This 8-Year-Old Western on Netflix Is So Much Better Than American Primeval, Fans Say

We have long been living in the era of the postmodern Western genre, which began at the turn of the 1980s. The traditional main character has changed, and a feminist trend has emerged.

In terms of genre structure, the most famous recent projects are not pure Westerns.

Another Acclaimed Series Does the Modern Western Better Than American Primeval

Neftlix's new hit, American Primeval, is inspired by Italian directors such as Sergio Leone, but it also comments on modern times in the spirit of neo-Westerns. First of all, it is a drama about how important it is to remain a man of deeds and words in a ruthless and cruel world.

And while there are very few worthy representatives of the modern Western, especially in the TV format, fans have found a forgotten show that works even more successfully in this field than American Primeval.

Godless was released eight years ago, and even after nearly a decade, it still has higher Rotten Tomatoes scores than American Primeval – 83% from critics and 85% from viewers.

What Is Godless About?

The plot revolves around La Belle, a town of widows. After a mining accident, the only men left are the blind sheriff, his very young assistant, the town madman, the blacksmith and the innkeeper.

So when a horse brings a wounded cowboy to Alice's ranch, it is both the first major event since the mine accident and a clear sign of impending danger.

The cowboy, Roy Goode, is the adopted son of the main outlaw, Frank Griffin. Roy escaped but took the loot from his last job with him. Now the women's settlement is preparing to meet Griffin's gang.

Godless Is Made by Acclaimed Masters & Looks Like a Post-Apocalyptic Show

Godless is written and directed by Scott Frank, the writer of Logan, and produced by Steven Soderbergh himself. Such a duo could not create a run-of-the-mill project.

In terms of atmosphere and mood, the series is closer to Game of Thrones or Mad Max than to classic Westerns, whose characters are also a kind of "godless." The main paradox is that the action takes place at the end of the 19th century, but viewers have a strong sense of post-apocalyptic time.

The world of Godless consists of islands cut off from each other: a town of women, a ranch, an orphanage, a tribe of slave owners. The fragmented landscape is punctuated by lonely wanderers.

Godless Has Created a New Western Sub-Genre

Soderbergh and Frank capture the skepticism, the confusion, the cynicism – certain components of the worldview inherent in modern society, and transfer them to the Wild West.

In its gloomy vibe, the show is not original, but for that very reason it is innovative within its genre. In fact, Godless created a new sub-genre – a post-apocalyptic Western with elements of mysticism and horror.