As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must confess that watching “American Primeval” often leaves me with a sense of unease, as if each episode aims to outdo its predecessor in terms of discomfort. However, upon closer examination, it seems that this might not necessarily be the case. For instance, the fourth episode appears less graphic than previous ones since it avoids depictions of sexual assault or throat slitting. Yet, it’s surrounded by harrowing scenes of gruesome injuries, which gives the impression that the show is intentionally exploring the full spectrum of horrors one could encounter in the American West. So perhaps “American Primeval” isn’t about escalating discomfort with each episode but rather presenting a comprehensive portrayal of the worst-case scenarios that could unfold in this era.
If you weren’t already considering “having your toes cut with a dirty shovel” as something to avoid, this episode might make you think twice. It starts with Brigham Young delivering a sermon that serves as both a spiritual message and a battle cry, proclaiming that they have found their promised land, or Zion. This statement is shown alongside Fort Bridger, where Jim Bridger, who is not pleased, is trying to hold onto the pigs he bought in the previous episode. However, Bridger hasn’t paid in full and can’t beat the price offered by Wild Bill Hickman, which puts him in a tough spot. With such a high price, Wild Bill even threatens to take everything Bridger owns. Bridger’s response: using that shovel on Wild Bill’s foot. This solves his pig issue but leaves the possibility of a Mormon uprising hanging in the air.
As a film enthusiast, I found the clever juxtaposition in the episode’s opening scenes particularly captivating. On one hand, Dellinger is penning his thoughts about the tumultuous emotions stirred by his Western journey, while on the other, Abish expresses her own confusion through her uncertain gaze during a Shoshone ceremony. The subsequent dialogue between Abish and Winter Bird further deepens this contrast. When asked about her people, Abish admits feeling disconnected from them, which prompts a discussion about the antipathy between settlers and Native Americans. Abish attributes this to fear, but it’s clear that this simplified explanation falls short when considering the history at play. Winter Bird subtly challenges this viewpoint without directly criticizing Abish, painting a vivid picture of the hardships her people have endured before suggesting that the stains on Abish’s dress symbolize her life, both its triumphs and tribulations. Indeed, Winter Bird’s eloquence transcends barriers, allowing her to effectively communicate with anyone she encounters.
It’s uncertain if she’ll get to speak with Jacob, as the situation seems complex. The episode is quite eventful for Jacob, who’s preoccupied with recovering Cook’s stolen watch. Despite witnessing Virgil kill the remaining adults at the French Canadian camp where Sara, Isaac, and Devin were imprisoned, Jacob remains focused. Tilly, one of Virgil’s associates, is particularly harsh; he even takes a doll away from the girl who led them to the camp, leaving her alone with no caretaker. It appears that Tilly isn’t a kind person. Lucas (Andrew P. Logan), another member of Virgil’s group, seems to disagree with these actions.
Among the gang, Lucas is the one who feels the most compassion for Jacob and his music. However, will he be able to endure an aggressive and violent Jacob? Spurred on by Tilly’s taunts, he lashes out at him. Cook steps in to calm the situation, but this action proves to be a regretful one as Cook is taken away.
Angered by a pocket watch he believes was stolen from the massacre site, Cook meets his end in the river at Jacob’s hands and the watch becomes his trophy. Jacob offers an explanation for his actions to Virgil, but Virgil, with a decision that can be somewhat justified, chooses to sever ties with Jacob, allowing him to find his own path.
In a more unforgiving region of Utah Territory, an injured horse compels Isaac to halt for the evening. The remainder of the night is spent deepening relationships with his travel companions. With Devin, they engage in a conversation about the ethics of eliminating wicked men, a topic significant to both Isaac and Sara, who are aware that Devin has witnessed them killing such individuals. Later that night, Sara stirs from a nightmare of capture and initiates a dialogue with Isaac. He shares some insights about his past. The Shoshone named him Spotted Hawk because they initially encountered him as a freckled young boy, following a trade to them. Sara finds it challenging to fathom why he would abandon such a gentle and secure setting. “Why would you depart from there?” she queries. Isaac remains silent on the matter, but he does promise to stay by her side throughout the night.
At the Shoshone encampment, Red Feather brings back Dellinger’s spy, Grey Fox (Jeremiah Bitsui), which sparks further ethical discussions. This conversation is primarily between Red Feather and his mother, Winter Bird. Red Feather asserts his role as a fighter for his people, demonstrating his commitment by wounding himself. Later, Abish, in essence, continues the discussion started by Winter Bird, questioning Grey Fox’s translation to speak with Red Feather about where killing in the name of God stops and whether he truly wants his son, Young Elk (Mosiah Crowfoot), to be caught up in this cycle of violence. According to Abish, every Shoshone deserves a long life – even Red Feather, she answers when he asks.
This causes Red Feather to reconsider his stance and devise a plan: He’ll lead a group on a war expedition to the soldiers’ camp, accompanied by Abish who can clarify what occurred and reveal the true culprit, hopefully avoiding a fight. With Abish acting as his messenger and Grey Fox translating, this strategy proves effective (taking into account the circumstances, though perhaps only temporarily). After Abish discloses her identity, she verifies Dellinger’s suspicions. He also informs Abish that Jacob is still alive and they can reunite them. However, as Red Feather departs, Abish remains uncertain about her allegiance, particularly after Dellinger tells her that the truce won’t last due to Red Feather’s previous attacks, even if he’s innocent of the massacre. Both Dellinger and Abish concur that the Shoshone deserve better treatment. Neither appears capable of taking action to improve their situation.
When Dellinger escorts Abish to the Mormon encampment, he’s met with an unfriendly reception from Wild Bill and Wolsey, who are unsettled by a living testament to the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Despite their displays of relief, they’re clearly rattled. Abish makes it clear she has no intention of staying and confirms Wolsey’s identity to Dellinger before they depart, which leads Dellinger to write a letter implicating Wolsey to his superior. However, there are two concerns: (1) Abish feels manipulated, feeling that she was put in danger so she could identify a murderer who now knows she’s alive and may seek revenge. And (2) he entrusts the letter to his confidant, Pepper (Kip Weeks), but Pepper betrays Dellinger by delivering the message to Wild Bill instead, causing Abish to disappear towards the Shoshone camp.
In the meantime, Isaac and his group navigate through the snow, but an injured horse is causing them difficulties. They aim to reach a hunting lodge that Isaac is familiar with. Eventually, they do, though not without incident – Devin falls off the injured horse, suffering a severely broken leg. This compels Isaac to perform some gruesome field surgeries, and as the episode concludes, we hear once more the sickening sound of breaking bones.
Bullets and Arrowheads
In addition to questioning if each episode of “American Primeval” escalates discomfort, another intriguing aspect is whether it offers a perspective on the American West and America beyond portraying the violent and grim roots of its past. The historical accuracy and the depth of character development hint at this from the outset, and this notion becomes more apparent with each episode. For instance, Abish’s ability to challenge her preconceptions about Native Americans, Red Feather’s reevaluation of warfare as a way of life (which may be temporary), Dellinger’s introspection, and the budding friendship between Devin and Two Moons (less evident in this episode) all indicate potential paths towards living that transcend factionalism, ongoing conflict, and violence. It’s also evident that the road to such a lifestyle is as challenging as the trek from Fort Bridger to Crooks Springs.
This series is exceptionally skilled at portraying challenging environments, especially the trek through the snow as seen in this episode. As per various accounts, this realistic depiction is largely due to the fact that it was filmed under rather difficult conditions. When the actors appear chilly, it’s frequently because they actually were cold.
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2025-01-11 00:55