Spoilers for American Primeval, now streaming on Netflix** The first episode of American Primeval, directed and executive produced by Peter Berg, follows single mother Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) as she and her son Devin (Preston Mota) attempt to make their way from Jim Bridger’s (Shea Whigham) Fort Bridger to California.

Caught in the middle of it all is none other than mountain man Jim Bridger. Portrayed by legendary character actor Shea Whigham, Bridger is a connective tissue between many of the supporting characters in Primeval.