Netflix’s epic new period Western showAmerican Primevalis the platform’s first genuine effort to compete withTaylor Sheridan’s multiple Western series. Since the groundbreaking success ofYellowstone, which finally concluded in December 2024, Sheridan has expanded his Western television franchise into multiple spin-offs and prequel series. Additionally, Sheridan also has several other original series with Western influences, such as the recentLandmanstarring Billy Bob Thorntonand Jon Hamm.
WhileYellowstoneis a contemporary Western, Sheridan’s various series cover several different time periods going as far back as post-Civil War America.Lawmen: Bass Reeves, which Sheridan did not write or direct was an executive producer, takes place in the 1860s, while hisYellowstoneprequels,1883and1923, take place in their titular years. This goes to show justhow firm of a stronghold Sheridan has had over the Western television genrein recent years, which Netflix finally seems to be responding to.
American Primeval Gives Netflix A Major Streaming Western
The Netflix Western is grim, violent, chaotic, and unforgiving
American Primevalis a new major Western streaming series on Netflix that is very different fromYellowstone. The series takes place on the frontier of the American West in 1857, particularly in the somewhat lawless terrain of Utah. UnlikeYellowstone,American Primevalshows early American settlers, cultists, and indigenous tribes as murderers and survivorsin a series of gruesome fights for control of the newly found territory. The show is grim, violent, chaotic, and unforgiving, making it tonally much bleaker thanYellowstone.
Netflix’s Yellowstone Replacement Will Be Perfect If You’re Not A Fan Of Taylor Sheridan’s Western Franchise
Following the end of Yellowstone in 2024, Netflix has the perfect replacement show for those unhappy with Taylor Sheridan’s franchise coming in 2025.
Taylor Sheridan is not a part ofAmerican Primevalin any way. The series was written by Mark L. Smith, who co-wrote the screenplay forThe Revenantwith Alejandro G. Iñárritu. In fact, there are many stylistic similarities betweenThe RevenantandAmerican Primevalin both narrative and visual techniques.Director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights,Lone Survivor) directs all six episodes ofAmerican Primeval. Taylor Kitsch leads an ensemble cast, which features Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Shea Whigham, Lucas Neff, and Kim Coates.
Netflix Still Has Some Way To Go To Beat Taylor Sheridan
American Primeval marks a promising start of high-quality Netflix Westerns
American Primevalmarks the start of what could be more high-quality original Western efforts from Netflix. Thecast is outstanding, the action is visceral and shocking, the world is equally magnificent and terrifying, and the story of survival is universally appealing. That being said, this is only one good Western show, which is technically just a miniseries. By comparison, Sheridan has a roster of shows, several of which are Westerns and neo-Westerns that are built for multiple seasons. WhileAmerican Primevalis a great entry for Netflix, it’s just one step on the long road forged by Sheridan’s trailblazing series.
American Primeval
Cast
American Primeval is a Netflix limited series that follows the lives of several men and women in the middle of the expansion of the American West. Social dynamics clash as men and women battle for a piece of the new world against rivals and each other.
