American Primeval’sepic Western saga chronicles the story of five warring factions and groups, and here’s who they are and what they want throughout the series.American Primevalmay start out as the story of one woman and her son who want to move across the frontier, but things soon get much bigger after an attack on a wagon train, leading to a massive conspiracy and cover-up that involves all kinds of different groups.American Primeval’s massive cast is comprised of all kinds of different characters, and here are the major groups inNetflix’s new Western dramaseries.
American Primevalis a fictional story that has some roots in real-life history, making for an interesting blend of fact and fiction. Most ofthe Netflix miniseriestakes place in the Utah Territory, which features rebel Mormons, U.S. citizens, Indigenous tribes, and more.The series kicks off by showing the real-life Mountain Meadows Massacre, which was a series of attacks on a mountain train perpetrated by some Mormons and members of the Southern Paiute Native Americans, which led to the deaths of at least 120 people. This event creates all kinds of different factions, leading toAmerican Primeval’s epic story.
5Sara Rowell’s Party
Sara, Devin, Isaac, & Two Moons
Sara Rowell is themain character inAmerican Primeval, and her party of four is one of the main factions in the series.American Primevalbegins with Sara and her son Devin attempting to cross the frontier so that they can locate Sara’s husband, with the duo looking for a guide across the dangerous territory. This leads to them meeting Isaac, a violent survival expert who agrees to take them to their destination. Isaac spends much of the journey protecting Sara and Devin from the men who are coming after them, leading to all kinds of violence.
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However, one more member joins the party in the series: Two Moons. Two Moons is a young Indigenous girl who ran away from home,with her stowing away in Sara’s wagon train. After the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Two Moons secretly trails Sara and Devin before officially joining their party, with Isaac begrudgingly agreeing to take her along.
4Brigham Young & The Mormons
The People Of The Utah Territory & The Nauvoo Legion
The main antagonists ofAmerican Primevalare the Mormons, led by the real-life leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and governor of the Utah Territory, Brigham Young. Due to the Mormons being wary of outsiders coming into the Utah Territory, the Mormon army known as the Nauvoo Legion attacked the wagon train that Sara Rowell was part of, leading to the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
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The rest ofAmerican Primevalsees the Mormons attempting to cover up the attack, with one party being sent after Sara Rowell and another party attempting to locate Abish Pratt, the surviving wife of Jacob Pratt. Meanwhile, Brigham Young attempts to fortify the Utah Territory from the U.S. Military, leading to him clashing with Jim Bridger as he attempts to buy Fort Bridger.
3The People Of Fort Bridger
Led By Jim Bridger
Another major group inAmerican Primevalis the people of Fort Bridger, who are led by Shea Whigham’s Jim Bridger. Jim Bridger is a realist who runs Fort Bridger, the rough and violent fort that is often visited by people who are passing through the Utah Territory. The people of Fort Bridger couldn’t be more different from Brigham Young and the Mormons who are attempting to buy the fort, with them being known for drinking, gambling, and giving the Mormons a hard time.
2Red Feather’s Shoshone Tribe
The Wolf Clan
While several Indigenous tribes are mentioned throughoutAmerican Primeval,Red Feather’s Shoshone tribe is the most significant one. Red Feather is a warrior who acts as the leader of the Wolf Clan, with them being notorious among the Mormons and other settlers in the Utah Territory. Red Feather is known for killing white men as revenge for their massacres of his people, with them taking Abish Pratt in after the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
1The U.S. Military
The Group That Brigham Young Fears
Despite being the most powerful group inAmerican Primeval’s Western story, the U.S. Military actually has the smallest presence in the series, with their off-screen developments mostly being discussed by the other characters. In the series, Brigham Young is leading his Mormon people to rebel against the United States, creating fears that they will soon invade the Utah Territory. This is why the Mormons do things like carry out the Mountain Meadows Massacre and attempt to buy Fort Bridger, with the U.S. Military being key to the world ofAmerican Primeval.
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.
