Sara and Devin tag along. A man attempts to have sex with Two Moons who stabs him. Two Moons’ mother (Carma Harvey) blames her for the fact that they’ll have nothing now. Two Moons says she’d had nothing forever. She flees from the camp. Jacob and the group head out in the morning.

Isaac watches them go. He tells Jim they’re careless dragging a boy through that. Isaac says that’s more for him to trade to Walter Higgins. Jim asks him to keep it to himself. Sara asks Devin to get them a blanket. He finds Two Moons hiding in their wagon. He tells her she can stay before covering her back up. Fancher (Peter Berg) learns that a group is approaching. They’re going to charge the Mormons eight dollars a wagon. Jacob tells Abish they’re one step closer to the life he promised. They talk about their purpose together. A man approaches Jim Bridger because he’s looking for Sara Holloway who is wanted for murder and robbery. Sara allegedly murdered a man out east and his family is from old money. Virgil hears about it. Jim claims he hasn’t seen Sara. James Wolsey (Joe Tippett) and his men approach Fancher. He explains that no one is allowed to pass through without a permit provided by a proper officer.

Fancher claims they’re going to be out of there at first light. Governor Young has declared martial law to protect his people. Frank Cook (Dominic Bogart) says Governor Young has declared martial law to protect his people due to Fancher and his find driving them out of their homes and killing their loved ones. Fancher warns Cook and the others that Cole Dawson (Mark Wiggins) and his men are ready to start shooting. Fancher tells them to go now. The men leave moments later. Francher wants the Mormons on the outer perimeter to see if they’d kill their own. Isaac sees Francher’s camp from a distance. One man says he knew a Rowell in Illinois. He believes his name is Jessup Rowell and he was in Springfield. Sara admits it’s possible. Jacob reveals a marriage had been arranged between Abish’s sister Eden and himself. God took Eden from them and delivered Abish just in time for their journey. Abish admits she shouldn’t be there. Devin gives food to Two Moons.

One woman is shot in the head with an arrow. Despite people dropping dead around them, Sara and Devin make it to safety. Jacob’s scalp is taken. As more people are killed, Sara and Devin continue hiding under the wagon. Two Moons flees and they follow her. When they make it away from the camp, Isaac helps them and they flee. Frank is told to go and get the body. Mullen is told to come on. Isaac tells Devin and Sara to be quiet. The men on horseback ride by without even seeing them. Abish watches as the men are shot and their belongings are taken. Frank and the men discuss paying the Paiutes to track down Sara and Devin. Frank says the Chief’s got no use for oxen. He wants cattle, horses, and women. James Wolsey wants to make sure they’re dead with the chief is done with them. Meanwhile, Isaac won’t answer any of Sara’s questions. Virgil approaches the bounty hunter to ask about the woman. Virgil says he knows exactly where they are.

Thomas (Tom Sons) says she’s worth 1,500. Their cut would be 200. Virgil says he can take Thomas to her right now. Thomas agrees to up his cut to 500. When Thomas steps outside, Virgil and his men kill him. Jacob wakes up despite being severely injured. He looks around at the chaos around him and begins screaming for Abish.

 

American Primeval Review

Netflix has a knack for making less-than-stellar content, but American Primeval may very well set a new low for the streamer. While the series has an interesting time period, that’s really about the only thing good it’s got going for it. The story is pretty messy making it very difficult to fully engage with the show or care about the characters.

The performances could be a lot better with lots of monotonous deliveries. The action scenes could be interesting if they weren’t so scattered and nauseating. Many of them are unrealistic as well, such as Sara and Jacob hiding under a wagon where they can clearly be seen. The series is supposed to be a “gritty and adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West”.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t hit the mark in terms of being adventurous. The world being established here is very, very shallow. It seems like everyone can reach new camps and settlements in minutes. The characters are barely in wagons for any period before they’ve reached their destination.

The cast is seriously bloated. There’s no way average viewers are going to be able to name more than five characters here. Looking at historical pictures surely won’t help because the show’s characters look nothing like the historical figures. Even with a cast this large, the characters are primarily wooden giving us very little reason to care about them.

The clearly fake blood and guts may be enough to make some viewers salivate, but the show lacks any depth, emotion, and sense of adventure. The episode scores a 3.5 out of 10. Recaps of American Primeval can be found here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. Join the discussion here.