Taylor Kitsch shines in the Netflix series

In Netflix’s new limited series, “American Primeval,” written by “The Revenant” writer Mark. L. Smith, audiences are plunged into the evils of the American West, specifically the Utah Territory in 1857. Told through the perilous journey of a young mother and her son desperate to start over, the show examines several groups of Americans – pioneers, native people, military men and Mormons – all scrambling to survive in a deeply volatile, fear-filled world. The six episodes present a brutal, fascinating portrayal of a culture and a country that has yet to overcome its most violent predilections.

This Western begins in the midst of the Utah War, an increasingly bloody conflict between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—also known as Mormons, led by Utah Governor Brigham Young (an unrecognizable Kim Coates)—and the U.S. Army. Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) arrives at a train station with her son, Devin (Preston Mota), a classy and proper but irritated woman. Thousands of miles away from their home in Philadelphia, Sara is determined to continue west to meet Devin’s father in the California town of Crook Springs. Unfortunately, after arriving three weeks late due to unreliable train schedules, the couple learn that their arranged escort has left. Furthermore, when they arrive at Fort Bridger, run by mountaineer Jim Bridger (Shea Whigham), Sara cannot find anyone willing to lead them to their destination.

The trip to Crook Springs, which consists of a snowy mountain pass, escalating conflict between the Mormons and the Shoshone tribe, and large areas of unpredictable wildlife and outlaws, is not something most men are willing to contend with, despite Sara’s generous financial incentive . Determined to continue her journey for the sake of her son, Sara finds herself in a dangerous situation and is forced to rely on the elusive Issac Reed (Taylor Kitsch), a gruff recluse who lives on the outskirts of Ft. Bridger. Issac is an enigma of a man with a deep understanding of the region and its inhabitants. Despite his initial hostility, the mystery of his past slowly unfolds as the story progresses.

“American Primeval” is directed by Peter Berg and is a truly immersive experience. Through low angles and tracking shots and exceptional on-location biography directed by Jacques Jouffret, the audience is shown different points of view. Every single scene is deeply detailed and intense. Blood is seen oozing from skinned animals, the near-constant cruelty of the state’s various climates is evident, and the ruthless, murderous people driven by capitalism and colonialism are deadly. It’s also clear that almost everyone, including Sara, has an ulterior motive.

Although Sara’s journey is the central focus of the series, the series presents other characters on their own separate journeys. Mercurial, vengeful and fixated on creating a safe space for the Mormons, Brigham Young will stop at nothing to see his dream realized. Jacob (Dane DeHaan) and Abish Pratt (Saura Lightfoot Leon), a newlywed Mormon couple headed to Salt Lake City, cross paths with Sara and Devin. In addition, the narrative highlights the Shoshone tribe who have seen their land and people ravaged by white settlers who claim it as their own without regard for centuries of culture and tradition. Led by Julie O’Keefe, the head of the Indigenous Cultural Department, the artisans behind “American Primeval” showcase the differences in tribes. There is the Paiute tribe, who have a different view of the colonizers than the Shoshone. The audience is also introduced to Red Feather (Derek Hinkey), who leads a more radical faction of the Shoshone called the Wolf Clan. He is fixated on exacting revenge on both army men and Mormons.

America is not yet two and a half centuries old. Because it is still in its infancy, the country’s growing pains are constantly evident and the echoes of history remain ever-present. Westerns are typically presented from the realm of men, and those perspectives are evident here. But by anchoring Sara at the center of this narrative, as well as presenting the viewpoints of Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a non-verbal native girl, and Abish, who was forced to marry Jacob only after her sister died, “American Primeval” acknowledges , how deeply the fate of women in this time is tied to the whims, mistakes and desires of the men around them.Furthermore, the constant threat of sexual violence (though thankfully not explicit here) shows another element of terror, they exposed to.

The story of “American Primeval” takes place in less than a two-week period. Yet the consequences for those who lived and moved across the Utah Territory during this time reverberate throughout American history. The series offers a handful of perspectives, but many more remain buried and unknown. What rings true until the final frame of the show and into our contemporary lives is that civilization and the civilized rarely occupy the same space.

“American Primeval” premieres on Netflix January 9.