American Primeval, the new Netflix mini-series directed by Pete Berg, has fans excited. The show created by Mark L Smith follows the story of a mother Sara Rowell, played by Betty Gilpin, and her son Devin (Preston Mota) trying to escape their past and build a new life in the rough and brutal American West of 1857.

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.

Netflix’s ‘American Primeval’ mixes reality with fiction to create a compelling tale of violence and bloodshed, as well as hope and survival. The story begins with a woman named Sara Rowell and her desire to find a safe haven for her and her son,

Yes, and no. American Primeval is a work of historic fiction. Meaning, Sara and Isaac’s story is made up, as is the story of Jacob and Abish. However, the backdrop of American Primeval is based on reality.

The series, now streaming on Netflix, depicts the brutality with which the Mormons sought to create a new world for their beliefs, the pride with which the native people held onto their ancestral lands, and the tragedy of the people just seeking to make a new home in the chaos. But is any of it true?

Jim Bridger is one of the most important characters in Netflix's American Primeval, and here is the real-life story behind the historical figure.