




Utah, around 1850. Sara is travelling with her son Devin. She tries to reach a small town where the boy’s father lives. But her guide is killed, so she joins a caravan of settlers leaving fort Bridger, the last post of civilization. A few miles further, the caravan is attacked. It’s a slaughter, which will become known as the Mountain Meadows massacre. Sara and her son barely escapes, but they are hunted down by the perpetrators, who doesn’t anyone to know their identity.
Drawn into a maelstrom of violence between the army, mormons, native americans and bounty hunters, the two inconvenient witnesses owe their survival only to the encounter with a stern man and a young mute native girl.
Once upon a time in Utah…
Mark L. Smith, writer of the series and of “the Revenant” movie, was inspired by real events and characters. The result is a beautiful, strong, powerful script, which alone justifies not missing out on this superb series. The director, Pete Berg, also did an amazing work. Each location has its own color tone (sepia for the plain, blue for the cold forest), beautifully illustrating the hardships faced by people. Fight scenes are very realistic. Although I am not a fan of violence, I could watch it because it is a fundamental part of the story.
When nature, wolves and bears surround you, and every human is ready to kill, a life isn’t worth much. In fact, Bridger is the only elderly character. He has learned to survive by negotiation and by leading a group. Mormons, the army, Shoshotes and Paiutes, each group felt threatened. The slightest spark could spark a war. And when threatened, what better defense than attack? History is written by the victors, and eventually, the most ruthless would prevail.
Mini-series, 6 episodes (60 mn), 2025, on Netflix
WITH : Taylor Kitsch as Isaac, Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell, Preston Mota as Devin Rowell, Shawnee Pourier as Two Moons, Derek Hinkey as Red Feather, Dane DeHaan as Jacob Pratt, Saura Lightfoot-Leon as Abish Pratt, Joe Tippett as James Wolsey, Jai Courtney as Virgil Cutter, Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger, Alex Breaux as Wild Bill Hickman, Kim Coates as Brigham Young, Lucas Neff as Captain Edmund