American Primeval Thoughts

This limited series caught my wife’s attention, and we started watching it fairly recently. We flew through it over the last day or two.

From the very beginning, the show captures the untamed brutality of early America. You had the army, outlaws, Native Americans, Mormons, and even French settlers—each group with both good and evil people.

The story follows a woman, Sara, and her son as they try to make their way west from the East Coast. After the man guiding them is killed, they search for a new guide and eventually join a caravan. But the fate that awaits them… well, I’ll let you watch and see for yourself.

At one point, I thought to myself, they are really trying to make us hate the Mormons. Later, I found an article stating that the Mormons were actually offended by their portrayal in the series, calling it historically inaccurate. I get why they spoke out—the way they were depicted was pretty brutal.

The journey west is filled with dangers, including all the aforementioned groups, as well as Mother Nature, wild animals, and just plain bad luck. Oh, and I have to mention—Sara, the main character, is an absolute idiot. She repeatedly ignores the advice of experienced guides, and because of her stupidity, they (and eventually she) pay a massive price. I found myself yelling at the TV so many times. You’ll understand why when you watch.

I’m not even a big fan of this era, and honestly, I didn’t expect to care much about the show. But once we started watching, it was surprisingly gripping. I can wholeheartedly recommend it as a solid watch. Check it out!