Frontier Adventures
Ever wished for more Frontier-like shows that focus on the different types of settlers in 19th-century North America? Or have you ever wondered about the Native Americans during this period of colonization? Well, one of Netflix’s shows for 2025 happens to be American Primeval, a dark and gritty ensemble tale of warring factions in the Utah territory in 1857.
With exciting themes of adventures, found family, betrayals and murder, it’s for those who love gory Westerns. While American Primeval ended as quickly as it began with just 6 episodes, we are in the mood for some more Frontier adventures. So, we have searched high and dry to find TV shows to watch after this mini-series.
Well, without further ado, here are 10 TV shows similar to American Primeval.
1883
Similarities – North American colonization, Frontier adventure
If you were curious about the land struggle between Brigham Young and Jim Bridger, then 1883 is for you. The show does follow the same strain as its sequel, Yellowstone. But it is set in the same time period as American Primeval and similarly focuses on land struggles that involve pioneers, outlaws, the Natives and US officers.
1883 follows the Dutton family in the 19th century as they join a wagon train and hope to establish themselves in Montana and find a ranch which would later become the infamous Yellowstone Ranch. On the way, the Duttons experience hardship, betrayals and family drama as they struggle to reach their destination in one piece.
Frontier
Similarities – North American colonization, cultural clash, gory action
With an Aquaman cameo and a bunch of B-grade films after Game of Thrones, fans were excited for Jason Momoa to lead Frontier back in 2016. And while it isn’t exactly a 10/10 TV experience, it has carved out a name for itself in the Western period drama genre. In fact, a lot of viewers couldn’t help but draw parallels with American Primeval.
Set about 100 years earlier, Frontier focuses on the fur trade in the Hudson region as different factions hope to break the Hudson Bay Company’s monopoly. With the Natives suffering at the hands of the pioneers, they team up with the outlaw, Declan Harp in hopes of destroying the company. However, Lord Benton has other plans for the company and does his best to end Harp.
Outlander
Similarities – North American colonization, Frontier adventure, gory action
Hear us out, while the first two seasons are set in Scotland and France, the remaining seasons see the Frasers becoming one of the first American settlers. We even have characters who have a similar storyline to Abish and Isaac interacting with the Natives.
To get started, Outlander follows Claire, a 20th-century military nurse who accidentally travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland. She instantly makes an enemy with the infamous English captain, Black Jack Randall and is forced to ally with James Fraser, a Jacobite who she knows will die while trying to free Scotland.
Godless (2017)
Similarities – Frontier adventure, revenge, action
While watching American Primeval, Godless kept popping up in the recommendations and we just had to check it out. And the algorithm is pretty accurate as this one has a similar setting to that of American Primeval. There’s the sympathetic Native women and naive pioneers, a menacing outlaw and a misfit hero who doesn’t belong anywhere. Sound familiar?
Well, set in 1884 New Mexico, it begins with Roy Goode, an amateur outlaw who decides to make a run for it when he bites off more than he can chew by joining the cruel and ruthless Frank Griffin. However, it isn’t so simple as he has also stolen from Frank. As the vengeful outlaw continues on his tirade, an injured Goode finds himself in a small town that only has women.
Jamestown (2017-2019)
Similarities – North American colonization, cultural clash, political intrigue
Jamestown may have the Downton Abbey aesthetic but it is more like American Primeval if we look at the setting and the time period. Set during the colonisation period, it focuses on the era when the settlers start establishing themselves in North America and face political pressure to enforce British rule.
It begins with some British women including Jocelyn, Alice and Verity who are to be married to their benefactors and settle in Jamestown, the first colony in North America. The women struggle to come to terms with their fiances who are all quite different, ranging from a cruel farmer to a drunk bartender. Meanwhile, one of the fiances, Samuel works with Sir George Yeardley who is barely able to keep the peace in town.
John Adams (2008)
Similarities – Setting, political intrigue
We barely get a mention of President Buchanan and the threat that he poses to Brigham Young but we have a mini-series for you that focuses on one of the earlier leaders of the country. As evident from the title, John Adams is an HBO show by Oscar-winner Tom Hooper and is based on John Adams, the second president of USA.
John Adams gives us the cinematic experience we had wished for from American Primeval as it spans the years of Adams’ life and how he became president. It begins with the Boston Massacre and lawyer John Adams who is roped in to defend the British soldiers involved in the incident. As he struggles to come to terms with the idea of breaking away from Britain, his cousin, Samuel Adams speaks out against the Intolerable Acts on the settlers.
Into the West (2005)
Similarities – North American colonization, cultural clash
After a deep dive into TV shows on Native Americans, the alarmingly low and homogenous number in the genre is quite shocking. But while we cannot find any historical shows where characters like Red Feather or the Shoshones are the protagonists (no, Dark Winds doesn’t count), we did find an underrated gem.
Into the West, a 2005 mini-series by Dreamworks and Spielberg comes as close to wholly giving us a historical drama on Native Americans as we can imagine. It is an ensemble epic that spans decades as it follows two families – the Native American Lakotas and the pioneers, the Wheelers as they keep crossing paths.
It begins with Growling Bear’s predictions getting him exiled while Loved By The Buffalo seeks him out to save his tribe. Meanwhile, hungering for adventure, Jacob Wheeler sets out for the West with his brother.
Black Sails
Similarities – Tone, adventure, revenge, action
While Black Sails is set over 100 years earlier and focuses on the Caribbean region, it has the same gritty tone expected from a show on a new, lawless country where opportunists come searching for a better life. However, instead of Mormons and outlaws, Black Sails involves pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy.
It is the fictional retelling of real pirates as they war with each other, British and Spanish navies and the inhabitants of the islands. The epic begins in New Providence as Eleanor tries to field outlaws and run her business. The British Navy is hellbent on forcing order while Captain Flint struggles with the idea of mutiny when HMS Scarborough, a pirate hunter sets its eyes on him.
The Alienist
Similarities – Setting, investigations, betrayals
Dellinger’s investigations may have been thwarted by Wolsey but The Alienist would have made him proud as it happens to be a historical take on cop-procedural shows. Set at the end of the 19th century, it follows Teddy Roosevelt (yep, he was a cop initially), the NYC police commissioner as he uses unconventional methods to solve crimes.
After the murder of male prostitutes and with no progress in the case, Dr. Kreizler, a psychiatrist is roped in to investigate on the down-low with John Moore, an artist. As they constantly clash with the NYPD captain who wants to protect the aristocrats’ reputation, they are joined by Roosevelt’s secretary, Sara Howard and twin sergeants, the Isaacsons.
Turn: Washington’s Spies
Similarities – Setting, betrayals, action, political intrigue
While watching the Mormon Militia trick Dellinger and the Mormons, we do wonder if they would have been so cocky had the Culper Ring made an appearance in American Primeval. If you have no idea what we are talking about, check out Turn: Washington’s Spies, a criminally underhyped TV show based in that time period.
Full of action, political intrigue, betrayals and espionage, Turn: Washington’s Spies focuses on the Culper Ring that entered the American Revolution right when the British army had almost destroyed Washington’s army.
After the British takes over New York City, Abraham Woodhull, a sympathizer from a nearby farm decides to form the Culper Ring, a spy ring with his friends and help Washington chase the British out of New York, their main base in the North American mainland.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show picks to check out when you’re finished with American Primeval.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!