American Primeval is Netflix’s response to the latest rise in Western projects in Hollywood, and while it’s a hit among audiences, the critics are a little bit more hesitant to buy into its story. The TV miniseries, created and written by Mark L. Smith, is partially inspired by a true story. American Primeval primarily revolves around the Mountain Meadows Massacre during the Utah War in 1857. It focuses on the fight between Native Americans, settlers, and Mormons over the Utah Territory and how all the groups turned to violence to gain control of the land in the Old West.
Given American Primeval‘s story, the Western genre’s comeback, and the show’s stellar cast (which includes Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin), it’s not surprising it has been sitting at the top of Netflix’s charts. The miniseries has experienced massive success since its premiere on January 9, 2025. However, while American Primeval‘s impressive viewership indicates it has positive reviews across the board, its response is divisive.
What Critics Have Criticized About American Primeval
Some Believe The Show Favors Violence Over Developing Its Characters
American Primeval‘s Tomatometer (critics) score on Rotten Tomatoes is 63 percent, as of the writing of this article. While that number means the Netflix Western miniseries is considered “Fresh” on the website, it’s lower than one would expect, especially since the show’s Popcornmeter (audiences) sits at 88 percent. So, it’s clear that there is some disagreement between critics and audiences concerning American Primeval‘s quality. To summarize the mixed response from critics, some believe the series relies too much on its violence. They were upset that the show’s brutality was favored over fleshing out its characters.
| American Primeval Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Taylor Kitsch | Isaac Reed |
| Betty Gilpin | Sara Rowell |
| Dan DeHaan | Jacob Pratt |
| Saura Lightfoot-Leon | Abish Pratt |
| Derek Hinkey | Red Feather |
| Joe Tippett | James Wolsey |
| Jai Courtney | Virgil Cutter |
| Preston Mota | Devin Rowell |
| Shawnee Pourier | Two Moons |
| Shea Whigham | Jim Bridger |
AV Club‘s Tom Lowery explained his problems with American Primeval in his review. Lowery wrote, “When that brutality is this heavyhanded, you can’t help but wish as much thought and energy was put into fleshing out these people as the pain they endured.” The Hollywood Reporter‘s Daniel Fienberg agreed with Lowery, calling the show “monotonous.”
However, not every review was negative. Aramide Tinubu praised American Primeval in her Variety review. Tinubu said, “The six episodes present a brutal, fascinating depiction of a culture and a country that has yet to overcome its most violent predilections.” Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times concurred, commenting that the Netflix Western miniseries was “beautifully produced.”
Following the end of Yellowstone in 2024, Netflix has the perfect replacement show for those unhappy with Taylor Sheridan’s franchise coming in 2025.
Why American Primeval Has A Much Higher RT Audience Score
Many Viewers Found The Netflix Miniseries Gripping
The positive and negative reviews of American Primeval from critics balance one another out, which is why it has an average Tomatometer score. As for audiences, though, they seemingly agree more on the show’s quality. Many viewers expressed how compelling they found the Western drama’s story and praised the American Primeval cast‘s performances. They also complimented the cinematography and action sequences. Ultimately, American Primeval is landing better with audiences than critics because of fans’ focus on the show’s pure entertainment value versus its overall storytelling capabilities.
