Genre Western
Created & written by Mark L. Smith
Directed by Peter Berg
Starring
Main
Taylor Kitsch as Isaac Reed/Spotted Hawk, a skilled mountain man raised by the Shoshone, haunted by the loss of his wife and son
Betty Gilpin as Sara Holloway/Rowell, Devin’s mother who is a wanted fugitive for the murder and robbery of her wealthy husband, fleeing to take her son to his father in Crooks Springs
Dane DeHaan as Jacob Pratt, a devoted follower of the LDS Church who seeks a better life in Wyoming with his newlywed wife, Abish
Saura Lightfoot-Leon as Abish Pratt, Jacob’s wife and a profound believer in the LDS Church
Derek Hinkey as Red Feather, a Shoshone warrior and leader of the Wolf Clan, who despises white Americans for their aggression against his people
Joe Tippett as James Wolsey, the leader of the Mormon militia
Jai Courtney as Virgil Cutter, a ruthless bounty hunter who leads a group of trappers to find Sara and claim the bounty on her head
Preston Mota as Devin Rowell, Sara’s sensitive young son, who has a physical disability that affects his mobility
Shawnee Pourier as Two Moons, a mute young Indigenous woman who flees her village, seeking refuge with Sara and Devin
Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger, the founder and leader of the Fort Bridger trading post
Recurring
Lucas Neff as Captain Edmund Dellinger, a U.S. Army officer stationed near Fort Bridger
Kyle Davis as Tilly, a combative member of Virgil’s group
Tokala Black Elk as Buffalo Run, a proud warrior of the Wolf Clan
Nick Hargrove as Sammy Cottrell, Bridger’s right-hand man
Dominic Bogart as Frank Cook, a high-ranking member of Mormon militia
Alex Fine as Gant, a loyal member of Virgil’s group
Kip Weeks as Sergeant-Major Pepper, Dellinger’s second-in-command who acts as a spy for the Mormon militia
Andrew P. Logan as Lucas Cutter, Virgil’s younger brother and a local trapper
Kim Coates as Brigham Young, the first governor of the Utah Territory and the second president of the LDS Church
Irene Bedard as Winter Bird, Red Feather’s mother, Reed’s adoptive mother, and the wise matriarch of the Shoshone
Nanabah Grace as Kuttaambo’i, a fierce female warrior of the Wolf Clan
Alex Breaux as Wild Bill Hickman, a high-ranking member of the LDS Church
Jeremiah Bitsui as Grey Fox, a Native American soldier serving under Dellinger
Mosiah Aaron Crowfoot as Young Elk, Red Feather’s son
Theme music composer Explosions In The Sky
Country of origin United States No. of episodes 6
Production
Executive producers Peter Berg, Alexander H. Gayner, Eric Newman, Mark L. Smith
Producers Tim King, Robin Le Chanu
Cinematography Jacques Jouffret
Running time 36–63 minutes
Production companies Grand Electric, Film 44
Original release
Network Netflix Release January 9, 2025
The first thing to know about Netflix’s high-budget 6 part series about the struggle for the territory of Utah is that it is a western in the grimdark genre. It’s hyper-realistic, dark, bloody, violent and with compelling acting and characters. It’s in the same vein as Godless, The English, or Deadwood.
The opening episode has the Mountain Meadow massacre, in which Mormons disguised as natives attack and kill nearly all of a wagon train of settlers – including some fellow Mormons. This is part of an ongoing four sided war, featuring Mormons, settlers, natives, and the US Cavalry.
There aren’t any heroes in this story, but acts of courage abound. Pretty much everyone is morally complex, ranging from Sara, who is taking her young, disabled son to meet his father in Crooks Springs. However, she murdered and robbed her husband back east, and has a large bounty on her head. Brigham Young is leader of the Mormon army and is ruthless, and knew of and perhaps even masterminded the slaughter at Mountain Meadow.
The Pratts are a Mormon couple, the only survivors of the massacre and separated. Badly injured, he winds up back at Fort Bridger, while his wife is taken captive by the Shoshone tribe. The Mormons learn that they survived, and have a deep interest in making sure they don’t stay that way so as to keep their role in the massacre secret.
Some of the characters are very engaging, showing principle and determination, but don’t get too attached. Grimdark, remember?
Netflix pulled out all the stops on this, and the incredible care and precision of the staging shows. Even if the show makes you disquieted, you will admire the sheer stagecraft involved.
Oh, yes, and it is a hell of a good set of stories. Well worth watching.