Preston Mota as Devin Rowell, Taylor Kitsch as Isaac, and Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell (Image: NETFLIX)
Netflix has just premiered a gripping new Western series called American Primeval, starring big names like Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, and Kim Coates. The six-episode series transports viewers back to the tumultuous year of 1857.
The official synopsis unveils a grim and chaotic setting: “Up is down, pain is everywhere, and innocence and tranquility are losing the battle to hatred and fear. Peace is the shrinking minority, and very few possess grace – even fewer know compassion.
“There’s no safe haven in these wild lands, and only one goal matters: survival.”
While the narrative is not tied to any one true historical account, it dramatically portrays the real challenges faced by those in the era.
One stark example from that time is the Mountain Meadows Massacre, which took place in September 1857 amidst the Utah War. This event witnessed brutal attacks that culminated in over 120 emigrants from the BakerFancher wagon train being tragically killed, reports .
Preston Mota as Devin Rowell and Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell (Image: NETFLIX)
Perpetrated by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints alongside the Utah Territorial Militia, this atrocity predominantly claimed the lives of families from Arkansas who were heading to California via the Old Spanish Trail.
This savage act was catalysed by escalating tensions between Mormon leader Brigham Young and the US federal government.
Interestingly, when the Mormons settled in the Salt Lake region in 1847, it was under Mexican jurisdiction before the US annexation following the Mexican-American War.
Experts point to a complex interplay of factors leading up to the tragic event, including widespread hysteria surrounding a potential invasion of Mormon territory.
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American Primeval is set in 1857 (Image: NETFLIX)
Historians continue to debate whether Brigham Young directly orchestrated the massacre or if local leaders in southern Utah bear sole responsibility.
By June 1858, the Mormon War drew to a swift close as US soldiers marched unopposed through Salt Lake City, prompting Young to accept a newly appointed governor for Utah and President Buchanan to grant pardons to the Mormons for their “rebellion”.
Betty Gilpin, who portrays Sara Rowell in American Primeval, emphasized the cast and crew’s commitment to historical accuracy.
“It’s raw and honest about all the brutality and insanity that came with that time,” she noted in a behind-the-scenes featurette.