Netflix’s American Primeval proved that not following Taylor Sheridan’s Western genre template is why it emerged as a big hit.

Taylor Sheridan created arguably the biggest Western empire with his Yellowstone universe, which has gained popularity and critical acclaim. As a result, it is natural for the franchise’s imprint to be seen in other Western shows moving forward. However, director Peter Berg resisted the temptation to copy Sheridan.

Berg directed the Netflix Western drama American Primeval, created by Mark L. Smith. Set during the Utah War, the series takes a much more gritty approach to the genre, delivering an extremely grim narrative. As a result, American Primeval turned out very different from Sheridan’s 1923, and here is why that was for the best.

American Primeval director revealed why he did not want to copy Taylor Sheridan

Taylor Sheridan delivered multiple hits in the Western genre with the rise of his Yellowstone universe. The flagship series, which concluded late last year, was expanded with several spin-offs, including the prequel series 1923. As a result, Sheridan’s impact on the genre is undeniable.

A still from American Primeval (Credit: Netflix).

Meanwhile, Netflix’s latest Western hit, American Primeval, decided to take a completely different approach to its visuals and style. The series was directed by Peter Berg, known for his work on shows like Friday Night Lights.

During an interview with Gold Derby, Berg reflected on developing the project as a limited series set in Southern Utah during the 1850s. As he and writer Mark L. Smith researched the region’s history, Berg felt that the series would become too similar to Sheridan’s recent period Western epics.

I’m like, ‘Look, man, I don’t want to get into Taylor’s world. We have to create our own language and space.’

Berg made the above statement, explaining that he was nervous to enter the same ground that Sheridan had previously explored in his Yellowstone prequel shows, such as 1883 and 1923. As a result, it is safe to say that American Primeval‘s gritty and grim tone was intended to differentiate it from Sheridan’s work.

American Primeval ended up being better than Taylor Sheridan’s 1923

In the same interview, Berg also revealed that several crew members he worked with on the limited series had also worked with Sheridan. As a result, Berg had to double down on his new approach while also maintaining the Western genre’s spirit and essence.

A still from Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 (Credit: Paramount+).

Ultimately, Berg achieved his vision and created a vastly different viewing experience compared to Sheridan’s work. The same is reflected in the show’s Rotten Tomatoes score, with an 87% approval rating from the audience. In contrast, Sheridan’s latest period-Western outing, 1923, only managed a 53% audience score despite a superior critics’ score.

Therefore, it is safe to say that Berg’s gamble to avoid following in Sheridan’s footsteps was a success. In the same interview, Sheridan gave his stamp of approval to American Primeval, admitting he was impressed with Berg’s more gritty and grounded take on the genre.

As a result, it can be argued that American Primeval appealed to audiences who had become rather bored with Sheridan’s style. Nonetheless, not copying Sheridan probably turned out to be the best for the series and Berg, resulting in one of Netflix’s latest hits.