The first season of American Primeval has come to a close, and here is what the story sets up for American Primeval season 2. Netflix’s American Primeval has always been framed as a miniseries, with it telling a self-contained story in its Western setting. However, all kinds of popular streaming miniseries have been turned into multi-season TV shows once they find success, and this could happen to American Primeval. There is still plenty of story to be explored in American Primeval season 2, and here’s what may happen based on real-life history.
American Primeval is one of Netflix’s biggest shows of 2025 so far, with it coming from The Revenant writer Mark L. Smith. The series tells the story of Sara Rowell, a fugitive who is traveling across the frontier with her son in an attempt to find his father. Unfortunately, Sara and her son get caught in the crosshairs of the Utah War during their travels, with them having to survive the dangers of bounty hunters, Mormon militias, Indigenous war parties, wild animals, and more. Luckily, Sara and Devin survive their quest, setting up an exciting story for a potential American Primeval season 2.
Sara, Devin, & Two Moons Head To California
After Changing Their Original Plan
Throughout American Primeval, most of the show is focused on Sara Rowell’s party, with her traveling alongside Devin, Two Moons, and Isaac. On their way to the boomtown where Devin’s father is, Isaac is killed, leaving Sara to make the last leg of the journey with Devin and Two Moons. Upon reaching Devin’s father, however, the trio makes a shocking choice. Rather than continuing on their original journey, Sara, Devin, and Two Moons decide that they would rather go to California, with them turning around and starting a new Western quest.
The Utah Territory is still a long way from California, meaning that American Primeval season 2 could follow the gang as they travel across the remaining frontier in order to reach their destination. Although the characters’ will have made their way out of Mormon territory, there will undoubtedly be more threats along the way. The journey to California could make for an interesting story, with American Primeval‘s story leaving an exciting opportunity for further episodes open.
Bounty Hunters Still Hunt Down Sara Rowell
Chasing Her All The Way To California
Sara Rowell isn’t an innocent bystander in American Primeval, with the series revealing that she is on the run for murder. There is a bounty on Sara’s head, leading to all kinds of figures attempting to hunt her down. Sara and her party manage to avoid the bounty hunters for the duration of American Primeval season 1, with Isaac helping the gang out any time the hunters rear their heads. However, just because Sara is out of the Utah Territory doesn’t mean that Sara is out of trouble completely.
It is entirely possible that more bounty hunters could spot Sara and her American Primeval party on their journey to California, with them hoping to claim the bounty. This could allow an all-new party of villains to appear in the show, replacing Jai Courtney’s Virgil Cutter from American Primeval season 1. After all, bounty hunters were a relatively common occurrence in the period in which American Primeval is set, so it wouldn’t be surprising for them to be on Sara’s trail in season 2.
Jim Bridger Blazes The Bridger Trail & Serves In The Red Cloud’s War
After Selling Fort Bridger
Shea Whigham’s Jim Bridger is a major character in American Primeval season 1, although he is mostly separated from the main action of the miniseries. Instead, Jim Bridger spends most of his time at Fort Bridger, with him negotiating with Brigham Young and the Mormons who hope to buy the fort ahead of the U.S. military’s arrival. Unlike Sara and the other main characters, Jim Bridger is a real person. This means that American Primeval season 2 could further explore the adventures of Jim Bridger, with him still having plenty of story left.
One of the most significant things that Jim Bridger did in life after the events of American Primeval occurred in 1864, when he discovered the Bridger Trail. Bridger blazed this alternate route from Wyoming to Montana, with it becoming a popular path for those who were seeking gold. Bridger also served as a scout in the Red Cloud’s War, giving American Primeval another opportunity to explore a lesser-known war story.
The Aftermath Of The Utah War
What Happened To The Utah Territory?
The Utah War is one of the main focuses of American Primeval, with it acting as the backdrop of Sara Rowell’s journey to find Devin’s father. At the end of American Primeval, the Utah War was just getting started. Brigham Young bought Fort Bridger and successfully burned it down, preparing for an invasion by the U.S. Army. However, things wrapped up fairly quickly after that.
Eventually, the United States negotiated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with them giving the Mormons full pardons in exchange for the Mormons standing down. Brigham Young was replaced by a non-Mormon governor and the U.S. Army was allowed into the state. The only Mormons who weren’t pardoned were the ones involved in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, with this applying to many of the characters from American Primeval.
What Happens To Brigham Young
After The Utah War
Brigham Young is one of the main antagonists in American Primeval, meaning that season 2 will have to cover what happened to him after the events of season 1. Brigham Young’s role in season 1 is complicated, with him mostly attempting to cover up Mormon involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre while also negotiating with Jim Bridger about buying Fort Bridger. However, this isn’t the end of his story.
Brigham Young led the Mormons through the Utah War, with him remaining the governor of the Utah Territory until the United States replaced him with Alfred Cumming in 1858. Brigham Young continued being active in the LDS church after his governorship, with him remaining a well-respected leader. American Primeval could focus on Young’s further influence up to his death, although it wouldn’t be as connected to the new Sara Rowell story in American Primeval season 2.
