Following the success of historical dramas like Bridgerton and The Buccaneers, it's no wonder that viewers are eager for more period pieces, and American Primeval has recently piqued the interest of some.

The Western miniseries was released on Netflix in January this year, featuring Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin.

Set against the backdrop of the Utah War in 1857, it chronicles the journey of a mother and her son traversing the brutal landscape that strips them of their freedom and pushes them towards savagery in the American West.

Sara (portrayed by Betty) is on the run with her son Devin, trying to escape their past life where she is sought for the murder of her affluent husband, and hoping to reunite her son with his father.

The series blends reality with fiction, with some characters inspired by actual individuals who were all struggling for survival.

The climax of the first episode, which depicts Mormon soldiers disguised as Natives attacking a group of pioneers, was influenced by a real event, The Mountain Meadows Massacre.

"Up is down, pain is everywhere, and innocence and tranquillity are losing the battle to hatred and fear," the synopsis tantalises.

"Peace is the shrinking minority, and very few possess grace - even fewer know compassion. There's no safe haven in these wild lands, and only one goal matters: survival."

Reddit users have been swapping recommendations for period dramas, with one swift suggestion being: "American Primeval - early America period piece, limited series, absolutely engrossing."

Another chimed in with high praise: "Based on an obscure true story... Gritty, with ultra-kinetic violence."

However, several others have warned of how "brutal" the series is.

A Netflix subscriber was captivated by the show, sharing: "Recently watched this on Netflix and it blew me away. Beautiful cinematography and a gritty and violent take on the wild west, this is just fantastic."

One viewer didn't hold back their enthusiasm, exclaiming: "This show was f***ing amazing," while another revealed their newfound fascination: "Love love love. For the first time we are seeing the story of the Mormons. Had no idea."

The consensus continued to be overwhelmingly positive, with comments like "Brutal show. Amazing," adding to the acclaim.

Critics and audiences alike have given American Primeval a thumbs up, as evidenced by its 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where one fan admitted: "Much, much better than I was expecting. Saw all episodes straight through. Rather brutal."

Others were equally impressed, with remarks such as "The limited series was excellent. I'm not a big fan of the genre but this series kept me engaged the entire way. It is well written and well cast."

The accolades kept coming, with another viewer noting: "Fast-paced and brutal, not for the faint of heart. Stunning cinematography and first class acting."

In light of the show's success, the creative minds behind American Primeval, Peter Berg and Mark L Smith, have hinted at the possibility of expanding the universe with a prequel series.

"We're talking about it right now," Berg revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

"That's the way we'd go if we do it," he elaborated. "It would be a real big time jump to keep that crew going, but the idea of looking backwards is really interesting to me."

American Primeval is available to watch on Netflix.