American Primeval, a new Netflix limited series about the Utah War in the 1850s, isn’t afraid to dramatize the horrors of the Old West. Directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) and written by Mark L.

While the story that unfolds on-screen took place in the 19th century Utah Territory – now Utah state – the show was filmed entirely in New Mexico, 600 miles to the south east.

This unsparingly grim Netflix western draws from a tradition of works eager to push beyond sanitized frontier myths. Here’s a supplementary guide.

Fans of Netflix’s American Primeval are eagerly awaiting updates on its future. The series follows a mother and son escaping their past while forming a found family in the harsh American West. Viewers are curious about the prospects for Season 2.

American Primeval has just dropped on Netflix, offering a Western series set in 1857, with a star-studded cast including Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin and Kim Coates