Netflix’s anti-Yellowstone? This new western series shows the true face of the American West!

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In 1857 America, pain is everywhere. Innocence and peace lose the battle against hatred and fear. Calmness and compassion are rare commodities. There is no safe haven in these harsh lands of the American West. Only one thing is important: survival. A mother and her son on the run from the past meet new people and face the hostile spaces of the American far west, where freedom and brutality reign.

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This new Netflix series was created by The Revenant screenwriter Mark L. Smith. This Twilight Western earned Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar for Best Actor. With this mini-series, the screenwriter offers another dive into the brutality and darkness of the true American West.

The series features an ensemble cast, including Taylor Kitsch. The Canadian actor, identified by Friday Night Lights, lends his features to Isaac, a rugged and lonely cowboy who escorts Sarah Rowell (Betty Gilpin) with her son, Devin. The trio is tracked down by Virgil Cutter (Jai Courtney), a mercenary who is drawn to the bounty on the young woman.

Dane DeHaan, for his part, appears in the shoes of a newlywed whose wife was kidnapped in a bloody attack. Being seriously injured himself, the latter therefore joined the Mormon troops of the governor of Utah, who tried to establish their power both over the pioneers who wanted to settle there, and over the native tribes who already lived there.

Most of the characters in the miniseries are completely fictional. However, some historical figures also appear in the program. This is especially true of trapper Jim Bridger (played by the brilliant Shea Whigham), or Utah Mormon Governor Brigham Young (Kim Coates).

Is it worth a look?

Western, again and again. Considered a dated and outdated genre just a few years ago, the Western is enjoying new life on television thanks to the success of Yellowstone. Since then, every streaming platform has tried to capitalize on this craze with new original productions.

Late last year, Netflix introduced Territory, an Australian series with the same recipe as Yellowstone. This Thursday, January 9, the streaming service will debut a very different western series called At the Dawn of America.

A series that deals with current events

Unlike The Territory, this production moves away from the serialized aspect of Yellowstone entirely and leans closer to the more realistic tone of its 1883 prequel. In this six-episode series, the myth of the American West is completely reimagined, in reverse. , get as close as possible to the brutality of historical facts.

The basis of the program is to remind us that America was born in blood. The political and social turmoil that afflicts the country today seems to stem directly from the events of two centuries ago. The title of the series seems almost incomplete: Should it be called Dawn of America Today?

The immersive and sticky production of the series is by Peter Berg. Specializing in blockbuster movies (Battleship, Blood and Tears, etc.), the latter is also known for his work on television, and in particular the creation of Friday Night Lights. American Dawn allows him to reconnect with his beloved actor Taylor Kitsch, whom he directed in his cult series, but also in several of his films.

The great quality of the series lies in the desire to multiply views. Forget the clichés of good cowboys and bad cowboys! Rather, the story explores the psychology and complexity of the characters in depth. They are also the real driving forces behind the story, rather than the quest for survival that the trio of protagonists attempt over the course of six episodes.

Western Shogun?

The series also sought to paint an authentic portrait of Native American tribes, particularly through the use of their native languages. This selection allows us to see all the progress that has been made in representing diversity in the West, proving once again that American Dawn is indeed a series perfectly placed for our time.

By re-appropriating the codes of the traditional Western, American Dawn takes the form of both sincere homage and critique of past productions. Rarely in the past has a Western created such a perfect combination of rigorous historical reconstruction mixed with stylized aesthetics.

Fortunately, the Western series follow each other, but are not identical. Yellowstone has been credited with reviving the genre, America’s Dawn now shows all the possibilities it offers to the most daring screenwriters. Incidentally, the latter’s ability to create something new from the old without going through the remake/reboot box, an ease that streaming platforms fall into all too often…

The American Dawn mini-series is now available exclusively on Netflix.

Discover the list of series currently available on the platform!