Warning – this article contains full spoilers for American Primeval.
This jaw-dropping Western series on may be number one in the charts, but it’s proven to be one of the most divisive new shows of the year – and we’re still only halfway through January.
Starring a cast of A-listers and offering an unflinching look at a grisly and relentless period of American history, American Primeval is proving popular amongst streamers.
GLOW star Betty Gilpin leads the series as Sara Rowell, a mother on the run for murder who enlists the help of wanderer Isaac Reed (played by Taylor Kitsch) to lead her and her son Devin (Preston Mota) to safety in Crooks Springs.
Their perilous journey takes place against the backdrop of the Utah War, a violent conflict in the American West, and sees them come up against territorial Mormons, Native Americans and cutthroat bounty hunters.
While enough viewers have clearly tuned in to shoot American Primeval to the top of ’s rankings in the UK this past week, reactions have been a mixed bag.
Netflix fans fume ‘unnecessary’ ending ruins ‘10/10’ series (Image: NETFLIX)
It currently holds a 62 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (though audiences are more positive at 88 percent) and several viewers have been complaining about the sixth and final episode on social media.
Radio Times called the conclusion “unbearably bleak”, highlighting several devastating deaths including both Jacob Pratt’s (Dane DeHaan) wife Abish (Saura Lightfoot-Leon) and Isaac himself.
As the dust settles on one of ’s most blood-soaked finales in history, what have fans been saying about this controversial series?
One viewer said on X: “American Primeval was amazing until the final episode and I’m super p***ed off about it.”
American Primeval is one of Netflix’s most brutal shows yet (Image: NETFLIX)
Someone else fumed: “I hate when shows make 5/6 great episodes for the fans and then tie it all together with some artsy BS ending that makes everyone feel jilted…”
“#AmericanPrimeval was so good until the last episode I couldn’t even finish after the first 30 minutes,” another complained. “So disappointing.”
“The creator(s) of American Primeval really bungled the ending of the show. Killing off Abish and Reed was unnecessary,” a fourth fan said.
A more positive fan called it “One of the best shows I’ve seen recently”, though admitted, “It could’ve been a 10/10 but I didn’t like the ending but still amazing.”
Several characters were killed off in the series finale (Image: NETFLIX)
While another subscriber put it simply, “American Primeval ending sucks a**”, adding eye roll emojis.
The punishing Western drama from creator Mark L Smith and director Peter Berg could still be worth watching – just prepare for your spirits to be crushed by that final episode.
American Primeval is available to stream on .