American Primeval's Ending Feels Forced, Not Realistic

The way the series unfolds makes it feel like the bad guys win at every turn, which can be frustrating for viewers who want some kind of justice or balance. The show leans heavily into realism, but it almost feels like it overcorrects by making the suffering one-sided.

The Native ambush was a perfect setup for a turnaround, but the Zions still came out on top, making the fight feel futile. Red Feather’s death felt too quick for someone built up as a fierce warrior, and Isaac’s death was almost ironic, falling to a guy who wasn’t even a skilled gunman.

The issue isn’t just that the "good guys" don’t win, it’s that their struggles seem pointless. A more nuanced ending could’ve shown the Zions suffering real losses or at least hinted that their victory came at a cost. Instead, they get everything they wanted, while everyone else either dies or is forced into a future they don’t want.

The ending is dissatisfying, not because it’s tragic, but because it lacks that emotional payoff for the struggle we watched all season