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STEAMING WARS: American Primeval (Miniseries)

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Shawnee Pourier
Directed by Peter Berg
Streaming on Netflix
TV Mini Series ‘Mature-Rated’

Berg brings his American western epic to life, exploring the violent, bloody, and brutal past of a land battled over by men who were ruthless, corrupt, and, in this case, just plain evil. The epic series also brings to light the little-known historical event known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, where we see the violent emergence of the Mormon Church’s role in this horrendous event.


Westerns can be a very polarizing subject when it comes to their relevance in today’s television and film landscape. Some people feel that they are overdone and simplistic, with the cowboy good guy and Indian bad guy, where the cowboy wins the day, saves the girl, and watches his foe vanquished. Others feel that there aren’t enough of them around today, which is why recent shows like “Yellowstone” and its spinoffs (1883 and 1923), as well as other shows like “Lawman Bass Reeves” and even modern takes on the genre like “Landman” about oil drilling in West Texas, have enormous success with today’s audiences.


If you’re part of the group that demands more western-themed shows on television, you have one man to thank, and that’s Taylor Sheridan, because all these shows have been written and directed by him. In the last five years, Sheridan has really been at the forefront of a westerns rebirth. But with that comes some speed bumps in quality for some of his shows due to his busy work schedule. “Yellowstone,” for example, was one of the best shows on television for its first three seasons but really took a dip in quality when Sheridan started writing and directing five other shows simultaneously. It’s crazy to say it, but Sheridan’s really a victim of his own success.


That’s why I’m excited to say that Peter Berg of “Friday Night Lights” fame has brought up something new and not as formulaic as other westerns over recent years. “American Primeval” is gritty, violent, and has a take-no-prisoners approach, which can be jarring for viewers who are used to a certain set way of storytelling in traditional westerns.


Another thing I like about the show is the pacing and the fact that it’s a miniseries instead of a traditional movie. The show in its entirety comprises six one-hour episodes, so that gives us the chance to get to know the characters and get invested in the different storylines and how they eventually all connect in the end. The show also takes the time to show the complicated relationship with Native Americans at the time and how certain tribes had relatively better relationships with the pioneers who were slowly creeping westward to eventually make “manifest destiny” a reality. I really don’t want to give too much more away about the Mormons’ role in this part of the story because it’s one of the most surprising aspects of the show—how religious zealotry and hypocrisy rear their ugly heads in all the chaos. I want you as an audience member to digest and appreciate what Peter Berg has done here. He has given us a totally unique, ultra-violent, and unforgiving look at the American West.

Final Verdict: 4½ stars

Author

  • Jeremy Ortega writes the Streaming Wars Column as is also Questa del Rio News' Ad Sales Rep. you can reach him via email sales-2@QuestaNews.com

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