Friday Night Lights, the television drama that followed the ups and downs of the Dillon High School Panthers football team, is rightly considered by critics and viewers as one of the best shows of the 21st century. Although the series was never a hit in the Nielsen ratings during its five seasons (curious considering it's a very engaging and accessible saga centered on the United States' most popular sport), those who loved it rode a weekly emotional rollercoaster of wins, losses, romances, breakups, and one murder (thoughtless the plot is the only egregious misstep of the series). The writing, led by showrunner Jason Katims, was, aside from the aforementioned detour, always sharp and surprising, while the cast, led by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, struck resonant chords with their portrayals of decent but flawed human beings trying to do right. from their teammates, family and friends outside the locker room.

The show not only boosted the careers of Chandler and Britton; also introduced an exciting array of young talent to the world, including Jesse Plemons, Michael B. Jordan, Adrian Palicki, Micah Kelly and Zach Guilford. However, of the series' early highlights, the actor who seemed particularly poised for movie stardom was Taylor Kitsch. As struggling, troubled quarterback Tim Riggins, Keech exuded irresistible charm and a penchant for danger. Surely the studios could turn this guy into an action hero, if not an award-winning thespian.

After a brief appearance as the mutant Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Kitsch shot to big stardom in 2012 with John Carter, Liner and "Savages". The first two currently rank in the studio's top 10 flops of all time, masking the fact that he was quite good in the third film (a lackluster Oliver Stone thriller that got lost in the summer shuffle).

But while Kitsch never became the bankable A-list movie star I believe he could have been (and still could be at age 43), he embraced those failures and continued to include the film and television. And now, 13 years after that rotten 2012, he is the star of the most watched series on Netflix!

According to FlixPatrolthe new western miniseries "American Primeval" is the top-rated show on Netflix. Yes, it's currently more popular than The Squid Game.

American Primeval is a graphically violent story of conquest and survival set in mid-1800s Utah between Mormon settlers and the U.S. Army. Betty Gilpin plays a determined woman trying to transport herself and her son from Fort Bridger to California, where she is to meet her husband. When they can't provide an escort to their destination, she turns to a mysterious recluse played by Kitsch to guide her through this enchanted hell.

Kitsch is earning rave reviews for his performance in the miniseries, which, as directed by his former "Friday Night Lights" (and, yes, "Battleship") collaborator Peter Berg, has received mixed reviews overall. Considering that the show was created by Mark L. Smith, screenwriter of "The Revenant," it should come as no surprise that this western saga is rough sledding. If you can handle some particularly graphic violence, you may find that American Primeval is just the borderline yarn for you. It has a fascinating theme (touched on to some extent by Scott Frank's wonderful Netflix mini-series "God") and a first-rate cast that also includes Kim Coates, Dane DeHaan, Jai Courtney and the reliably gorgeous Shea Whigham. Look for it while you're bundled up this winter!