American Primeval ending explained: Unbearably bleak, but that’s the point

Warning: Contains full spoilers for American Primeval.

1857, three years prior to the onset of the devastating U.S. Civil War, American Primeval delves into the beginnings of contemporary America. Despite expectations of violence and struggle, the series presents an eerie bleakness that is difficult to fathom. The color scheme mirrors the faded hopes these characters once harbored.

The story opens with a mother and her child fleeing, striving to endure amidst a violent era where hired guns, Mormons, Native Americans, and soldiers are all vying for territory, relentlessly battling each other to seize land and eventually shape what we recognize today as the Wild West.

In their harrowing adventure, Sara (Betty Gilpin) and Devin Rowell (Preston Mota) face unyielding hardships together. A guide who grew up among the Shoshone tribe also accompanies them, but their ordeal remains intense due to the merciless nature of this landscape. Isaac (Taylor Kitsch) does his utmost under such dire circumstances, yet it seems this nightmarish world is exceptionally cruel. Worse still, Sara and her son often disregard Isaac’s advice by making imprudent decisions that go against his wishes.

In each episode, you may find yourself questioning if Sara truly merits her fate, but remember, nobody deserves such unrelenting pursuit, constantly enveloped by the persistent odor of dirt, death, and dried blood that never seems to leave Sara, Devin, or Isaac.

Watching “American Primeval” might make you uneasy due to its graphic depictions of violence such as scalpings, throat slittings, and overall brutality. Yet, despite its discomforting nature, it’s a testament to the reality of life in 1857. Fortunately, the series is only six episodes long, making it easier to endure.

Mark L. Smith, the screenwriter, appears to have a knack for portraying grim situations, a skill evident from his previous challenging project, The Revenant, a few years back.

[image id=”2189777″ size=”full” title=”AMERICAN PRIMEVAL” alt=”Taylor Kitsch as Isaac, kneeling on the ground outside, about to strike someone with a rock” classes=””] Taylor Kitsch as Isaac.

It’s well-known that America was established with the sacrifices of innocents, and while many shows tackle this theme, few do so as candidly as American Primeval. Even shows like Yellowstone, which can be quite grim, seem tame when compared to the raw brutality portrayed in this series.

Moreover, although it may seem tough to swallow, that’s exactly what this program is all about, and it’s precisely one of the key reasons you ought to tune in.

Director Peter Berg recently shared, “America’s origins are deeply rooted in conflict, loss, and hardship.” He further added, “This is simply the historical truth – this appears to be a recurring pattern among human societies.

That’s especially true in the final episode of American Primeval.

American Primeval ending explained

[image id=”2187614″ size=”full” title=”AMERICAN PRIMEVAL” alt=”Close up of Derek Hinkey as Red Feather.” classes=””] Derek Hinkey as Red Feather.

In the final act of this tragedy, a large number of additional lives are lost, among them being two individuals who meet their untimely ends at the most unfortunate moments imaginable.

For Dane DeHaan’s character, Jacob Pratt (a Mormon), he has lived through an actual scalping incident so far, fueled solely by his desperate yearning to find his abducted wife. However, when he finally tracks her down at the end, she is cruelly murdered as their eyes meet, leaving him heartbroken and holding her lifeless body in his arms.

In this situation, the central trio shares the same intensity of pain as Isaac when he rescues Sara and her child from a merciless mercenary, but sadly, just moments later, they witness his death due to a fatal gunshot wound.

It’s particularly heartbreaking to witness this unfold so swiftly after Sara and Isaac openly acknowledged their feelings for each other (as expected). Unfortunately, they wouldn’t get the fairytale conclusion they desired because that would contradict the core themes of American Primeval and its narrative. In essence, it’s no surprise given America’s own history hasn’t been marked by a happy ending.

[image id=”2189760″ size=”full” title=”AMERICAN PRIMEVAL” alt=”Joe Tippett as James Wolsey, pointing a gun at someone lying on the ground, other bodies are scattered nearby” classes=””] Joe Tippett as James Wolsey.

Even though things ended on a somber note, there was a glimmer of happiness at the end. This is mainly because Sara and her newly formed family managed to reach safety, all thanks to Isaac’s selfless act.

Perhaps the term “happiness” might be a stretch, but there are certainly small sources of solace to discover, even in the midst of chaos. However, it’s essential that the pain and suffering remain predominant, as it is crucial for us to feel uneasy while observing these events.

The show’s final message, “Our present situation mirrors our past choices,” holds just as much truth today as it did in the past.

Although some audiences might find American Primeval’s intensity or melancholy challenging, it serves as a platform for us to contemplate our past and consider the potential recurrence of history when we focus solely on self-interest instead of empathy towards others.

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2025-01-13 16:34