After the release ofAmerican Primeval, audiences may be eager for another Western with a similar intense atmosphere, and Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstoneuniverse has just the thing.American Primevalis a Netflix television series that originally premiered in January 2025.The series is set in 1857, amid the ongoing war between the Mormon church and Utah’s original settlers, and centers on a mother and son who are desperate to flee their home.American Primevalearned strong reviewsupon its release, and was particularly noted for its raw violence and dark story.
American Primevalcame at an interesting time for the Western genre. Although Westerns have always been a staple of the entertainment industry, for the past six years, the genre has been dominated by Taylor Sheridan.The writer, director, and producer createdYellowstonein 2019 and, since then, has continuedto make well-loved neo-Western TV shows. Because of this,American Primevalseemed to be Netflix’s way of rivalingSheridan’s empire on Paramount+. However, now thatAmerican Primevalhas been out for a while, one of its strongest replacements is Sheridan’s ownYellowstonespinoff.
1883 Is The Closest Thing Taylor Sheridan Has To American Primeval
How 1883 Is Similar & Different From American Primeval
Of all the shows in Sheridan’s neo-WesternYellowstoneuniverse, the best one to watch afterAmerican Primevalis1883.Released in 2021, this one-season series is a spinoff ofYellowstone,following theDutton family’s ancestorsasthey flee poverty in Texas for a better life in Montana, where they end up building the legendary Dutton farm. However, this new frontier is dangerous and not totally welcoming, so the family must band together to survive. The show stars Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May, Sam Elliott, and Billy Bob Thornton.
1883is a strong companion toAmerican Primevalbecause the shows are concerned with the same era in the American West. More specifically,the two series follow desperate people who are risking their lives traveling across the Great Plains.Though the characters exist in different worlds, they face similar struggles, particularly due to the cultural clashes at that time. What really separates1883andAmerican Primevalare the details.1883has preexisting characters it cares about, whileAmerican Primevalis more focused on its historical background, alongside its ensemble cast.
American Primeval Is More Brutal Than Any Taylor Sheridan Series
Why The Yellowstone Universe Is Less Violent
One really key difference between the two showsthat audiences should know about is that1883is not nearly as gruesome asAmerican Primeval.While there are certainly moments of violence in the show, they do not compare to thedetailed scenes included inAmerican Primeval.Just about every Western project has some level of gore in it, simply because of the time period and the setting, yetthose who have seenAmerican Primevalknow that it is particularly intense. Truthfully, this is what makes it so hard to find a TV show that’s a good follow-up to the series.
Therefore, once1883came along, it didn’t make sense to include over-the-top violence, even with the change of setting and platform, because it needed to align with the standardYellowstoneset.
1883’sdecreased brutality may be disappointing for some viewers, but it makes sense in the grand scheme of things.Yellowstonewas never particularly graphic with its violence, mostly because the show was set in the modern day, so that type of gore just wouldn’t make sense. Furthermore, it was airing on network TV, which doesn’t have the same freedoms as streaming. Therefore, once1883came along, it didn’t make sense to include over-the-top violence, even with the change of setting and platform, because it needed to align with the standardYellowstoneset.
Does American Primeval Have A Yellowstone-Like Future?
Other Projects To Watch After American Primeval
A final connection betweenAmerican Primevaland1883is that the former may be able to follow in the latter’s footsteps. Theoretically,American Primevalcould be the start of a Western franchise likeYellowstonethat has various seasons and spinoffs. At the moment, Netflix has not renewedAmerican Primevalfor a second season, which is a disappointing sign. However, there is still a chance that the series could be picked up again, and if it continues to be successful, more seasons could be a possibility.
American Primeval’s Success Should Be A Wake-Up Call For Netflix To Compete With Taylor Sheridan’s Western TV Show Empire, Because It’s Proved It Can
Netflix created a budding Western franchise with American Primeval, which could finally be an answer to Taylor Sheridan’s wealth Paramount shows.
In the meantime, viewers may want to check out more Westerncontent likeAmerican Primeval.1883is a solid choice, but for those who want more violence,a movie likeBone Tomahawkwould be better.This Western follows a sheriff who gathers a gang of men to save a man and woman who are kidnapped by a cannibalistic tribe. Hopefully, these suggestions will satisfy audiences until they know whetherAmerican Primevalis coming back or not.
