WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Primeval.
Netflix’s epic period Western seriesAmerican Primevalends with a surprising detour that takes Sara, Devin, and Two Moons on a course to the Golden Coast.American Primevalis a new major Western streaming seriesthat was released on Netflix on June 15, 2025. The series takes place on the frontier of the American West in 1857, particularly in the somewhat lawless terrain of Utah. The grim, violent, chaotic, and unforgivingAmericanPrimevalshows early American settlers, cultists, and indigenous tribes as murderers and survivorsin a series of gruesome fights for control of the newly found territory.
American Primevalwas 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. Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights,Lone Survivor) directs all six episodes ofAmerican Primeval.Taylor Kitsch leads an ensemble cast, which featuresBetty Gilpin,Dane DeHaan,Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Shea Whigham, Lucas Neff, and Kim Coates. By the end ofAmerican Primeval, Kitsch’sIsaac Reed completes his mission to die valiantly to be with his deceased family in the afterlife.
Why Sara, Devin & Two Moons Decide To Go To California, Not Crooks Springs
Sara decides not to leave Devin with his father & plans to start a new life in California
Since the beginning ofAmerican Primeval, Sara wants to take Devin to Crooks Springs, so they can reunite with her husband, his father. Along the way, they are joined by a Shoshone runaway named Two Moons and seek help from Isaac Reed, who protects them throughout the series. Surprisingly,Sara changed her mind at the end of the seriesand headed to California instead.
Sara had intended to drop off Devin with his father knowing that she would be pursued endlesslydue to her high bounty. She dreams up the idea that Isaac could go to California with them, but he declines. After his death, Sara chooses to start a new life in California and not abandon Devin with his dad.
Isaac was running on empty after his family was murdered by thieves. He had nothing to live for any longer and very little reason to start a new family given how much pain he was still in. Isaac denies Sara’s invitation to head to California but saves her, Devin, and Two Moons once again after they are approached by Virgil’s vengeful brother. Isaac kills him but takes several bullets to the torso, which causes his death. Isaac was returning to a brutal and isolated life that was reduced to mere survival.By saving Sara and the kids again, he found a way to die honorablyand for a cause outside of himself, which was the only way he could make use of his life.
Why Sara Wished She Could Be With Isaac
He protected her and her son countless times
It’s not surprising that after all Isaac had done for Sara,she started to feel an emotional and romantic pull towards him. Had Isaac not been so devastated, he may have wanted to join them and continue his newfound purpose as Sara and Devin’s protector. He even takes on a bit of a fatherly role towards Devin after his leg breaks and he has to brutally fix it. After seeing all that Isaac had done, she likely couldn’t imagine seeing Devin’s father ever again.
Why Pratt Killed Himself After Shooting Abish
The immense pain and absurdity of the situation was too much
Pratt tragically started to lose his grip on reality but never gave up searching for Abish, who he finds in one of the most unbelievable ways imaginable. Pratt shot Abish thinking she was one of the Shoshone tribe since she was fully dressed in their attire, face paint and all. When Pratt discovered what he had done,he felt that there would be no way to ever cope with killing his wife. Clearly, the immediate pain of the experience – as well as the bizarre nature of the ordeal – was too great for Pratt to handle.
What Happens To Fort Bridger After American Primeval
It remained a fort until Wyoming became a state in 1890
Brigham Young finally gets what he wants from Jim Bridger by paying him a staggering amount of money that he couldn’t refuse.Young revealed that he only planned to purchase the fort so that he could burn it down completely, which would limit transportation to the area from outsiders traveling from the east. Without Fort Bridger, travelers in Wyoming on their way to Salt Lake City would be forced to encounter Young and his Mormon followers, who would then try to convert them into their church. Destroying Fort Bridger also made it harder for Washington to send its military troops out to contest Young’s vision of America.
Brigham Young & The Utah War After American Primeval’s Ending
Young stepped down as Utah’s governor in 1858
Following the events ofAmerican Primeval, President James Buchanan sent military troops to the Utah Territory, which made Young and his Church of Latter-day Saints uneasy and prepare for war. The Mormons took measures to prevent U.S. troops in Utah from getting provisions and blocked them from entering Salt Lake City. The fearful Mormon militia even killed unarmed settlers and accused several of being spies sent by the U.S. government.Roughly 150 people were estimated to have been killed during the Utah War, which ended with a Presidential pardon of the Latter-day Saints and the replacement of Alfred Cumming for Brigham Young as Utah’s governor.
The Real Meaning Of American Primeval
Primitive mentalities prevail in American Primeval
American Primevalis a vicious series that is bandaged by a relatively happy ending. While Sara may not have deserved it based on her numerous errors that nearly cost Isaac and her son their lives, she heads for what should be a prosperous life in California.All of Isaac’s heroics don’t necessarily better his position, which makes him a tragic martyr figurein the series. Abish and Pratt’s story leaves them both dead and no longer believers in the Mormon church, while Berger proves that every human being has a price. Lt. Pepper’s betrayal of his fellow soldiers is despicable and is another example of the primitive mentalities that prevail inAmerican Primeval.
Will There Be An American Primeval Season 2?
Netflix lists it as a limited series
There is currently no confirmation about anAmerican Primevalseason 2. Since it’s listed as a limited series, and several of the main characters die in the finale,it’s highly unlikely that there will be a second season. If there were a second season in the works, it would likely cover more of the aforementioned Utah War and Brigham Young’s final days as Governor of Utah. It could also depict Sara, Devin, and Two Moons starting fresh in California, which could bring about a whole new set of dangers ifAmerican Primevalwere to continue.
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.
