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“Friday Night Lights,” the television series that followed the ups and downs of the Dillon High School Panthers football team, is rightly considered by critics and viewers alike to be one of the finest shows of the 21st century. Although the series was never a Nielsen ratings success during its five seasons (curious given that it is an extremely compelling and accessible saga centered on America’s most popular sport ), those who loved it each week rode an emotional rollercoaster of wins, losses, romance, breakups, and a murder (a thoughtless plot twist that serves as the show’s only glaring misstep). The writing, led by showrunner Jason Katims, was, aside from the aforementioned detour, consistently sharp and surprising, while the cast, led by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, struck chords with their portrayals of decent but imperfect people trying to do good. by their teammates, family and friends outside the locker room.
The series not only boosted the careers of Chandler and Britton; it also introduced the world to an exciting array of young talent, including Jesse Plemons, Michael B. Jordan, Adrianne Palicki, Mika Kelly and Zach Gilford. However, among the show’s early stars, the actor who seemed particularly poised for movie stardom was Taylor Kitsch. As aggressive full-back and troublemaker Tim Riggins, Kitsch exuded irresistible charm and a happy-go-lucky penchant for danger. Studios could surely turn this guy into an action hero, or even an award-winning comedian.
After a brief appearance as the mutant Gambit in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” Kitsch got his shot at major stardom in 2012 with “John Carter,” “Battleship” and “Savages”. The first two currently rank in the top 10 studio failures of all time, which has obscured the fact that he was quite good in the third film (a sleazy Oliver Stone thriller that got lost in the summer reshuffle).
But even though Kitsch never became the highest-grossing movie star I think he could have been (and still could be at 43), he took those failures in stride and continued to dedicate himself in cinema and television. And there you have it, 13 years after that rotten year of 2012, he is the star of the most viewed series on Netflix!
Taylor Kitsch is a rugged trail guide in American Primeval
According to FlixPatrolthe new Western miniseries “American Primeval” is the highest-rated show on Netflix. Yes, it is currently more popular than “Squid Game”.
“American Primeval” is a graphically violent tale of conquest and survival set amid the Utah War of the mid-1800s between Mormon settlers and the U.S. Army. Betty Gilpin plays a determined woman who attempts to transport herself and her son from Fort Bridger to California, where she is to meet her husband. When they fail to find an escort to their destination, she turns to a mysterious loner played by Kitsch to guide her through this vicious hell.
Kitsch is receiving rave reviews for her performance in the miniseries, which, directed by her former “Friday Night Lights” (and, yes, “Battleship”) collaborator Peter Berg, has received generally mixed reviews. Given that the show was created by Mark L. Smith, the screenwriter of “The Revenant,” it’s no surprise that this western saga is a tough sled. If you can handle particularly graphic violence, you may find that “American Primeval” is just the borderline thread you need. It has fascinating subject matter (addressed to some extent by Scott Frank’s superb Netflix miniseries “Godless”) and a top-notch cast that also includes Kim Coates, Dane DeHaan, Jai Courtney and the awesome Shea Whigham. Try it while you’re hunkered down this winter!
