The ending of American Primeval is shocking, but it was actually set up in the opening two minutes of episode 1. Netflix’s new Western drama miniseries comes from The Revenant writer Mark L. Smith, with it being just as dark and violent of a Western as the iconic film. However, American Primeval is just as well-crafted of a story, with the show revealing where it was going from the very beginning of the season.

American Primeval follows a fugitive on the run named Sara Rowell, with her and her son deciding to cross the frontier in order to find her husband. While traveling through the dangerous Utah Territory, Sara enlists the help of a tracker named Isaac, with her hoping that she can keep the party safe. After the treacherous journey, Sara and her son Devin reach their destination. Despite this, they continue journeying, deciding to travel to California instead of joining Devin’s father.

Sara Going To California Was Set Up By Devin At The Beginning Of American Primeval

He Mentions It In The First Scene

The big reveal at the end of American Primeval is that Sara and Devin decide to go to California instead of meeting Devin’s father, something that was set up all the way back in episode 1. In the very first scene of American Primeval, Devin says that, rather than going to his father, him and Sara should continue traveling all the way to California. Devin says that this is something they have talked about before, although Sara had seemingly denied his request.

Having Devin mention his desire to go to California foreshadows the cast of American Primeval‘s final decision within the story. Since Devin has wanted to go there since before the story of American Primeval, the decision to switch their destinations makes a lot more sense, helping to make the miniseries’ ending twist work.

Why Sara Takes Devin To California Instead Of Crook Springs At The End Of American Primeval

The Journey Changed Her Mind

Throughout American Primeval, Sara hopes to reach Devin’s father and drop her son off. Her reasoning for this is that she knows she will forever be living life on the lam due to her murdering someone back home. By giving Devin away, it would at least protect him, allowing him to grow up with his father away from the dangers of her and the frontier.

However, the adventure that Sara and Devin go through changes their perspective. Sara realizes that she doesn’t want to let Devin go, with her no longer feeling like he needs his father to protect him. Thus, Sara instead decides to take Devin to California, the place that he had dreamed of going since before the show, with them living there together after the story of American Primeval.